Check Engine and UREA Lights B9 Van Post Standing Water

[benjgorman]

Hello,

I've run into a bit of a puzzle with my van recently and could use some input from the community. In the past month, I've had the check engine light flash up (with a warning on the LCD) specifically the one tied to emissions, popping up twice. On the second occasion, the UREA light joined in. However, both lights mysteriously vanish by the next day. Multiple starts did not fix it, but waiting 24 hours clears it.

Interestingly, the first incident occurred during a heavy downpour, with plenty of standing water on the roads. The second time, I had to navigate through another substantial section of standing water. Could these occurrences be linked? It seems that once whatever got wet dries out, the problem resolves itself.

Any thoughts? I keep the AdBlue topped up, I do longish journeys from time to time (e.g., from South Coast to Scotland).

[Multispacer]

Hello,

I've run into a bit of a puzzle with my van recently and could use some input from the community. In the past month, I've had the check engine light flash up (with a warning on the LCD) specifically the one tied to emissions, popping up twice. On the second occasion, the UREA light joined in. However, both lights mysteriously vanish by the next day. Multiple starts did not fix it, but waiting 24 hours clears it.

Interestingly, the first incident occurred during a heavy downpour, with plenty of standing water on the roads. The second time, I had to navigate through another substantial section of standing water. Could these occurrences be linked? It seems that once whatever got wet dries out, the problem resolves itself.

Any thoughts? I keep the AdBlue topped up, I do longish journeys from time to time (e.g., from South Coast to Scotland).

It could be just co-incidence with the warnings/water but the place I would go and have a good look is in the engine bay fuse box as any water/liquid ingress in there can cause all sorts of weird problems, as it is not only a fuse box but has a circuit board that definitely does not like water! Also if your rain scuttle gets blocked water can overflow and get into the fuse box area. 

The lid just unclips and it should be immediately obvious if there has been water getting in as it should be completely dry under the lid. The circuit board is on the underside and if you suspect that might be the problem, you will need to disconnect the battery [follow the correct BSI shut down procedure] and disconnect all the fuse board plugs and the one large bolted on positive connection to the fuse box to be able to get it out to check underneath for any signs of water damage.

Also after disconnecting the battery you can remove all the fuse box connector plugs and look for any signs of water ingress or corrosion on the plugs [both pin and socket side] If there is any evidence of corrosion carefully clean the contacts/pins with electrical contact cleaner [such as servisol] do NOT use WD40 on electrical connectors as that can cause all sorts of other problems as WD40 is not designed to be used on electrical contacts. 

There are a number of feeds for various warnings that go through there, as well as the control for various things that the BSI does. I had a problem recently with my unit, in that I suddenly started getting 'STOP' warnings and brake fail warnings as well as, and this was really weird the headlamps and wipers would suddenly switch themselves on while the vehicle was parked up without the engine running! Turned out in my case the 'liquid' ingress in the fuse box was in fact caused by a rodent that had set up home in there and used the fuse box as a toilet. Luckily no wires had been chewed through but I had to source a whole new fuse box as the electronics were toast and they are all 'potted' into the board with resin so you cannot do anything to the board. I was able to source a used exact part number replacement that was sent out to me for less than £40 that cured all the warnings/faults but be warned if you do need a replacement make sure you get the exact same part number [it is clearly printed on the corner of the unit] as there are a vast number of different units that across the PSA vehicle range that are not interchangeable [and they do vary in price, mine was only £40 but some of the part numbers used in the Berlingo are £150+] One good thing is that even though there are a lot of electronics on the board it is 'plug and play'  

Location of fuse box in engine bay is to the right of the battery

   

[Romahomepete]

My sons B9 multispace did all sorts of wierd things for a few days after he had gone through water. It dried out after a few days and everything was back to normal but I am expecting problems in the future when corrosion on the electrical connectors sets in

Peter

[benjgorman]

So it happened again today, no obvious water inside the electrical box except a few leaves? Would these really cause any issue?

Any other thoughts on what to check?

[brodfather11]

I'm wondering how leaves got into the electrical box ? Do you mean the fuse box?

If it is the fuse box you mean is there no lid on it ? and if leaves can get in, water will get in no problem

[benjgorman]

Sorry yeah meant the fuse box in the picture above, it was shut tight so I don't really understand how they got in there to be honest!

