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PhWeiss92

Xsara electrical issue

Hi, I'm having a weird electrical issue with my 2002 Citroen Xsara (gasoline engine). The car starts poorly, and after some digging, it seems terminal 30 has an interrupted continuous plus. Could this be related to a faulty ignition switch or something else draining the battery?

4 comment(s)

johannesscholz78

Greetings. An interrupted continuous plus on terminal 30 certainly sounds concerning. Have you noticed any unusual electrical behavior beyond the poor starting, such as lights dimming or the radio acting up? It could indeed be the ignition switch, but we must also consider the charging system. Is the battery holding a charge, or does it seem heavily discharged? Think of it like a leaky bucket – even if the faucet (alternator) is working, a hole (faulty component) will keep it empty.

PhWeiss92 (Author)

Thanks for the response. The battery does seem to drain quickly. How can I check the charging system to rule that out? Any specific things to look for?

johannesscholz78

Right, a quickly draining battery points away from the ignition switch alone. Before chasing ghosts, verify the basics. Like a doctor listening to a heartbeat, use a multimeter to test the alternator's output voltage while the engine is running. It should be within the normal range. If the battery is heavily discharged or defective, you should visit your workshop for a check-up.

PhWeiss92 (Author)

Appreciate the help. It turned out to be a heavily discharged battery. Replacing it fixed the issue. Cost me 290€ in the end.

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