Radio fault - Audio BEEP

Hello, suddenly my radio has developed a 1 second pulsed BEEP on FM. The background is that the FM was intermittent and I withdrew the radio with prong tools to check the antenna connection at the back. I cleaned it with WD40. I didn't interfere with any of the other connections and replaced the radio in its slot. Next time I turned on the radio there was no signal on FM apart from this new BEEP. The MW is a single programme with a scratchy signal with the beep superimposed. I wonder if I have upset a security code that I am unaware of. Otherwise could it be a fault with the antenna and is it curable? I shall be grateful for any help or shared experience with such a fault.
Regards
RONNIEMAC

Hi ronniemac37

BEEPing through the speakers sounds like a radio coding issue.

this topic - Radio trouble (beeping through the speakers) has a link to a sound sample of the BEEP to compare with yours (towards the bottom of the posts)

Hello Arthur Dent
Thank you for your prompt and expert reply. The BEEP is exactly that demonstrated on the video clip. Are you able to advise further on the method of using the diagnostic tool to re-code the radio to the ECU? Hopefully, I will be able to access a source with a list of codings, but, you will gather that I am rather in the dark on these hi-tec electronics. Thanks again. Regards

Are you able to advise further on the method of using the diagnostic tool to re-code the radio to the ECU?

If you have Lexia tool up and running, then yes.

If you don't have the Lexia tool working, then no, its probably going to be a trip to the dealer, get this lexia tool yourself and install that or find someone with a working lexia tool.

If you do have lexia up and running, I will post some instructions soon.

Hello again Arthur Dent
My contacts don't have access to the LEXIA tool so I will travel to Pedigreed cars in Forres who are the old established Citroen dealers up here in the Highlands. They sold the car originally and attended to servicing it for the previous lady owner. Hopefully they will look kindly as regards the charges involved! Thanks for all your help.
Regards

A telephone enquiry to Pedigreed cars gave a rough guide to charges. The cost will relate to the time taken by the Diagnostic device to complete its program. This can take an hour or more and is charged at the hourly rate of £65 plus VAT. There appears to be a minimum charge of half an hour (presumably £39 inc VAT) to diagnose this system-generated fault. Too rich for this pensioner's pocket! I will investigate fitting another (on-hand) radio with digital read-out and do without the 'luxury' of a dashboard display and fingertip controls. I wonder if there are any hints (or pitfalls to avoid) in installing a non-Citroen radio?
Regards

The is only one pitfall in fitting a non citroen radio to the car and that is PIN4 and PIN7 on the ISO power plug must be transposed to stop all sorts of problems with the BSI (usual the central locking stops working overnight).

There are plenty of posts about it on this forum

You can pick up a bargain (new) radio from eBay (here) or have a look through at these on Amazon .

Thank you C3Car. I will proceed with caution and go to Halfords if 'cock-up' occurs.
Regards

Hello again C3 Car
Local enquiries reveal that the Renault dealer in town has taken on the Citroen dealership complete with service facilities. They have quoted a set price for the BEEP diagnostic which is helpful. I wonder what might have caused the original fault to develop. My battery is struggling a wee bit in these cold mornings and on occasion the AIRBAG warning light stays on. It extinguishes on the next start-up and I have put that down to the cold first start. In your experience, could the radio code/ECU problem arise from the depleted voltage? If so, the fault could re-occur and perhaps a replacement battery would be a better use of available funds in the meantime. Your thoughts will be appreciated, as ever.
Regards.

Hi ronniemac37

My personal preference would be to get the battery sorted first. Purely to avoid the inconvenience of getting stuck out somewhere and not being able to start the car. Avoid jump starting the C3 at all costs (damage to the engine ECU is common with jump-starting or boosting)

You can find the right battery for your particular model of C3 by entering the registration number in the yellow box on left, choose batteries and click 'show me' when you visit EuroCarparts


If you are sure which battery you need, my favourite place to get bosch batteries is eBay (here) including delivery

Citroen C3 Bosch battery (here).



A bit of beeping through the speakers is annoying, but no way as annoying as click,click,click when you turn the key and its cold and dark and all you want to do is to get home.

You may find the air bag light sorts it self out with a new battery, as you suggested, if not, then nothing lost.

In your experience, could the radio code/ECU problem arise from the depleted voltage?

I don't know what makes the radio and BSI radio loose the security connection, but I wouldn't be surprised to hear that voltage spikes, brown outs and a knackered battery had a hand in messing things up.


While your friendly dealer is sorting the radio, it may be worth asking them to pull all the diagnostic codes to see why the airbag light comes on (if a new battery didn't sort it out). I think the dealer will be using the same tools to re-code the radio as the tools to view the diagnostic codes left by the air-bag ecu.