Any Peugeot 406 Owners?

cwhaley

cwhaley

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Any Peugeot 406 owners on here? I have abandoned 8 years of Ford ownership with their hit-or-miss TDCi engines to buy a 2.0 HDi.

The engine bay is refreshingly well laid out with most serviceable parts accessible to work on. It's done 153k but from talking to people in the owner's club before buying, they've said they're capable of many more miles than that. Easier than the Ford to start in cold weather and the fuel economy seems great (even with my heavier right foot, it being the 90 HP version!)

It has a few issues chiefly the fact that the car shudders/vibrates when pulling away in first gear -- presuming this is bottom engine mounts.
 
PeterN is the guru concerning these (haven’t seen him for agaes though).
They are an exceptional engine, and a good car overall.
The juddering could be a clutch, maybe but do check the mounting at the bottom of the gearbox which connects to the bodyshell.
John :)
 
I have the same 2.0HDI 90 in my Berlingo with a mere 78K on the clock. No issues to report with the engine. I did the timing belt last year and it was quite straightforward despite me never doing one before. I had an issue with the starter motor a few years ago and found that mine was a small 1.4kw version which they have since upgraded to a 1.7kw (straight swap replacement) - the bigger one solved my starting issues, but I don't know why the small one worked for 12 years (although I think they gradually get gunged up with iron filings). Had to replace perfectly good clutch last year due to failed release bearing (clutch man said it's far too small and a common failure), but no DMF to worry about. My alternator started whining 3 years ago (bearings) but still works so I turn the radio up! - did buy a replacement from a breaker last year but the courier dropped it and smashed the diode pack so I shoved it in the boot (in case it packs up while I'm out and I can persuade the AA to swap it all over!).
I bought mine after seeing my neighbour buy an absolutely worn out 406 2.0 HDi estate with 250k on the clock for £250 and running it as a builders/furniture removal "van" for 4 years with just a weekly top up of water and a squirt of easi-start on cold winter mornings!
 
An excellent vehicle, the Berlingo - one of the best of all time and still is!
I was a bit concerned with my 56 1.9D model - it started to rust at the wheel arch but Ive never noticed it on other vans.
It also needed a new rear axle ( a bit of a faff that one), two wheel bearings and a clutch......only 75k too:(
I run a Bipper now - a grossly inferior vehicle, but the price was right.
John :)
 
Thanks for the words both. Regarding starter motors I had read about the 1.4kw being perhaps a little inadequate for this engine. I've found it a little slow to start on the colder mornings (below 3 degrees) but certainly not non-starting but was going to dissemble it and clean. Reading this I may consider a straight swap of the upgraded unit if it'd be easier.

Really pleasing to hear good feedback on the engine. For a car that's 19 years old it drives nicely and feels like it just wants to go on and on. It's a little rattly at the back over bumps so when I have the time I'll check the springs/shocks when I look at the mounts.

IMG_0489.jpg
 
There are 3 starters available for the Berlingo, each with a differing number of teeth (12, 13, and 14 but don't quote me) - its vital to check that the locating dowel is in place on the bell housing if you replace it yourself and it often falls out with disastrous results (The starter goes out of alignment and wrecks itself in the ring gear.)
That Peugeot looks excellent! I seem to remember the rear suspension on the estate versions has drop links which are prone to wear but its been a long time since I've seen one.
The front springs are about 3' long :eek: but give a comfy ride. I think these have an Eloys fluid tank which needs replenishing at 80k.
Good luck with it!
John :)
 
cwhaley said:
Any Peugeot 406 owners on here? I have abandoned 8 years of Ford ownership with their hit-or-miss TDCi engines to buy a 2.0 HDi.

The engine bay is refreshingly well laid out with most serviceable parts accessible to work on. It's done 153k but from talking to people in the owner's club before buying, they've said they're capable of many more miles than that. Easier than the Ford to start in cold weather and the fuel economy seems great (even with my heavier right foot, it being the 90 HP version!)

It has a few issues chiefly the fact that the car shudders/vibrates when pulling away in first gear -- presuming this is bottom engine mounts.
Click to expand...

Vibration could do with clutch/dmf wearing out.
 
Londoner2 said:
Vibration could do with clutch/dmf wearing out.
Click to expand...

