No Sidelights, Dash light on, sidelights not!

I do have that switch yes, (at least, the 'Bonnet open' warning works), I'll check where the wiring to it goes tomorrow.

Oh aye, I think some of my scuttle end clips on that side may be broken, the wee triangular trim piece doesn't sit quite right, and makes an annoying whistley wind noise at speeds above about 75

Ciarán

This post has been edited by Ciaran on January 25, 2009 01:26 am

yep, i hate taking those trims off, every time i do i cross everything i have and cringe like mad as i carefully prise away at it.........................one day i will have to break out the silicone

D

Ciaran wrote " Derek, it doesn't have one on the V6?? I'm shocked!"

I think Citroen's attitude is that if anything goes wrong with that engine an underbonnet light is going to be as much use as a chocolate frog.

Funny, my top spec '99 2.0 SEi didn't have one either - and that would have been useful!

Derek

Ciaran, did you try yet plugging into the "other" socket on the tail light cluster, picked that tip up here, I don't think I've had an erroneous rear light error in the S1 since I did that about a year ago, used to get them all the time before that.

Hi Tim,

I got away with the 'second socket' trick for a few months a while back, but the real problem was a bad connection right where the plug joined the end of the ribbon cable, so in the end for MOT I had to cut it off and solder on a new one, very kindly sent to me by John on here.

Does make you wonder why the lights have two sockets in the first place though!

Ciarán

An update on this at long last, Dean you were quite correct, it was indeed the plug you mentioned behind the front passenger side light.

Upon disconnecting it, I found that the middle pin was well burnt / melted away, though squeezing the plug together tightly does make it work Ok for a few days.

I'd rather not cut it out and solder wires directly, but will do it needs be. Though you mentioned about being able to get hold of new plugs to crimp on Dean? I'd be very interested in finding out where if possible, as when I asked at the stealers recently they said they used to be able to get them, but now all workshop warranty repairs require the entire faulty loom to be returned to Citroen for exchange, so they can no longer cut off the dodgy plug and crimp on a new one...

Interetsingly, I've noticed some other symptoms which signify this problem, mainly on country roads at night when you switch to main beams, all the interior illumination (not just sunroof lights) switch off momentarily as you do so. The most disconcerting thing of course is the lack of tail lights, which you mentioned!

Ciarán

Hi Ciaran

Unusual to get these plugs go dodgy. Get a good condition spare sidelight plug with a good length of wires from a scrap car. Either Mk1 or Mk2 as both plugs are the same. If you cut the wires long enough you can make soldered/heatshrink connections inside the wing/chassis in the engine bay. Will find you a plug if you cannot esaily source locally.

John

This post has been edited by xmexclusive on March 03, 2009 12:16 pm

Hi Ciaran.

Towbar wiring has plugged into the clone socket on those I've had.

Mike.

Hi Derek

S1 V6 had the underbonnet light but not S2.

Cheers

Tony

Hi Tony, let's hope they neglected to fit it because the engine's so reliable it would be superfluous!

Mind you, if that donk went wrong I wouldn't have a clue what to do.

Derek

How interersting the start of this post.. I have NO IDEA how I missed it ...

But, on my V6 SEi of 1993 vintage I have the OPPOSITE of this fault!

Ok.. Ignition on, light switch OFF HOWEVER, side lights ARE on! and so are the REAR number plate lights....

However, lights on, tail lights come on, side lights stay on with number plate lights BUT, the message DEFECTIVE SIDE LIGHT comes and stays on, even though they ARE on...

Ignition off, open door NO LIGHTS on warning tone...

So do I have a look in the same place as Ciaran did?

Rgds
Paul

Paul, yes this is practicaly the same fault i had too, on 3 of the 4 MK1's ive had they all displayed most of these strange problems and with every one it was this plug.

Ciaran, i was told i could get some from cit but it was a while ago now so you are probably right. Dont Maplins do them, surely you can buy these auto connectors new, many manufacturers use them, i do want some, one for the connector which is the centre of this discussion, and a good handfull for the engine conversion so its all proper . I dont like the idea of bypassing plugs with soldered joints come the time to take it all apart.

D

Hi All

The extra duplicate socket on the tail lights was designed in by Citroen for towing socket wiring. By 1992 they had issued a production and also a reto fit modification to insert a plug with a single wire flying chassis earth lead to both tail light units. This is Citroen's official modification to overcome the false tail light bulb failure warnings. It did not always cure the bulb failure report problem so for Mk2's they kept the extra earth wires but discontinued the bulb failure warning.

Plugs and sockets for all the XM connectors are available from Citroen. There is a dedicated booklet (about 150 pages) for them but most dealers have no idea how to identify individual items and simply order a new section of wiring loom to fit. This is often cheaper overall at their rates than the cost of time taken to make up a new loom section. The metal pins and the coloured plugs/sockets are all ordered separately with different rating pins often capable of fitting in the same socket so a real minefield to order up the right bits. Then you need the specialist tool kits of pin release devices to get the pins out of the plugs/sockets. I have the kit for Mk1 connectors but am still on the look out for the one for the later Mk2 plugs/sockets.

John

John wrote "This is Citroen's official modification to overcome the false tail light bulb failure warnings. It did not always cure the bulb failure report problem so for Mk2's they kept the extra earth wires but discontinued the bulb failure warning."

That's called ducking the issue ! A shame as it was a good idea if it had worked.

Derek