The COM2000 (or steering wheel stalks) - an inside look.

This is the COM2000 tear-down, a look inside a COM2000 unit found on the Citroen C3 and other Citroen/Peugeot models. A similar Citroen C3 BSI tear-down is here.

The COM2000 or Steering Wheel Stalks, or the 'switches under the steering wheel' is the unit that sits behind the steering wheel and holds the wiper and indicator stalk. The com2000 also has an air bag connection (drivers air bag signal passes through it), cruise control input, remote central locking transmitter, remote radio control input, trip computer button input, fog lights and the horn switch input.


The Com2000
There are three manufacturers involved in making com2000 units over the years and for various models, Delphi, Valeo and DAV each with a slightly different design but performing similar operations. The Peugeot and Citroen models share parts including the COM2000. There are numerous options for the COM2000 unit and if you want to fit a pre-owned replacement then you should match the part numbers found on your com2000 with the one from the seller. You can find many different COM2000 units on ebay.


This COM2000 is a 96605638XT and was found on a 2006 car.
Note the number on the barcode and the number printed onto the plastic case.
There are often 2 covers, one on each side of the C3 to allow the attachment of remote radio controls and the cruise controls. These options need to be enabled in the BSI before they can be used (if at all).
This is the grey cover partially removed With the each of the covers fully removed a printed circuit board connector is revealed.


Inside the COM2000 is the circuit board with connections to the switches on the stalk, the stalk position switches, airbag and connections to the car wiring loom.
The stalks are easily removed after opening the unit. Each stalk has its own switches and on this version of the COM2000 these signals are delivered to the main board via an FFC or flat flexible ribbon cable.
The 'clickyness' of the stalk positions is created by a saw tooth in the plastic moulding (arrowed) and the spring and follower found attached to the end of the stalk (arrowed)
The circuit board carries the pads for the stalk position switches, the car loom connections and the remote locking circuits.
The PCB also carries the NEC Microcontroller with the part numbers
NEC G01LG07F
HDC COM2000 and a CAN controller (controller area network controller) by AMIS - now owned by ON Semiconductor
Markings on the CAN controller are;
AMIS
REMX-BAA
031LPH
PSA
Air Bag

The airbag ring is now a coil of FFC (flat ribbon cable), sometimes called the 'clock spring' which is misleading as there is no spring pressure. Avoid opening up the airbag cable part of the COM2000. There is noting to repair in there.

'My lights would come on when I indicated right, I could stop it happening if I put my side lights on all the time' is a common complaint caused by problems with the com2000 unit, along with Citroen C3 wipers come on when I indicate left Some version of the COM2000 can be repaired others not, look here;to see if yours can be repaired.

To take a look at the switch that controls the lights, remove the dome shaped end cap, the lights switch and be ready to catch the 2 spring loaded parts that jump out. With the parts removed its possible to inspect the switches.

The switch is a custom FFC flat cable and a conducting ring. The ring has worn the FFC conductor away. If spares were available then a new ring and custom FFC would be required. These parts are not currently available. Other versions of the COM2000 use different systems to switch. Have a look here to see if any of these FFC match the one in your COM2000

a close up view shows the copper conductor lifted from the cable - it should be flat and attached to the substrate of the FFC. The damaged FFC can short out when using the stalk causing the problems of lights coming on when indicating and other odd light faults when operating a stalk. The arrow head shows the lifted and damaged conductors.

Other designs of COM2000 use different systems to switch the lights on and off, this type with its PCB based switch contacts and conducting sprung wiper is a much more robust design. These designs, when dirty do respond to cleaning with contact cleaner

This version of stalk control which was an option on some models to provide volume and channel / CD track changing at the steering wheel.



The end cap with the extra switches are easily removed
and replaced

How did you remove the steering wheel? should i just pull it?

tomasa wrote:How did you remove the steering wheel?

Disconnect the battery before you disconnect the air-bag.

Set the front wheels straight and remove the nut holding the steering wheel to the steering column

Pull the steering wheel off the shaft, you can wiggle and tap the steering wheel to free it up.

but do i have to disassemble something from the wheel? the center part where citroen logo is? or all bolts are visible when i take of those 2 plastic covers?

THANKS.

There are 2 holes on the sides of the steering wheel, poke a screwdriver in the holes to release the clips. With the clips released you can pull the air-bag (with the logo) away from the steering wheel.

I suggest you get a copy of the Haynes manual from here (Amazon) if you are planning on doing the work on your C3 as it can help with the basics and more complicated jobs with pictures and descriptions.

Have a look here for instructions to remove the air bag, remove the steering wheel and to remove the COM2000

indicator switch stalk (retainer) com2000

Mending Faulty indicator which has FFC contact surface is possible.
By pressing indicator down, copper ring presses against FFC ,so it ruins gradually, and copper contact surface creases.
By creasing copper contact surface, when we press indicator down, contact is lost, so low beams go on.
We can restore and reinforce FFC by coating copper surface through soldering, Then covering FCC surface by twin epoxy adhesive. We should make contact surfaces clean before adhesive hardens.

hi

I own a 2002 Peugeot 206 GTi 138 (mux) and I've just taken out my entire com2000 unit.

My problem is that randomly (or during bumps I can never really determine) my front light turns on. I can avoid this by having the side lights on or continually shut it off as I notice it.

I'm sure that the problem lies somewhere in the connection in the main light switch but I'm unable to open it as you have in the image above - how did you go about splitting the stalk?

Cheers from Sydney