Thanks, as burnerman says it could be the clutch or the mountings for the engine or gearbox. I've also heard the springs between the plates can wear. Luckily there is no DMF on this model!

Also no DPF (think it was only the 2.2 which had one) so I presume no need for Eloys fluid??

Out walking this weekend but will take a look over everything I can soon. So much room under the bonnet it's brilliant.
 
The vehicle I remember was a blue estate on a Y plate so that makes it around 2001 I think. I don't know what the engine size was but thought it was a 1.9. TD.
The emissions lamp was on but the performance was unaffected - and those were the days when the MOT didn't count that as an issue.
Good luck with what you find!
John :)
 
Hello I'm back, still here although coming up 81 and still repairing my own cars. Changed my computer and lost the link to the forum - and forgot about it.:unsure:

I ran 406 Hdi estates for about 10 years and they are a brilliant car, I did lots of miles and can say with certainty they were the most reliable cars I have ever owned. They also have a very good ride compared with most modern cars and lots of room. Also very good on fuel, 60+ mpg on the motorway but I do drive my age.

It was only last year that I had my last one, we ran two most of the time, mine and the wife,s but I eventually had to say good bye because the brake servo failed and they are very difficult to replace due to their location and linkage to the other side of the car, in view of the fact that it had done well over 200k and they were getting rare I decided on a change but still got 250 pounds for it on ebay, it was still driveable but you had to press hard on the brake pedal to stop quickly.

I considered several other cars as replacements but most had a dreadful ride compared with the 406 and hydropnumatic Citroens I had driven for the previous 25 years or so. I saw one of the late type C5 estates advertised fairly locally and decided to give it a try and was completely blown away by the ride comfort. I only intended trying it out but ended up buying it. It has steel spring suspension but I reckon it rides nearly as well as the hydropnumatic models but is a lot more reliable. It has double wishbone suspension at the front and multi link, not unlike the 406 at the rear.

We have two now - the wife wanted one when she drove mine. They are a very big car but surprisingly easy to drive with very light steering and very quite as well - tyre dependant. I have had 70 mpg on the motorway from both of them but their overall average is a bit under 50 mpg in the winter anyway but we do live in a rural area and I rarely exceed 60 mph or 2000 rpm

Not as easy to work on as the 406 but generally doable. The only problems they do suffer from are steering rack pinion seals, one of mine leaks but only very slowly, I just top it up from time to time, passed the MOT like that. also windscreen wipers, they are intermittent on one of mine but haven't yet found out why - if its raining we use the other one.:cool:

Peter
 
Have a look at my smart charging alternators post Peter......just as I was getting used to dynamos :mrgreen:
Welcome back!
John :)
 
Hi John

Apologies for the absence. Yes I read your post, 18v across the battery must represent a heck of a lot amps going in but I suppose as long as its not doing it long enough to heat the battery up its OK, just a very rapid recovery mode. Remember the old 'fast chargers' the secondhand car dealers often had on their forecourts - but the batteries probably weren't any good anyway - hence the need.

The C5's have a large alternator but don't have a lot of high current devices, they run at 14.4v which is obviously the 'old' system, cheaper and more reliable I would think. They do have an electric auxiliary heater which I think is about 1kw but then so did the 406, that's got to equate to about 100 amps. I don't suppose I will ever own any of thes super high tech things. The C5's are 08, the first of the new models, still fairly basic - unless you need to change the thermostat.:sick:

I have come to the conclusion that at least with storage batteries 13.2 volts is the optimum charge rate, doesn't fully charge them but doesn't dry them out either. I have a couple of 100ah batteries as back up for the ham gear, I bought them secondhand hand probably 15 years ago and the still hold a charge! They are being charged by my radio PSU which I have set at 13.2 volts - 6 x 2.2v which is the fully charged voltage for a lead acid cell as I'm sure you know.

I also made up a 13.2 v charger for my sons window cleaning pump battery, he went through a number of batteries in a comparatively short space of time until he used that, the present one has been going probably 3 or 4 years.

Anyway, John nice to catch up with you again, hope you and yours are well - and stay that way for the immediate future.

Peter
 
Shuddering is likely the clutch, check engine mounts also.

aucth fork and this wears, causing aheavy clutch and lso the clucth fork and release bearing should be checked, they have a nylon pivot on the clutch fork and this wears out
 
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