406 Hdi electrical system nervous breakdown

[Peter.N.]

Yet again my 406 is doing strange things, I came to start it this evening and the hazard lights were on, turned them off and didn't think any more about it, then it kept bleeping at me and a light came on very briefly, bleeping continued intermittently although no more light, then I noticed that the rev counter was going to zero and back and the mileage recorder was reading 00000, then it all came back but the heater fan kept stopping and starting, the car was still driving OK, when I looked at the fuel computer display it was in German. The panel lights were also going on and off.

It would seem that I have a faulty connection somewhere, the headlights were still working even when the panel lights went out. It has a new battery and its reading 14.4 v with the engine running, I have checked the battery connections and they are fine.

This car has given me getting on for 4 years faultless service - until the last couple of months.

Can anyone help?

Peter

[citronut]

ignition switch?????

[Peter.N.]

Hadn't thought of than Malcolm thanks, I must be getting old

Peter

[Peter.N.]

It was a good idea but I don't think its that. There is another problem, the fuel gauge has been cycling between empty with the light on and half full, I thought it was down to the level sensor but having removed it (how are you supposed to get the ring undone without breaking all the lugs off?!!*$&!!) it tests fine and with the ignition on the gauge still has a mind of its own and doesn't respond to moving the sensor. The gauges are now going on and off at random just by switching the ignition on, more worrying is that the heater blower is coming on and going off without the engine running, sounds electronicy.

Peter

[Gibbo_Wirral]

How old is the battery? When more than one electrical gremlin shows up I normally look at the power source, followed by earth points.

My brother does diagnostics over in Sheffield and he had a car that was starting up fine but throwing up all kinds of electrical problems. When he put the meter on the battery it was showing just over 8v.

[Peter.N.]

New battery. I think I may have the answer courtesy of the 406CC forum, there are a couple of multi way connectors under the carpet on the drivers side, I haven't got to them yet but when I lifted the edge there is about 1/4" of water underneath, known problem apparently - but not very

Peter

[Peter.N.]

It was in fact water ingress, I lifted drivers side carpet and there was water actually sloshing about under it, there are four connectors and one was partially submerged, as soon as I had just drained the water out without cleaning and drying the connectors the gauges started working correctly. I WD40'd them and cleaned as best as I could and everything was fine - or so I thought.

We had to go to Truro yesterday, got within about 10 miles on the A30 and it stopped, called the AA and they said within an hour, a friendly policeman came by and got them there in 10 minutes as I was partially on the carriageway, a garage recovered the car and we completed our journey by taxi - ouch! We picked the car up in the evening and it had been out of fuel obviously the gauge still isn't reading correctly, otherwise its fine.

Peter

[citronut]

so Peter
did you have carp carp carp under the carp---et

or were they a little koy

[Peter.N.]

Almost ~

[studsmassive]

Could this be the problem with mine as my electrics are faulty my fuel gauge don't woe and other things are strange

[Peter.N.]

Worth having a look. Take the mat out and see if the carpet is wet underneath.