B.s.i Fault ! Help !

[Patteri]

Dear citroen frineds.

I have a c8 2.2 hdi 2003 with a problem that is driving me insane !,,

During a long journey thru torrential rain to Ireland the car started to develop faults

No indicators , wipers only worked on automatic

Radio controls on the wheel not working etc.mafter stopping in co mayo , the car wouldn't start and message immobilizer fault appeared! Then economy mode I did the usual tricks ( unplug the battery Deadlock and unlock the car with the key on the drivers door lock as the buttons on the fob didn't respond either ) and after awhile I got it started .all this faults made me think of the alternator not charging properly , but after fitting new battery and checking alternator I was left with the bsi at fault !

I noticed both foot wells where soaking wet .thanks to the good weather that dried up the car , I v managed to bring it back to the uk with a trouble free drive . Now I'm back to square one , car will not start and message economy mode appears.

Does anyone know the exact location of the BSI SO TO AVOID DISMANTLING THE WHOLE DASH :(

Any known common leaks that could cause this to fail

And can I replace the bsi with another from scrappy ???

I love my c8 and would like to solve this problem

Thank you for looking at my thread

Kindest regards to all

Edited August 23, 2014 by Patteri

[Johndouglas]

With the engine running, are you getting around 14 volts on the battery terminals? Don't worry too much about economy mode. Most Citroens go into it very shortly after the engine is switched off - anything from a few minutes up to half an hour - depending on the state of the battery.

 

Regarding getting a BSI from a breaker. Your BSI is coded to your vehicle and one from a breaker is no good unless you also get the matching transponder, immobiliser keys & the engine's ECU. Also your radio would need to be re coded. A better option - if yours is faulty, is to send it for repair

[Patteri]

Hi Jhon

Thanks for the reply ! I can't start the car to check the voltage but alternator was def working when I got back from Ireland

Was a12 hour journey faultless !!

I'm hoping to find where the bsi is located and check for water damage , I wouldn't know where to send it for repair

Also I fitted a new bosh battery with 90 amp instead of the old with75

 

Is really driving me insane !!!

[Johndouglas]

To remove the BSI you'll need to remove the glove box then pull all the multiplugs. One repairer of BSI's that do mail-order repairs is

http://www.bba-reman.com/content.aspx?content=citroen_bsi_body_control_failure

On their website they give this advice:-

Before sending the unit try the BSI Reset procedure as this may cure your faults:

Put the driver's window down, lift the bonnet and ensure all equipment is switched off.
Ensure all doors are closed and remove key from the ignition.
Wait for 3 minutes, disconnect the vehicle battery and wait 15 seconds. (** See my note below)
Reconnect the vehicle battery, wait a further 10 seconds (do not open doors.).Switch on the side lights through the driver's window.
Switch on the ignition and check system's functionality.
Hold lock button on key down for 10 seconds.
Remove key open & close door test central locking system.
Start the engine and complete the system's check.
Failure to follow this procedure could result in incorrect operation of many BSI related items.

** After you have disconnected the battery, I would remove it and charge it off the car overnight before continuing.

[coastline taxis]

I dont think its your bsi. i would find the leak as i think the water is shorting the wiring out at the multiplugs thats why it drives lovley when dried out. your bsi cant be goosed one minute then fine the next then back to being goosed.  Has the car had a windscreen fitted at all if so check the seals. also check the drainage pipes on the front scuttle panel under windscreen

[Patteri]

Hi again

Thank. You very much for your reply guys !

I v also managed to chat to a citroen mechanic who has backed up more or less what you are suggesting

So today in have removed front seats , carpet and half of the dash.

Water was literally paddled all over the floor , I have opened the centre floor bay where the airbag module is stored and that was only humid thanks god !

Ithe mechanic suggest the ingress is either windscreen or aircon drain disconnected .

Couldn't see any apparent leak !

However , looking at all the wiring that runs on the floor , although is wet I can't see any connectors , that could be effected by the water.

The bsi is really high up so can't really be effected by that either

However to my horror , I have noticed wires have been cut and rejoined and some cut off completely and one of the curtains airbag connections has a little module attached and taped , i imagine the previous owner has fiddled with the wiring for god knows what reasons

The reassuring thing is that it seems sort of professionally done ( heat shrink selves used etc )

I'm hoping that this hasn't interfered with the bsi

I think I need a magician or an exorcist to fix this , citroen wouldn't touch it and mechanics say citroen c 8 are a nightmare

Can anyone help? The wires that have ben cut off and cut and rejoined seemed to be all airbag related (orange orange and )

[Gilbern Invader]

You have to find how the water is getting in, are the wheelarch liners and engine undertray in place? Has the fusebox by the battery got wet? My guess is a leak around a replacement windscreen or maybe rooflights? Water on the large multiplug connector(s) on the A post by the BSI will cause a non start.

[coastline taxis]

Buy a cheap jetwash and sit inside the car and get someone to jetwash everywhere

[Patteri]

Hi guys

 

Few weeks on I have solved the problem

Water ingress was due to a clogged air con drain !!!!! Wtf !!! Unfortunately water got to the airbag module in the centre of the car between front seats

And that triggered all sort of problems with the BSA unit immobilizer etc

I hope this can help someone in the future ! I went for a new module from citroen but I guess you can use a second hand one and pair it to the BSA ecu etc etc

[Johndouglas]

Thank you for coming back and reporting on your fault. And well done on finding the cause.