Xantia V6 4HP20 transmission sick? A long way from home

Unread post by **xantia_v6** » 21 Dec 2008, 09:11

My problem is that I am in Bergundy (France) with my Mk1 Xantia V6, and this morning, the transmission has gone into a strange mode.

I drove the car about 2km, and it was operating perfectly, I then stopped the car and switched off the engine for about 30 seconds, and restarted the engine in neutral. On selecting D, nothing happened.

On moving the selector to 3,2 or 1, I got a slippy sort of drive (like snow mode). Reverse is selected with a jerk, and has normal drive.

If I move the selector to P, the interlock will not allow the selector to move to any other position (unless I mecheanically pull the interlock pin).

The transmission warning lights have not come on.

On driving the car, it seems to be permanently in about 3rd gear, so has little urge to accellerate, and feels like something (the torque converter I hope) is slipping. After driving a few meters, the D position now behaves the same as 3, 2 and 1.

Any suggestions as to diagnostics and fixes? I have only basic tools with me and not a lot of French language skill!

Stempy · Unread post by **Stempy** » 21 Dec 2008, 13:10

Bummer

Things that spring to mind that can cause wierdness are brake pedal switch and selector cable adjustment. Have you tried the good old reboot, battery off for half an hour. Bad electrical earths can also cause glitches as can oxidised fuse contacts which cause a voltage drop (this has happened to mine).

Good luck with it.

DickieG · Unread post by **DickieG** » 21 Dec 2008, 13:46

I think Stempy is along the right lines with the gear selector cables, didn't my Lexia pick up a fault with those when you popped over?

Unread post by **xantia_v6** » 21 Dec 2008, 14:22

DickieG wrote:I think Stempy is along the right lines with the gear selector cables, didn't my Lexia pick up a fault with those when you popped over?

Yes, but unfortunately that was the other (mk2) car.

I have excerised all of the connectors which are easily accessible, but can't unplug the transmission ECU until I get a deep 8mm socket.

The thing that seems strangest is the park interlock not working (the brake lights do come on). So far, I have only taken it up to 50kph, the rpms stayed more or less at 2000, and I am fairly sure there was no gear change at all.

I think that the autoadaptive function is working, because the takoff from rest got better after a couple more kilometers. I don't return to the UK for another week, but need to decide whether to drive it back as-is, or look for a scrapyard locally.

If anyone can scan the wiring diagrams for the V6 transmission, that will help me find all of the connectors to check.

deian · Unread post by **deian** » 21 Dec 2008, 22:53

First port of call is to change the transmission fluid and clean the filters! I know they say it is sealed for life, but it isn't! Give that a try if it's still sloppy, it sounds electrical, but try the simple things first.

DickieG · Unread post by **DickieG** » 22 Dec 2008, 00:00

Good news in that I've been having a good poke around my Info Rapid's this evening and found one that exactly fits the symptoms you describe (allbeit for S2 V6 models), the remedy is to replace the broken/missing 30 amp fuse in position 15 in the passenger compartment fuse box. That's got to be worth a try.

jgra1 · Unread post by **jgra1** » 22 Dec 2008, 08:26

Xanita V6 I may be able to get 406 diags a bit later.. will have a look when in work

hope you get it sorted

jgra1 · Unread post by **jgra1** » 22 Dec 2008, 09:43

cant find electrical diagrams

this from the AL4 Manual

IMPERATIVE : while driving in downgraded mode (automatic gearbox locked in hydraulic gear no. 3)
do not exceed a speed of 100 km/h

sounds like what's happened..
pm me and I can email you some pdf's of the HP20 although not sure they are going to be that much help...

sounds like you could get home though ?

Unread post by **xantia_v6** » 22 Dec 2008, 14:54

It does not seem to be as simple as a fuse, as they all look OK. The S1 fuses are numbered differently, so I don't know which one is applicable here.

If I can get a wiring diagram, I will try to trace power to the transmission ECU. The sport and snow LEDs come on if the buttons are pushed, so there is some power in the system.

KP · Unread post by KP » 22 Dec 2008, 15:03

Can you not just unplug the battery overnight? I know you lose radio presets and the like but it will also clear the Engine ECU as well which could.

Unread post by **xantia_v6** » 22 Dec 2008, 18:25

I did leave the battery disconnected for a couple of hours yesterday, with no effect.

Today I drove the car for a few km, and the fault appears to have become intermittant, sometimes the transmission stays in 3rd, and sometimes it changes gear. It even let me move the lever from P (once)!.

So I am fairly sure that there is a bad connection somewhere. Tomorrow I will remove the transmission ECU and check the connector for corrosion.

Unread post by **xantia_v6** » 23 Dec 2008, 09:23

The transmission ECU connector looks OK.

In the absence of a wiring diagram, I don't think that there is much more I can do.

Unread post by **CitroJim** » 23 Dec 2008, 09:32

xantia_v6 wrote: In the absence of a wiring diagram, I don't think that there is much more I can do.

I can get a wiring diagram to you no problem. Unfortunately not until later this afternoon. Scanner, diaigrams and I are too-far separated until then

What's the year of your V6?

Unread post by **xantia_v6** » 23 Dec 2008, 10:28

I hoped that you would come to my rescue!

It is RP7519, registered in August 1997 (I think one of the first batch of RHD V6s).

TIA

Unread post by **CitroJim** » 23 Dec 2008, 10:30

Perfect!

I'll post them up the moment I get home... Sorry I did not catch-on earlier