406oc.co.uk

Hello, I’ve only just discovered this forum so wanted to hello to all and put up my first post. I am currently trying to sort out loads of bits for my 406 and Wanted to throw up a few ideas and see if anyone has any views on them. My first problem is my exhaust is buggered. The intermediate pipe or centre section has corroded away at the tail pipe end and fallen out of the clamp so I am looking to replace this. I going to do change it over myself but I am getting really varied prices for a replacement, from about £35 - £75. Can anyone advise me of an average price you should pay for one? I am sort of thinking if its £75 I might be better off taking in to a local kwik fit as they probably won't charge all that much more to do it. My second problem that I am solving is the ambient temperature sensor. Its registering from 45-50oC which I am fairly sure is inaccurate for Kent this time of year! I've taken off the passenger door mirror and looked for any obvious signs of a fault but it’s all sealed so I am going to chop it out and put in a new one. My only query with this was is it a common fault or am I one of the lucky ones. The other problems I am having are faulty handbrake warning switch, but I got that under control. Finding a replacement Multichanger as the original got wet from a leak in the boot/rear light seal. Changing front discs and pads which I have a question. I've seen these Mintex brake boxes on ebay which have 2 discs and 4 pads for the front and they work out £56 for the lot. This seems too cheap to me. Anyone think they are any good? Not sure if ebay links are allowed, if not please moderate.

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll? ... &rd=1&rd=1

Sorry for the mammoth post but I needed to get it off my chest! lol.

Hello and Welcome

Right then....

Exhaust, not really much help because when mine went I bought a stainless one, but I do remember that Peugeot wanted something like £110 for the middle and £240 for the back

Temp sensor, never heared of them failing before, did hear of a guy who bought non-standard (chavtastic) mirrors and successfully transplanted the sensor, so it shouldn't be too difficult to change (although it did make it a bit less accurate it was no where near as far out as yours!)

Multichanger, I think someone on here was selling one a little while back - come on guys, speak up!!

Brakes, that does seem like a very good deal - I recently paid £47 for the front pads alone from a main stealer, so £56 including the discs sounds excellent. I think Mintex are OK from what I've heared, I just had a bad experience with some aftermarket brakes on a Vauxhall I had years ago, so ever since then I've always bought genuine parts when it comes to stopping!! . Good news is the 406 has the easiest brakes I've ever changed!

Hi Chap and welcome to the community... Hope you enjoy your stay and get involved in the sucess of the site!

As for your queries...

Exhaust prices you have been quoted are probably for bossal or similar aftermarket types.. tbh you might as well go into quick fit if the price is right as it really is just a 10 minute job and paying about £15 extra for them to fit it is well worth it.. IMHO.

Temp sensor issue may not be sensors but module fault, now is that one integral (ECM) or seperate module?

Mintex brakes...... well where to start, I have them all round, disc's, pad's and handbrake shoes! Believe me they are hard wearing and very good at stopping you! Only major problem is squeel during lighter braking after a good using! Me and my bro both have them on our cars both with the same squeel, he contacted Mintex dierct and they sent him some shimms out, and they cured nothing at all!

Great for stoping -- make your car sound like a skoda !

I had EBC green stuff last time, great stoppers, quick faders, not very good value and they eat through stock disc's like you wouldn't believe..

I agree with Dia, the 406's brakes are so easy anyone and I mean anyone can do them, even my misses could do them if she wanted! lol

If you want genuine items but don't want to pay for the peugeot stamp or box, just go into your local Lucas retailer and order yourself some Lucas sport pads!

HTH and welcome to the community

Thanks for the replies, it all sounds like good advice. I was umming and arging about doing the exhuast myself but after your comments I am thinking I may as well go to Kwik fit, the amount of time it will take me to mess with the car and get the old exhaust off (corroded and stuck bolts no doubt!) I may as well just pay the extra £20 or so and have an afternoon on the sofa instead. I am not sure I can keep up with your talk about the temp sensor NIZ406, I have taken off the mirror and had it apart and the sensor comes out easy enough but I am totally clueless about the 'module fault' and whether it is integral or seperate module. How would I look into that? It would make sense to double check that before I go replacing bits. I have been filled with confidence on the brake front though and will set about that ASAP. Thanks for your help guys and I promise to pay my way when it come to the replies and forum contributions in the future.

You're welcome we're all here to help!

Where abouts are you located, kwick fit are well known, but usually going and playing say National Tyres against them will save you more £££ or even ETS or an independant So amny options!

Temp sensor wise, are you sure its in Celcious mode... because 45 degrees F is about 7 / 8 degrees C ?? Another test to check this is to get a cup of hot water and hold it upto the sensor so the steam hits it, then cheak to see if it changes the read out! if it comes back over 70 - 100 Degress you know the sensor is working right but the module is displaying it incorrectly as F not C I hope this makes sense!??

Do the aforementioned procedure and see if the sensor reports the rise in temp... if it does you can rule out the sensors

HTH and let me know if you need any more info !?

I'm in Kent and there seems to be plenty of options for exhaust fitting. Going ot ring about and see what comes up. I tripled check the temp to make sure its in centigrade and not fahrenheit. Changed it over and back a few times to make sure. I am fairly sure the sensor is buggered as it jumps about significantly without any obvious variable (for example will go from 45 to 50 then to 46 in a few seconds whilst just sitting there with the engine off and in a shelter spot). It displays -- a lot too. I don't know whether this means is can't get a reading or if its just off the scale. It makes sense not to have it register after 50oC as it would very rarely be of use.

I can;t believe people are saying go to Kwik Fit, The systems they fit are often poor quality and if the 205 ones are anything to go buy loose a fair amount of power,
The system on mine is a OE Pug one which I only had to replace a yr ago for the first time so getting 8 years out of it is pretty good going, Still on the OE Cat too.
My car does allot of milage too so it's not down to lack of use.

Miles wrote:I can;t believe people are saying go to Kwik Fit, The systems they fit are often poor quality and if the 205 ones are anything to go buy loose a fair amount of power,
The system on mine is a OE Pug one which I only had to replace a yr ago for the first time so getting 8 years out of it is pretty good going, Still on the OE Cat too.
My car does allot of milage too so it's not down to lack of use.

I got a full system on my 406 from Kwik Fit. Not only does it sit right, it sounds right and goes right. No loss of power.
I have a 3 year gaurantee on the Cat and 2 years for the rest. And if it should develop a rattle at anytime I can go back to them.
You realy cannot get fairer than that!
The Local Pug Stealer wanted close to a grand for the same job.

Christ, I paid about £250.00 for the centre and Back box from my dealer, But Thats at trade price.
But when I had a Mondeo as a company car the complete system was replaced by Kwik fit and it never went the same and sounded funny too, Took it back and they didn;t really take any notice as it didn;t rattle or leak.

But on my list of car's a 306 GTi I just got has a recipt for a system inc CAT for £501.00 from Kwik's,
havn;t really looked or driven this one to comment on it, Expensive thou I thought for a pattern system

pug OE exhausts are very good.
Cheap pattern parts usually are not all that great.

Hey guys, just a follow up to the on going exhaust debate. Got a centre section and some new clamps and fitted it all myself. Cost £60 in total. Probably not the best parts in the world but it seems to do the trick and both sound and power seem to be restored.

Forgot to say I sorted the temp sensor and handbrake switch whilst I was at it. New temp sensor was £12 and the handbrake switch was £2.30 so all in all a fairly cheap repair and the added bonus that my 406 now realises it in Kent and not on the equator!