Suspension Message On Dot Matrix, What triggers it?

[xmexclusive]

Hi Derek

Ciaran is right, to fix the Mk1 problem of the unreliable rear light check Citroen decided to remove it from Mk2 cars.

Regards

John

[citroenxm]

Hi all

Or buy a LATE Series 1.5, anything after 1993... My Series 1.5 1993 V6 has NO light warning problems what so ever. I ran it for a year with a dodgy auto box, and did 22,000 miles (Private miles) and it never once blew a rear light or gave me a dodgy message, the only bulb I had to put in was a Passenger side 'Side Light' bulb..

I also look after a 1994 M reg Series one, and that too has No ambigious messages, or at least its owner has NEVER complained of any..


Maybee I've been just lucky, we will see what shes like after a replacement auto box is fitted and its back on the road again after the summer!

Regards
citroenxm

[DerekW]

Hi Ciaran and John,

Thanks for the info, it's a pity they didn't also remove mention of it from the handbook!

Ciaran, I suppose the gasoline fuel flow sensor got confused by the "thicker" diesel fuel. Do they have a different part number?

Regards,
Derek

This post has been edited by DerekW on January 07, 2007 11:22 pm

[Ciaran]

Now there's an interesting idea, Derek! I hadn't thought of that.

I'd settle for knowing where the damn thing is for starters, after that, your idea of getting a proper diesel one is a great one

This post has been edited by Ciaran on January 07, 2007 11:35 pm

[xmexclusive]

Hi Derek

The 1995 model year handbook onwards looses the reference to the lights test message. As far as I know version XM-GB-5004 (1994 model year) is the last Owners Handbook to include the lights test in the list of display messages.
I suspect that many of the early Mk2 cars were supplied with the earlier handbook as I have found them in all 3 of the 1994 Mk2's that have passed my way.
I would be very interested to know what your handbook says as it is the final one Citroen published for the XM, something I have not been able to get a copy of for my collection.

Regards

John

This post has been edited by xmexclusive on January 08, 2007 01:50 am

[DerekW]

Hi John,

My copy, XM-GB-5000,gives the following information on page 42, I have tried to copy the formatting as it appears:


ELECTRONIC VISUAL
INFORMATION* (Dot Matrix display)


A dot matrix display (to the left of the warning display panel) gives advisory
messages or urgent warnings preceded by an audible "beep".


<in an outlined box coloured a dull red>
Message 1 Message 2
Stop lamp test...............................................Apply brakes to test
Engine oil pressure........................................Stop immediately
Hydraulic pressure and level...........................Warning brake
pressure loss
Engine water level.........................................Stop immediately
High water temperature................................. Slow down
Worn out brake pads......................................Brake maintenance

<in an outlined box coloured a pale yellowy-orange>
ABS out of use
Left or right front door open
Left or right rear door open
Boot or bonnet open

<in an outlined box coloured a pale yellow>
Water in diesel fuel filter
Refill screenwash reservoir
Normal suspension
Sport suspension

<There then follows another oblong box coloured yellow which contains details of fuse settings for different languages.>

* According to model. <End>



As I said in my earlier post, I've never seen the "Stop lamp test" message and never heard a beep. In fact the only ones I've seen have been the doors, bonnet and boot open ones and the normal and sport suspension ones.

Maybe they're the only ones that work! No messages are worse than spurious messages, a strong case for a test button?

I've just had a thought. If the stop lamp test has been reinstated, there doesn't seem to be any message available to tell you if the test is OK or if you have a failure, so it's a waste of time anyway.

Regards,

Derek

Ps. My attempt at formatting didn't work, it ignores extra spaces.















As I said in an original post

[Ciaran]

Yours tells you if the bonnet is open?!

Another one added to the list for mine then....

[citroenxm]

Cairen

All should, there should be little sensors situated below the catch they are quite clearly visable if fitted if you look and study the bonnet catches

Regards
citroenxm

[Ciaran]

Just nipped out for a quick check there. No bonnet open message displayed on the dot matrix, that was without the engine running though, not that that should have any bearing, should it.

I looked down inside the grill, and underneath each bonnet catch I can see a brown multiplug... is this the sensor you speak of, or perhaps its something to do with the rad fans...
I suspect this is another casualty of the frankenbuild XM

[xmexclusive]

Hi Derek

Thanks for that. Your handbook seems to be the same as the 1998 model year book (XM-GB-5008) which is the latest one I have. Each years book onwards from model year 1994 (the last Mk1's) has the stop lamp test as the first entry.

Strange this because I have never seen a Mk2 do a stop lamp test on ignition on.

Now in (5004 the last Mk1 book) there are entries for the messages "Defective right stop lamp" & "Defective left stop lamp". There is also a note in brackets after the "Apply brakes to test (see page 28). And on page 28 there is a note "Upon switching on the ignition, the bulb failure warning lamps will light. After the first application of the brake pedal, the failure warning lamps will go out provided that the stop lamp circuit is in order."

In 5005 (the first Mk2 book) there are no Dot matrix defective left & right stop lamp messages listed but there is still the reference to another page after the "Apply brakes to test (see page 30)" but nothing on page 30 or the adjacent pages about an ignition on bulb test.

In 5006 (the second Mk2 book) the proof reader had found and eliminated the spurious reference to another page after "Apply the brakes to test"

I cannot believe that possibly through 7 editions of the Mk2 handbook and 6 years of Mk2 production Citroen did not notice that the first and presumably to them the most important Dot Matrix message that they listed in the handbook was no longer available on the car display.

Tomorrow in daylight I will find a spare stop light bulb blow it and then fit it to see if a Mk2 car provides any warning display after igniton on and first brake application when a blown bulb is present.

Regards

John

[DerekW]

Isn't this fun!

Derek

[bigjohnh]

You don't need to blow a bulb, just remove it, same effect.

John

[Ciaran]

I was in Maplins today looking for a relay (long story), and saw this cheap parking sensors DIY kit.

The unit included audio alerts, and crucially, an LCD display which showed distance etc. Anyway, I got to thinking, wouldn't it be great if that information could be displayed on the dot matrix, rather than this cumbersome 3rd party unit.

Noz, you mentioned that someone on a Peugeot forum had managed to work out how to communicate with the display via the serial interface for the radio. Do you have any further info on this, or any links etc? I'd like to research this a bit more if possible.
It may come to nothing, but just an idea at the moment

Cheers.

Ciarán.

[noz]

Hi Ciaran,

Its been a while since I looked at this stuff and it would appear that no more work was done on this unless its moved to a new home. But here's the link anyway:

http://rt3wiki.free.fr/pmwiki.php?n=Us.RT3Wiki

The display can be made to say anything you want within the bounds of two lines of text with approx 20 chars per line.

cheers

noz

[Ciaran]

Many thanks Noz
Another project added to the ever growing pile.....