Car Fix DIY Videos

If you have an automatic gearbox on your TD5 and you go to start with the key (gear lever in the P/Park position) and nothing happens then chances are it’s a XYZ Inhibitor switch problem (common fault) and needs cleaning or replacing, interestingly it would start in N/Neutral position though. The problem is caused by one or more of the fingers and/or metal tracks arching/corroding due to age and use so the electrical current cannot flow thus the ECU won’t allow it to start.

———————————-
I would advise doing some basic checks before removing anything which are: 1. good battery voltage (low can use M+S lights) 2. starter relay (yellow, should click when key is turned can swap them around) 3. starter solenoid signal wire is 12v~ (red/brown wire and brown plug. use multimeter) and 4. check spade connector on starter (clean up). We have a full here about all those checks and also how to remove the starter motor as well:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=96J84VqWU88
———————————-

There are two different types of XYZ switches, the brown cover version has a set of micro switches but the black version as featured in this video is more simple and has copper fingers that run on top of metal tracks, over time these can wear, corrode and arch due to age however if you have the same type as us then after removing the switch it’s an easy enough job to clean it up and get things back running again, we’ll show you how to easily clean it without causing any damage. You can also bend the little fingers to give good pressure on the tracks, only a little though.

Once the switch is cleaned, we add some dielectric grease to the tracks and resembled using rivets, the switch was then refitted and everything is working as expected. If you have refitted the switch properly and still have M+S lights then you may need to clear some AT codes, turn ignition off then on.

I hope you have found this video help, if you have any questions please ask.

How to remove the xyz switch and refitting:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r9ov9lpC2Yc

Things you will need:
1. Electrical Contact Cleaner, make sure everything is super clean.
2. 2500 grit sandpaper, needs to be fine.
2. Dielectric grease, don’t use Vaseline or anything else.
4. Some rivets or small bolts (nylock nuts).