[2006] 407 SW 2.0 HDi Auto(6) Electrical Gremlins and Failure to Start

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doctle
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Re: [2006] 407 SW 2.0 HDi Auto(6) Electrical Gremlins and Failure to Start

Post by doctle »

What year is the car? If it was sold way below OMV the dealer could possibly argue that a. he told you it had problems and b. it would be obvious at the selling price that the car needed some repairs. As has been mentioned just because it has problems now doesn't mean it's a lemon. Do you have any service history or knowledge of when it was last serviced? It's possible there is some water in the fuel filter, easily removed. I have bought cars in the past as needing an engine/non runner when they needed things like coolant temperature sensors and cam sensor. Follow the suggestion about getting the battery checked then do the BSI reset on the link below and let us know the result.

viewtopic.php?f=51&t=61997
Oh buggle
BadIdea
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Re: [2006] 407 SW 2.0 HDi Auto(6) Electrical Gremlins and Failure to Start

Post by BadIdea »

ekjdm14 wrote: 08 Jan 2020, 16:17 As per Doctle, don't enter panic mode just yet. The dealer may well have an "out" and that's why one should always read the fine print before signing anything even though it is a royal PITA to spend time doing that with the dealer staring over your shoulder clearing their throat/sighing/looking at watch etc!

But as said, many of these things can be caused by a confused BSI after a battery change or even simply if the battery is weak. As an example, I went to start our spares 206 1.4HDi a couple of weeks back and the battery had got low, as a result the passenger window is now "upside down" on the buttons, the rear wiper sweeps when I unlock with the key and the mirrors stopped working. I'm confident a BSI reset will clear all those so there's hope yet. First thing I would do is to go to a local fastfit or similar that offers free battery checks and see what their machine says on the battery condition. Then once it's either changed or comes back with a clean bill of health the next step is the BSI reset procedure & if that fails to evict the gremlins then Diagbox/PP2000 session to see what the car thinks. As mentioned there's a map of members with the diagnostic kit so hopefully someone near you will be able to help rather than paying a PSA dealership. (Mine's not working at the moment, VCI has gone south! :( )

Best of luck with it, should be a fine car when in good health.
The annoying thing about this purchase was that the seller gave no indication that the terms of the sale would change due to the reduction in price. Call me cynical, but I think he was probably rubbing his hands together at the prospect. He also didn't print an invoice/receipt until I requested one last minute. I feel like it was a bit underhand, sneaking that clause in there without telling me.

But anyway, I'm keen to try to find out the extent of the problems, so I'll try what you guys have suggested. I've been so busy with work and other stuff recently I've not had time to even take the thing out for a drive again since last time. I'll find somewhere near me (Huddersfield) that does a battery check, then I'll do the BSI reset. I take it I need to do things in that order because I won't realise the benefits of a BSI reset if I've got a dodgy battery anyway? The times when it wouldn't start, the battery seemed very strong turning that motor over relentlessly.
BadIdea
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Re: [2006] 407 SW 2.0 HDi Auto(6) Electrical Gremlins and Failure to Start

Post by BadIdea »

doctle wrote: 08 Jan 2020, 19:08 What year is the car? If it was sold way below OMV the dealer could possibly argue that a. he told you it had problems and b. it would be obvious at the selling price that the car needed some repairs. As has been mentioned just because it has problems now doesn't mean it's a lemon. Do you have any service history or knowledge of when it was last serviced? It's possible there is some water in the fuel filter, easily removed. I have bought cars in the past as needing an engine/non runner when they needed things like coolant temperature sensors and cam sensor. Follow the suggestion about getting the battery checked then do the BSI reset on the link below and let us know the result.

viewtopic.php?f=51&t=61997
It's a 2006. Apparently it's the 'SE Luxury Pack' model. The service history is comprehensive, on schedule by either mileage or year and includes intermediate visits. Last two services done 02/2018 @ 77k miles and 11/2019 @ 96k miles, but that one appears to have been the car dealer themselves.
BadIdea
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Re: [2006] 407 SW 2.0 HDi Auto(6) Electrical Gremlins and Failure to Start

Post by BadIdea »

Oh, the dealer was upfront about the centre display. Apparently the original wasn't working at all, so he got a cheap used one off eBay which is barely legible, but seems to work. I don't know if the display would have anything to do with any of the gremlins (I'm guessing not).
doctle
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Re: [2006] 407 SW 2.0 HDi Auto(6) Electrical Gremlins and Failure to Start

Post by doctle »

So it was fairly well looked after, this is a good thing. French cars are great when they are going well but they can have weird electrical issues over simple things like a bad battery or a failing alternator that would make you weep. However there are experts here that can figure out most issues often for cheap!
Oh buggle
BadIdea
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Re: [2006] 407 SW 2.0 HDi Auto(6) Electrical Gremlins and Failure to Start

Post by BadIdea »

doctle wrote: 09 Jan 2020, 22:06 So it was fairly well looked after, this is a good thing. French cars are great when they are going well but they can have weird electrical issues over simple things like a bad battery or a failing alternator that would make you weep. However there are experts here that can figure out most issues often for cheap!
Well, that's encouraging to know :)

I've booked in for a battery health check at KwikFit on Saturday at midday. Hopefully their testing methods aren't skewed towards new battery sales!
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Re: [2006] 407 SW 2.0 HDi Auto(6) Electrical Gremlins and Failure to Start

Post by GiveMeABreak »

BadIdea wrote: 10 Jan 2020, 10:11Hopefully their testing methods aren't skewed towards new battery sales!
.... and pigs really do fly!

