Numerous Electrical Issues

[SteveForrest]

Hi. I got a 2003 xsara Picasso 1.6 petrol from a dodgey dealer about 3 months ago and a number of problems I suspect many are  related.
1)Brake lights are not working (bulbs good and central cluster works, just not sides) - this one is recent
2)Headlights flicker badly when throttle is pressed
3)Airbag fault light
4)revs drastically increase (only happens occasionally)
5)dash sometimes resets (preceded by a relay-clicking noise from the interior fuse box) while driving. engine remains running, but dash asks as if the car has been turned off and on again.)

 

The ape that had the car before me fitted a switch to the side of the comms unit / steering wheel casing and ran the wires directly to the interior fuse box and through the engine compartment to the horn (because the horn on steering wheel doesn't work)
 

thought this wire might be shorting something out. any ideas greatly appreciated

Edited May 27, 2013 by SteveForrest

[coastline taxis]

I would start by seeing what voltage the alternator is putting out you want 14.4 volts with the engine running

next check the battery is holding the charge

Now check every earth best to remove and clean everyone

Airbag light is quite a common problem and it normally down to the conection under the pass side carpet ( lift carpet and clean multipluga0

headlights flickering when rev the engine could br earth or a lose bulb/wire

brake lights could be a cluster issue as the back lights sometimes get pushed to hard when getting shoved back in and causes a fault.

as for the horn i would just live with it

dashboard well i seem to remember (not sure mind) that there was a earth issue with these

 

Woul think a good auto electrician would be able to sort this out for around a £100ish what area are you in as we have a good one that we use and is only £35 per hour and hes good

[SteveForrest]

okay, update. rear brake lights now work, too embarrassed to even tell you what was wrong, but sufficed to say they had nothing to do with the rest of the problems.

 

The alternator was the mechs suggestion too as the one in the car is brand new...but he suspects it's not a particularly good brand.

 

The electrical restart...I've noticed that when it comes back on the passenger airbag light is on, so suspecting that there's a wiring issue with the passenger airbag deactivation switch on the drivers door.

 

The earths are a good idea and will get onto those.

 

Thanks Font of Knowledge, I'm in Dudley, West Mids, and a recommendation for a good auto lecky would be fantastic, I'm gonna have to bite the bullet and get this sorted.

 

Steve

 

p.s. One more question, Decided to have a go at changing the alternator this afternoon. Worked through the Haynes and got to the point where the belt needs slackening, at that point Mr Haynes let me down as I couldn't figure out how to release the belt from either the text or diagram. Started to rain so I called it a day. No problem putting everything back together again, but if someone could point me in the right direction on this it'd be much appreciated and I can have ago again at the weekend. Really don't fancy paying a mechanic for something that is relatively simple to do.

[coastline taxis]

Look at the top of your crankshaft pulley then follow the belt to the right and the first pulley you come to is the tensioner, Cant remember if its a torx or a bolt on the petrol models but anyway put a spanner/torx bit on it and pull towards the windscreen it will move and the belt will go slack for removal.

the air bag is a common fault on most citroens. disconect the battery then go and sit in the passenger seat and stretch your feet out where the soles of your feet are is where the multiplug is. remove the carpet and then the foams and youl see multiplugs pull them apart and clean them them put it all back  together and chances are your airbag light will have gone off. And we are just outside newcastle so dont think the sparky would travel down to you.

 

Anyway you gotta spill the beans and tell us what was wrong with the back lights was it the wrong bulbs