Possible causes for electrical problems on a 406

[nullarborrider]

So my venerable 406 family estate year 2000 suddenly developed an electrical problem; no surprises there, it happens. Water and air temperature gauges showing zero, odometer reading also zero, indicators not working. So Professional One came to call, diagnosed BSI failure, took it away for repair. Some time later, called to say attempted repair would not be satisfactory, new unit required. Got new unit from Peugeot, Professional 1 could not attend promptly, so called in Professional Two, who took away security code, keys, new unit and car. Called later to say new BSI installed but problem not solved, required open cheque to find out what was really wrong; declined his offer, subsequently discovered remote locking not working.

Following info from 406oc forum, got family mechanic to look at wiring connectors under carpet on drivers side. Bone dry, no evidence of water ingress, checked connectors and wiring, no visible faults of any kind, faults seemed to have disappeared. Put carpet back. Faults reappeared when car started, but disappeared again. This pattern of fault appearance and disappearance continues.

If anyone can suggest the next things to look at, I'd be grateful. Further details available on request. One particular question: where is the mileage for the car actually stored on a 406?

[Doggy]

Oh dear.

Diagnosis with PP2000 is the obvious thing to try, (recognising it can be difficult if an intermittent fault doesn't present itself at the time). Quite a few of us have the kit and would be prepared to have a look for little or no charge. Good chance you'd get the r/c/l working if nothing else.

Post your location and see if someone local can help.

The mileage is stored in both the clocks and the BSI. In theory if you change the clocks for a new set, it gets copied across. I think It's meant to do the same in reverse if you change the BSI. In some circumstances, it will add them together, in rare cases, it does it multiple times, leaving you with starship mileage.

[rwb]

As Doggy says, it would be good to get PP2000 on that to try to work out where the communication problems are. If it wasn't for the indicators my money would be on the instrument cluster.

2000 is semi-mux, so do the indicators have anything to do with the BSI or not?

[nullarborrider]

Thanks Doggy and rwb for advice. I'm in Bromley SE London, if anyone local with a PP2000 is interested and able to help, please contact.

[nullarborrider]

And in response to rwb, the indicators do in fact seem to be working now, so does that reinforce the conclusion that it may be the instrument cluster? If so, is that a 'send away for repair' job, or something easier?

Many thanks for your helpful advice.

[GingerMagic]

If you can find someone locally with PP2000 then this can activate the various gauges individualy, so this will show if you have a simple connection fault or something more sinister.
If you do need to replace the cluster, you need the correct type ( petrol, diesel, number of dials etc ) and one with lower mileage which I think won't mess up the mileage on your HDI - it should stay the same....

[Tubthumper]

Also, as I found to my cost , make sure you get some kind of proof of mileage for any used clocks, as I was lied to when I bought mine and the recorded milege jumped up 18k when fitted.