Make sure you ask for the readings / results of the test (you can always tell them you have an issue with the battery supplier so just want the results and won't be buying a battery from them regardless), so they know up front. Tell them you just want a battery test done - which they advertise as being free anyway and purport to use a Bosch testing system including a printout.
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Re: [2006] 407 SW 2.0 HDi Auto(6) Electrical Gremlins and Failure to Start

Post by ekjdm14 »

Best way IMO, tell them it's for an issue with the battery's original supplier & then if it fails the test you have a choice, buy new at your favoured other outlet or shrug and tell 'em "actually, as I have to send it back now I will need a new one after all." If they're allowed to be "economical with the truth" then why shouldn't we?
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Re: [2006] 407 SW 2.0 HDi Auto(6) Electrical Gremlins and Failure to Start

Post by doctle »

Booking a battery test doesn't seem normal it's a quick job. Halfords test for free and because the assistants in Halfords are stupid they aren't any good at sales so any attempt to sell you a battery will be pathetic and easily avoided.
Oh buggle
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Re: [2006] 407 SW 2.0 HDi Auto(6) Electrical Gremlins and Failure to Start

Post by ekjdm14 »

If it's anything like our local Kwik Fit then they'll be pretty well busy and booking even a battery test can be helpful if you don't fancy sitting drinking free coffee for half an hour while they find a minute between jobs. (A busy garage is generally a good sign too, one of my trusted MoT guys is the tester at our branch & I've observed the other lads at work while waiting for tests & they're a decent experienced bunch. Can't be sure it applies to all branches but Congleton at least is decent)
'95 Xantia LX 1.9D-auto, Black, 109k
'03 206 GTi180 94k in surgery
'03 206 1.1S XUD9TE/veg project :mrgreen:
'99 306 2.0SE cabriolet 95k summer toy
'97 306 XS 1.6i 99k sat 12 years, fixed in 7 days, 150mile maiden voyage :rofl2:
BadIdea
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Re: [2006] 407 SW 2.0 HDi Auto(6) Electrical Gremlins and Failure to Start

Post by BadIdea »

I had the battery test yesterday. I explained why I was there and the guy was keen to help without a sales pitch, so thumbs up to Kwik Fit, Huddersfield. Here are the results:

Battery Test
'Good Battery'
Voltage: 12.77V
Measured: 592 EN(A)
Rating: 650 EN(A)

Starter System
'Cranking Normal'
Cranking: 11.61V
Lowest Voltage: 8.04V
Time: 3.1s

Charging System
'No Problems'
No Load: 14.25V
Loaded: 14.25V

He came back into the waiting room and said "I don't know if this is good or bad news, but there's nothing wrong with your battery or alternator".

Unfortunately it was absolutely chucking it down by the time I was ready to try a BSI reset, so I'm going to give it a go today.
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Re: [2006] 407 SW 2.0 HDi Auto(6) Electrical Gremlins and Failure to Start

Post by BadIdea »

BSI reset done, so I guess the next step is getting it hooked up to some proper diagnostics equipment.
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Re: [2006] 407 SW 2.0 HDi Auto(6) Electrical Gremlins and Failure to Start

Post by doctle »

No improvement after BSI reset?
Oh buggle
BadIdea
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Re: [2006] 407 SW 2.0 HDi Auto(6) Electrical Gremlins and Failure to Start

Post by BadIdea »

doctle wrote: 12 Jan 2020, 15:03 No improvement after BSI reset?
It's hard to say; it hasn't failed to start since my original post, even before the BSI reset. There are a few things I can fix for definite, such as the central display and the rear parking sensor that I've discovered has come loose, maybe even the switch for the mirrors. But I'd like to get it properly diagnosed now for peace of mind, especially as my wife is going to be using it.
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C3 1.6 HDi Exclusive Aluminium Grey (The Silver Hornet)
C5 MK II 2.0 HDi Exclusive Obsidian Black
C5 MK I 2.0 HDi SX Wicked Red
Xantia S2 2.0 HDi SX Hermes Red
C15 Romahome White
XM 2.0 Turbo Prestige Emerald Green Pearlescent
XM 2.0 Turbo Prestige Polar White
XM 2.0 SX Polar White
CX 20 Polar White
GS 1220 Geranium Red
CX 2.4 Prestige C-Matic Nevada Beige
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Re: [2006] 407 SW 2.0 HDi Auto(6) Electrical Gremlins and Failure to Start

Post by GiveMeABreak »

Post up the codes here when you have them.
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