[benjgorman]

So this actually hapened again yesterday evening, and then today it was all gone? Doesn't make much sense!

So I checked inside the fuse box and there was leaves inside it, even though the cover was shut.


   

Now these bits of the scuttle cover were wet (where I have marked it with an X), on both the left and right of the vehicle should they be? Do I need to remove the scuttle panel?

   

   

[Multispacer]

No the panel with the X should not be wet as that suggests to me that they may be blockages to your drains under the scuttle. The foam rubber 'L' shaped corners do get get and that isn't anything to really worry about. With the leaves inside your fuse box, I would go through the BSI shutdown procedure and then disconnect the main battery. I would then go about pulling each fuse in turn, one at a time and check, not for blown fuses but for corrosion on the blades of the fuses. Check one at a time and then replace, if the blades look clean. Any with any sign of corrosion, then you have probably had liquid get in, I had a number corroded in my fuse box after the 'rodent' visit which had made a nest with various bits of rubbish [and leaves] That may be how the leaves got in in your case as well?  

If after checking all the fuses and they all seem okay [no sign of any corrosion] I would then take out each plug, one at a time and examine both the pins and sockets for any sign of corrosion [it normally appears as either a green or white powder build up]

[benjgorman]

No the panel with the X should not be wet as that suggests to me that they may be blockages to your drains under the scuttle. The foam rubber 'L' shaped corners do get get and that isn't anything to really worry about. With the leaves inside your fuse box, I would go through the BSI shutdown procedure and then disconnect the main battery. I would then go about pulling each fuse in turn, one at a time and check, not for blown fuses but for corrosion on the blades of the fuses. Check one at a time and then replace, if the blades look clean. Any with any sign of corrosion, then you have probably had liquid get in, I had a number corroded in my fuse box after the 'rodent' visit which had made a nest with various bits of rubbish [and leaves] That may be how the leaves got in in your case as well?  

If after checking all the fuses and they all seem okay [no sign of any corrosion] I would then take out each plug, one at a time and examine both the pins and sockets for any sign of corrosion [it normally appears as either a green or white powder build up]

Ok really good advice thanks, how do I clean out the scuttle drains? I can't seem to find any guide on how to do that. I'm assuming removing the wiper blades and undo all the obvious screws?

Not sure if I fancy touching the BSI, would a mechanic do this check?

[Multispacer]

No the panel with the X should not be wet as that suggests to me that they may be blockages to your drains under the scuttle. The foam rubber 'L' shaped corners do get get and that isn't anything to really worry about. With the leaves inside your fuse box, I would go through the BSI shutdown procedure and then disconnect the main battery. I would then go about pulling each fuse in turn, one at a time and check, not for blown fuses but for corrosion on the blades of the fuses. Check one at a time and then replace, if the blades look clean. Any with any sign of corrosion, then you have probably had liquid get in, I had a number corroded in my fuse box after the 'rodent' visit which had made a nest with various bits of rubbish [and leaves] That may be how the leaves got in in your case as well?  

If after checking all the fuses and they all seem okay [no sign of any corrosion] I would then take out each plug, one at a time and examine both the pins and sockets for any sign of corrosion [it normally appears as either a green or white powder build up]

Ok really good advice thanks, how do I clean out the scuttle drains? I can't seem to find any guide on how to do that. I'm assuming removing the wiper blades and undo all the obvious screws?

Not sure if I fancy touching the BSI, would a mechanic do this check?


Yes, wipers off and I think, from memory, three Torx headed screws. I think you may also have to undo all those fasteners on the material on the bulkhead [the area that you had marked the 'X' on your image] You can then access the area around the ends of the scuttle and there should be a drain at each end. 

You don't need to touch the BSI what I mention is the correct procedure for shutting down the BSI rather than just disconnecting the battery, that way the BSI is shutdown correctly when you disconnect/and reconnect the battery. Think of it as how you shut down a PC, you click the shutdown button in Windows and everything shuts down in a orderly fashion, you don't just pull the mains plug from the wall to shut it down [well I hope you don't   ]

This thread [on another forum]   talks you through the correct procedure. https://frenchcarforum.co.uk/forum/viewt...hp?t=61997