Abs And Reverse Light Switch

[Charlie_Relay]

Hi everyone!!

 

I have a few issues with my Relay 2.2hdi on a 55 plate:

 

1 - Does anyone know exactly where the reverse light switch is located on the gearbox?

I had the turbo breather pipe off today and had a feel around, I could feel something and then located what I think it is but it's faced sideways towards the engine, if this is it then it is hell to get off as I can't get a decent grip on the plastic and pull even though the u - shaped plastic "clip" is prised.

 

2 - I have all the connection going to the ABS sensor to the rear of the passenger wheel hub but there is a connector and then a wire dangling down and seems sheared, does anyone know where this wire is supposed to go? If so, would you please take 5 mins to share some images or explain what it is that is missing so I can repair it please?

 

Many thanks for your time in advance!

[Charlie_Relay]

OK, as this is a technical part of a "Help" website I thought as long as I have posted the topic I might as well give a solution to myself as noone else is running to help me out and this would be good for future reference for others so if they do have the same problem, the solution is out there for them.

1 - The Reverse light switch:

 

Pretty easy if I do say so myself, all that is needed is that you remove the turbo breather pipe to get to the upper part of the gearbox, there is a clutch cable mount, feel under that and about 10 - 15 cms towards the back of the gearbox and you will feel a "Y" shaped group of cables, the one part of those cables that comes towards you is attached to the switch, remove it at the head of the switch and get a 21mm deep socket and take it out!! put the new one in, replace the cable and breather hose and JOB DONE!!

 

2 - The ABS cable:

 

The bit of cable that I refered to is dangling down goes into the hub, this in turn has enabled my ABS Warning light and I do NOT have ABS (as I found out a few weeks ago in the lanes and in the wet, albeit fun but bloody dangerous!!!), that's where I am at right now due to not having a dry enough day to get back under, take the wheel off, split the hub and see where it goes but I will keep you posted!!

[paul.h]

Welcome to the forum and for your feedback on the reversing light switch.

 

On the rear abs sensor, are you saying there is the remains of its cable hanging down at the brake hub, but the other end of the cable can not be found ? I am not sure if you have a Relay I, II or III but from the Citroen procedures for the II, it shows the sensor is just bolted to the back of the brake hub by one bolt (7 Nm) so no need to remove the brake drum or disc or wheel to remove/replace it. The connector looks as if it goes through clips and joins about the middle of under the floor near other cables/pipes, next to the connector for the other wheel abs sensor.

 

With abs systems, if there is a fault and the abs light is on, the abs will not work although normal braking will still work.

[Charlie_Relay]

Oh the joys of a Citroen!!

OK, so here goes ...

 

1 - The Reverse Light Switch:

I had lots of fun with this to only find out that, when I got underneath in a dry place and had a really good look, there was a cable hanging down, seems the reverse light switch connection had miraculously disconnected itself and was just dangling there, doing nothing!!

I had a great time then finding the switch itself but once found, a piece of cake to replace!!

Here's how you will find it (as no one on the internet would like to share this information, I will give you all a way...),

 

This is the way if the cable is not attached!

Take the breather pipe (that goes from the front of the grill to the air filter box), now look for the clutch cable, follow the mount until you find a plastic cap, feel for the clutch cable mount and follow it along as far right as possible (you will feel that you can't go any further bacuase you will pich your fingers), then feel down, towards the gearbox, you will feel a plastic connector, that's it baby!!!

To remove use (if it's still an original part) a 21" spark plug socket or a deep socket! Just unlock with a 1/4 turn and it will come out by hand after that!

To Replace, do the same in reverse!

If it has the cable in place, just feel under the clutch cable bracket as if you are trying to feel the other way around and you will feel the connector, with your finger nail just pull slightly and the cable will pop up and off!

 

I still have a problem though, the cable works as I bridged the cable and the reverse lights came on, then I tested the switch and it also worked, installed the switch and it still doesn't work, by process of elimination, I have looked at every fuse in the 3 fuse boxes on the van and they are all intact, I am beaten and bewildered!!!

