Very strange car fault - Citroen C2 - fuse box? BSI? BSM? Please help

[agi1190]

Haha speaking of which, I tried to register to a Citroen forum, but they seem to be having a server error, how ironic...

 

[Ziggie]

Would the ignition switch have an effect on the central locking system? Currently, the car is not starting, but the central locking is not working either, except for the boot - I can lock and unlock the boot for some reason. When the car does wish to start (sometimes), the central locking works fine, along with everything else.

Good point - but if there is a short circuit on any circuit, the voltage drop might be sufficient for things not working while others using very little current might work.

Can you clarify the boot locking? Is it the central locking working for the boot or are you pressing a different button to lock the boot. I can lock and unlock my boot using a separate button on my remote.

 

[Ziggie]

Part of parasitic loss is to measure the current being used (preferably using a clamp meter) .

so a good question is “ what current is being drawn from the battery “ when not working.
If there is a high current being used, then you have a short somewhere.

 

[agi1190]

The buttons on the remote control work only with the boot, the rest of the car cannot be locked/unlocked that way. To open the door I need to manually unlock with the key at the driver's door, but the central locking still won't work that way (passenger door stays locked, until I open with a handle from the inside). The button on the dash to lock all doors from the inside (citroens have them) will not work when the car is faulty.

 

[Ziggie]

Given the extent of the problem, I guess the one should concentrate on the common area - battery , battery clamps, fuse box entry ( several fuseboxes?) .I
I had a car stopped instantly , nothing working . Problem was a connection at a bolt. (I can’t remember if it was live or a connection to the bodywork of the car.)

might be that the boot has a separate connection to the bodywork!

 

[agi1190]

Checking the wiring diagram would possibly help with the puzzle... I guess?

 

[Ziggie]

So let’s place bets:

my bet goes that it is a wonky earth connector near the battery / fuse box where the connection is rusted or loose . This includes the battery clamp.

long shot!

 

[agi1190]

The whole fuse box was replaced recently, which only "worked" for a couple of days. I'll let you guys know once (if) I get my car started and bring it to the mechanic. I'll have a longer chat with the guy once I'm there and see if he has any ideas.

 

[Mike Johnson]

If as you say the mechanic replaced the fuse box he must have disconnected the battery, to me this all seems to point to a battery fault, connection, negative or positive or internal to the battery itself.

 

[DPG]

If as you say the mechanic replaced the fuse box he must have disconnected the battery, to me this all seems to point to a battery fault, connection, negative or positive or internal to the battery itself.

You would hope the garage would already have eliminated this as a matter of course, but you never know.