Damp in ECU and crazy stuff!

[christhornton]

Hi All,

First post ;)

Info: Pug 406 HDI 110BHP Auto on a 51 plate. GLX model. 79k on the clock, no aftermarket mods.

Recently when the car is started in the morning after a while the airbag light comes on, which is preceeded by clicking in the panel behind where the diagnostic socket is. Also the fuel computer readouts will dropout and then come back. The handbrake 'on' warning message may or may not display briefly, if the lights are on the dimming for the dashboard will drop to minimum. Also the rear screen heater will turn itself off. Also if the car has low fuel, the fuel warning light will repeatedly beep and display on the control panel. All this may or may not be accompanied by further clicking. Possible solenoid switch type noises? When the car reaches operating temp, and is restarted the problems do not re-appear. I was driving through a brief shower the other day during a dry period and the airbag light came on.

there are no other problems other than this. The lights external to the car function, the ignition functions, the internal lights function other than the dash, the car does not exhibit performance issues.

I have checked the ECU bay for damp and the connectors for damp. Also looked for bare wires but cannot see any in the engine bay.

All these problems have been getting worse and worse.

Can anyone shed light on this at all? TIA!

Chris.

[DiscoPol]

Hi Chris and welcome,

look under the carpet in the drivers side footwell, I think

there is a multiplug that is famous or infamous for getting soaked and causing all sorts of problems.

im sure somebody else will be along soon to clarify on this but its well worth checking, have a search using the search box and you should find quite a few posts relating to it.

HTH
Polskipugless

[christhornton]

Dzienkuje Bardzo! I will look ;)

[tonyjane22]

Just had the same issues with mine

Mine was caused by the drivers sill drain hole been blocked. If your carpet is wet then you will need to get it up and check undermeath. You will find a number of connector blocks if they start to corrode then it will cause all sorts of issues.

The foam under the carpet is quite thick and works well as a sponge!!!

[christhornton]

Thanks tony... can you give me A quick overview on how to remove it please.. and anything that i should watch out for.. such as any accidental damage i could cause? things like those horrid suicide clips?

TIA!

[Doggy]

Hi Chris & Welcome.

As the others have said, damp in the driver's footwell is the usual suspect, though it can get wet by various routes including blocked sunroof drains. If you've got water sloshing about under the carpet, there is a drain plug in the floor, but on mine at least, the fuel cooler makes it tricky to get to.

Airbag warning light is usually to do with connectors under the seats, so don't be put off if you don't cure this one straight away.

[christhornton]

Thanks for the kind welcome everyone I've checked the footwell and it's dry as a bone...

[teamster1975]

Welcome in Chris!
Even if the area seems dry I would pull the connectors apart & work some conteact cleaner in there for good measure.
The only time I have heard this come up has been due to those connectors. Mind you there's a first time for everything!

[christhornton]

Will have a look and see what the score is. I've got some servisol switch cleaner in the cupbard.

[waue1978]

Is this a multiplex problem or can this occur in pre-multiplex cars?

[Welly]

Sounds like the BSi unit to me.

There's a thread somewhere with pics where the guy took it apart and cleaned up the multi-pin connectors, his dash was going crazy doing weird things.

[teamster1975]

Sounds like the BSi unit to me.

There's a thread somewhere with pics where the guy took it apart and cleaned up the multi-pin connectors, his dash was going crazy doing weird things.

Found it

[steve_earwig]

Now *that* needs moving to the knowledge base!!!

Is this a multiplex problem or can this occur in pre-multiplex cars?

Probably, but the multihex cars are much more susceptible to it, possibly due to all the signals jumping between circuits and giving it a nervous breakdown.

[christhornton]

I'll take a look on sunday when I've got a moment..

in between...

Digging in the alotment (thanks for the extra load Mrs.T...)
Draining the central heating system
Helping the kids with their homework
Remarking students work
Taking the kids to the park.

And having a nervous breakdown.

On second thoughts that last one doesnt sound over appealing...

[Welly]

I'll take a look on sunday when I've got a moment..

in between...

Digging in the alotment (thanks for the extra load Mrs.T...)
Draining the central heating system
Helping the kids with their homework
Remarking students work
Taking the kids to the park.

Oh yes, you are your car come wayyyyyyy down the list

Be sure to let us know if you find anything.