 

As for he ABS:

 

I found it to be the ring on the hub that, according to citroen, is part of the bwheel bearing and they would like £179 + V.A.T. when it is actually not!!! you can buy a ring off ebay for £2.49 with £4.99 next day courier delivery, I bought 2! the wheel bearing is not part of the ring nor vice versa, it is a seperate unit that slots into the hub, they are full of it!! anything to scam you out of your hard earned, they must have hated me making them ask their fitters who also said that it was part of the bearing, they don't have a clue!!! (or they do but want to sodemize the hell out of you!!

The parts guy in Bassetts's Citroen of Swansea actually had an enegmatic smile (or call it a grin) when he told me, he must have taken me for a mug!! not the case mi ol' sunshine, I got your number!!!

I am appauled at what they think they know and I can only imagine the ride they have taken people on over the years!! even their diagram was vague, it showed no ring so they "assumed" (paraphrasing the saleman in the parts dept.) it was part of the bearing, Clueless Johnson" I think his name was, or just trying to get me to cough up £207.32 more than what I should be with that smug grin on his face!

 

The sensor, if you buy one, is as Paul.H states, it is one bolt with a sensor that bolts straight onto the hub! this, even though I hate them, I would buy from the dealer as you can get a bit of a discount if you ask and if you turn up with the old one and grubby hands and clothes, they will give you a bit more off!!

 

Do be careful though, if you have to take anything back, they want to charge you a 15% handling fee which, funnily enough I refused as it is illegal, I paid £39 initially for the front sensor and got every penny back due to me thinking I had the wrong part to only have to go and get the sensor off them again and they gave it to me for £34 this time, strange eh? but now I have to take it back again because again, it wasn't the part that was needed!

 

We scanned the ABS module and came up with "Front right sensor faulty" meaning I thought it was the sensor, it wasn't, apparently the rings that trigger the reading for the sensor had ciezed, so finally it was only the ring.

 

The easy way to find out if you have a dodgy sensor or ring, jack the car/van up, turn the steering full lock left (if looking at the o/s wheel) and just where the drive shaft meets the hub, you will see a load of teeth, turn the wheel and if the teeth go around, it's the sensor, if the teeth stay still, it's the ring! this works on any car and any van where the ring is visible!

 

Sorry for my rant but I am ashamed at the attitude of the employees of majo corps, they fight for the company's rights to rip you off blatantly and be smug because they have a job!!!

 

I believe in DIY and sod the rip off merchants!

Rant over, hope I have helped someone! All the best!

[Charlie_Relay]

Sorry, also, the bit of cable that was hanging down was actually the brake pad sensor cable, not important at all, sheered off and hanging around, haven't got a clue how it happened, just happened!

As for how I described the cable, that "Y" shaped group of cables actually runs to the tempurature sensor and if you unhook it, it will kick off the fan!

 

This whole experience shows me to have been quite incompetent to start (in my humble opinion) as I assumed the things above (my post dated 8th Dec 2013).

I have gone more in depth as the MOT was up so I had to get things done and low and behold, I was wrong about a few things, but my reverse lights are still not working!!

I must ask now, is there a connector on the gearstick itself as in other citroens that triggers the reverse lights along with the switch or is it solely switch based?

Signed,

The Div!

[paul.h]

Thankyou for taking the time for such a good and detailed write up.

 

If the reverse light switch is like this http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Citroen-RELAY-REVERSE-LIGHT-SWITCH-NEW-/280736866282 then maybe the plunger has worn down so it can not be pushed in far enough to make its internal electrical connection. If not the switch then maybe inside the gearbox, where the plunger contacts, has worn down. If it has a sealing washer then try fitting without so the plunger goes in further or try cutting a bit off the face of the nut as a test. You could also measure the depth in the gearbox the plunger has to go with the gear lever in reverse.