Hello,
I have a 2003 406 Hdi S 90 hp.
Car has not been used / on SORN for the past 18 months.
It still has the original Varta battery which lasted for just over 15 years!! I bought the car in 2004 it was six months old and the battery only just gave up on me about a month ago. I have a solar powered trickle charger in the windscreen & plugged into the cigarette lighter. So I can still lock and open the doors etc. I just have a couple of questions if anyone can help me with (I am no mechanic so please bear with me) :
I am going to fit a replacement battery so am looking at memory savers / memory minders to save radio codes etc. Trying to decide which is the best type to go for on a 406. The ones that plug into the cigarette lighter or the type that plugs into the OECB Port. Does anyone have any experience / recommendations to share on these? I have heard hooking up jump leads to another battery is fairly precarious while changing the battery?
Can anyone tell me is the cigarette lighter socket supposed to be only powered when the ignition is on? I have tried it with ignition on and off and it only gives a very lukewarm result either way and doesn't stay pushed into the socket. I have to hold it in firmly to only get a lukewarm result.
Also I’m thinking of getting a battery from a breakers yard. I think the batteries for these cars are the 027 & 096 type, is there any other type suitable if I can’t get one of those from a breaker? Any recommendations for batteries or what I should look out for buying second hand Thanks in advance for any advice, much appreciated,
cheers!
The radio does not need recoding after losing power.
(Specifically, the radio is VIN coded to the car so it only needs coding when you put in a different radio.)
Wait for the BSI to power down before disconnecting the battery.
There are various folk lores about the exact procedure.
E.g., viewtopic.php?f=10&t=13431&p=122217
IIRC there is a fuse that can be put in one of two positions to change whether the cigarette lighter is permenant live or switched.
For batteries I generally work to the principle: the largest capacity battery that will physically fit, although I don't understand battery specifications.
Over the years, I've bought several batteries from breakers at around £10 or slightly more.
No complaints. They were mostly the smaller, eg 063, type batteries typical for smaller cars
The 096 seems to be the standard for diesels, certainly those with the bigger engines.
I wouldn't bother putting anything of much lower power in, I'd always be wondering if
come some raw, winter morning .. whether it would let me down.
I've bought from Tayna batteries on eBay in the past. I see they have a 096, 4 year guarantee,
with good Amps, and CCA for £55, Vartas seem to be up around the £80 to £90 mark.
You pays your money....
2006 Toyota Yaris 1.0 T3
1993 Mazda MX5 Mk1 1.6
2000 "W" HDI 110 Executive Saloon (Recycled).
rwb wrote: ↑Sat Feb 23, 2019 10:56 am
How are you finding the solar charger?
Our bastard 307 from hell drains its battery if not used every day. I tried a solar charger but it didn't make any difference.
I have a solar charger. I've decided they're not really all they're cracked up to be as battery maintainers.
For your car, with that rate of discharge, you might need a field full of solar panels.
2006 Toyota Yaris 1.0 T3
1993 Mazda MX5 Mk1 1.6
2000 "W" HDI 110 Executive Saloon (Recycled).
+1 just got letter from my tracker company saying the one on the camper van hasn't responded this month, (which I'm guessing is a flat battery).
that's with 2 x 150W solar panels
Had to replace the battery on the 406 just after xmas, settled for the cheapest local offering, (Motor Parts Direct this time). £59 with 2 year guarantee for an 096.
Car's going in the bin a few weeks, so cheapest was best this time.
2002 HDi 2.2 Exec Estate, (2008-12) (wonderful)
2003 HDi 2.2 6-speed Exec Estate (2012-19) (also a gem)
2009 Citroen C5 2.0 HDi VTR+ Estate (godawful heap)
2008 BMW E91 330i touring (great fun - murdered by a reversing SUV)
2007 BMW E91 325i touring (slower smoother quieter)
I got the one that produces 7.5 watts for £21
I have found it to be very good. It has started my 406 from flat and also started a 20 year old Skoda Felica that had a flat battery. My dear old Dad has the exact same one of these solar battery maintainers. He went on holiday and connected this to his Mk2 Mondeo diesel, he was away for 25 days, and it started up no probs when he got back.
I would recommend it.
