00 Citroen Xsara Speedo and rev counter

Honest John Back Room » Technical matters
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Tue 18 Jan 2005 18:22
00 Citroen Xsara Speedo and rev counter - jlo
Hi,

Wonder if there are any Citroen Guru's out there?

My Wife's car 'Citroen Xsara 1400 Forte Regeration 2000' has just been serviced and broke down this evening as the fuel filter clip had not been done up properly.

Green Flag got it going and I think needed to use the starter a lot to get the fuel going again.

Here is the problem.

The the Rev counter and Speeometer have some how spun round and are now resting the opoisite side of the speedo stop. (Where the needle rests against the stop the needle is the wrong side)

The rev counter did this one other cold moring when trying to jump start the car (The speedo and rev needle went haywire) but then fixed its self.

Anyideas on how to correct this problem.

Thanks in advance!

Jlo
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Tue 18 Jan 2005 19:39
00 Citroen Xsara Speedo and rev counter - Roly93
Disconnecting the battrey for 5 min and then reconnecting may force the electronics to re-initilise and may cure the problem.

If it doesn't, you may have to get the ECU software re-loaded by the dealer as it may have been corrupted by jump starting activities.

Before you do this make sure you have the 4 digit radio code handy.
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Tue 18 Jan 2005 20:08
00 Citroen Xsara Speedo and rev counter - mfarrow
Hi

It sounds like the needle has gone past the wrong end of the magnet somehow. When did this happen exactly? It sounds like quite a big voltage has gone through the needle for it to go like this. Maybe an earth fault on the needle contacts somewhere. My guess, therefore, is that it might prove difficult to persuade the needles to fall back, unless you take the clocks apart and push them in the right direction.

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Tue 18 Jan 2005 20:25
00 Citroen Xsara Speedo and rev counter - jlo
Thanks for both your replies.

I will try disconecting the battery.

The first time it happened (Just with the Rev counter) was when the battery was slugish and the engine was struggling to start (last winter)and while trying to start it caused the needles to jump around.

Today I was not present but the pipe fell of the fuel filter causing a breakdown. Wife called Greenflag who sorted problem but I guess did a lot of engine cranking to pump the fuel through. My wife noticed that both the rev and speedo needles were now behind the stop.

I will let you know how I get on.

Cheers

Jlo
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Tue 18 Jan 2005 20:28
00 Citroen Xsara Speedo and rev counter - jlo
BTW should I disconect the battery, Leave for 5 mins and then reconect with the ignition off or on.

It sound safer with it of but I am guess when I connect the battery with the ignition on this may cause the needles to jump and correct themselves?

What would you advice?

Cheers

Jlo
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Tue 18 Jan 2005 21:54
00 Citroen Xsara Speedo and rev counter - jlo
Thanks to all who repied.

Its now fixed. I tried diconecting the battery, and reconecting but no luck.

I then disconected and got my wife to sit in the car with the ignition on whilst conecting the battery.

Not the safest thing to do with a few sparks flying but this caused the clocks to reset themselves and all is working fine.

cheers

Jlo
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Fri 17 Mar 2006 20:41
00 Citroen Xsara Speedo and rev counter - loopylou
My speedo hasn't been working since my battery failed last week. I was so glad to find this page - it has saved me taking my car to the garage to fix and they were talking of a new speedo dial! I tried reconnecting the battery with the ignition on and it worked. Bless you all!
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Fri 25 Mar 2011 00:11
00 Citroen Xsara Speedo and rev counter - hendy

Thanks so much for taking the time to explain how you fixed the rev counter problem. I tried loads of times disconnecting bat then reconnecting. I just read your message and tried leaving the ignition on then disconnecting bat/reconnecting. It worked a treat!!

MANY THANKS SIMON!!!!!!!!!!!!

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Thu 10 Apr 2025 16:17
00 Citroen Xsara Speedo and rev counter - Colm Creaner

Just tried this trick on my 1998 citroen xsara and it was a life saver. Amazing that this still works 20 years after the original post.

Thank you so much for this

Edited by Colm Creaner on 10/04/2025 at 16:17

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