MOAR hot air questions. Carlo? Ruffgeezer?

[binhoker668]

Morning all, am looking at a diesel (non turbo) 405 saloon on the bay. Looks great, and have an itchy trigger finger!

But tell me this, what should I look out for? What are their foibles? Am sure it's not gonna be fast or anything, but that's not an issue. Am just looking for a cheap reliable diesel really, with a trip to Leeds every month.

Any help suggestions?

Regards

C

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/PEUGEOT-405-G ... 3a7d8737c9

[warren t claim]

Don't let Watanabe drive it. Lucas pump not veggie friendly, look out for coins stuck in the handbrake.

[r.welfare]

Non-turbo? Head gaskets are not as prevalent as the turbos but it should blow good heat from the heater (even with no fan), temp gauge should rise to 90 before dropping to 80-85 when the thermostat opens and stay there.

 

Otherwise - check all the electrics, check there's no major camber to the rear wheels (i.e. they shouldn't noticeably point in at the top), watch for rust around the "chassis" legs under the front wheelarch, fuel leaks around the filter, oil leaks around the rocker cover, worn wishbone "P" bushes at the front (clonks over bumps), worn subframe bushes at the back, make sure the handbrake works, check the spare wheel is still under the boot floor and the clamp can be wound down/up - they seize. Oh, check it's not got an air leak in the fuel lines by pumping the bulb under the bonnet. It should go nice n' hard very quick. Otherwise you'll be cranking it for ages from cold before it fires, blowing a huge cloud of smoke (and running on three for a minute or so) when it does.

 

Heater blower may be 'fixed' by a good kick to the knee roll under the glovebox - mine had a dodgy connection. But new blowers are only about £30 and a piece of piss to fit.

 

Good cars, very comfortable to sit in and nice to drive. I had four over the course of three years, all TD's, loved them.

[warren t claim]

Comedy central locking and the usual electrical naughtyness.

[dollywobbler]

Listing ended. Did you buy it?

 

They do blow head gaskets if the coolant is neglected. My BX has a HGF in the service history. Mind you, it was used for towing a caravan and didn't have the twin-fan upgrade...

 

They're also comedy slow compared to modern stuff. Takes a bit of getting used to! Great cars though.

[Spiny Norman]

White ones don't sell easily on Ebay....

[binhoker668]

Listing ended. Did you buy it?

 

They do blow head gaskets if the coolant is neglected. My BX has a HGF in the service history. Mind you, it was used for towing a caravan and didn't have the twin-fan upgrade...

 

They're also comedy slow compared to modern stuff. Takes a bit of getting used to! Great cars though.

 

BING BONG! New shite purchase alert!

Watch this space for photies and *OMG how do I fix the fan!* style posts.

Excited and chuffed.

Picking it up in an hour.

[dollywobbler]

Excellent. Do ask them when the cambelt was last changed. 40k miles/5 years is the sensible interval.

[Lacquer Peel]

I had a Xantia non turbo diesel, the performance was surprisingly acceptable, I think the lighter 405 will go well enough.

[oman5]

I used to drive these as minicabs in the early 90's and lack of performance isn't really a problem with them unless your expectations are unrealistic. the sierra 2.3d we also used really were slow, the 405 like a petrol by comparison. it may lose speed on long motorway hills but really not that bad, and the good handling means you can maintain momentum. the only things i really remember going wrong was that the electrics could be temperamental (things like central locking, electric windows) and if you overheated them they WOULD blow the head gasket. gearboxes could get fragile, but this was only at extreme mileages, and the rear suspension wear as someone has already mentioned. good cars.

[binhoker668]

Does anyone have a definitive answer to to the clicking whirring noise from behind the glovebox? I know it's the heater blower, or maybe the recirculation flap thingy, but how to get it all (especially the blower!) working again!

[Cheggers]

Sort-of-hijack alert!!: My sis-in-laws 406 does the whirry noise behind the glovebox. While I don't have sufficent arsed to fix it, I am a little curious what it is.

[John F]

White ones don't sell easily on Ebay....

 

They're also quite easy to reverse into your own house iirc.

[binhoker668]

No ideas on heater/blower anyone?

Minimal info on other pages...

[HillmanImp]

No ideas on heater/blower anyone?

Minimal info on other pages...

 

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Peugeot-Diesel-Service-Repair-Manuals/dp/1859601987

 

£2.81

 

If its like the Xantia though the blower motor is simply accessed under the passenger side dash and is 3 screws to remove and refit IIRC. The resistor is next to it if it is that. No idea how you check though to see what it is causing it though. With my poor diagnostic skillz, I normally start with the cheapest possible problem and work my way up in price until it turns out to have been the most expensive thing all along. I think the heater blower has its own fuse so I would start there.

[binhoker668]

Cheers Mr Imp - have already ordered one off the bay, am just impatient to get things sorted!

I have one for the petrol version, but am pretty sure that the setup for heater blower is the same. Going to excavate tomorrow and see what I can do.

I believe the whirring clicking is the air re-circulation valve or something? Not sure - but have several web pages open at the moment...

Photos etc to follow I guess!

[carlo]

Cheers Mr Imp - have already ordered one off the bay, am just impatient to get things sorted!

I have one for the petrol version, but am pretty sure that the setup for heater blower is the same. Going to excavate tomorrow and see what I can do.

I believe the whirring clicking is the air re-circulation valve or something? Not sure - but have several web pages open at the moment...

Photos etc to follow I guess!

 

Clicking noise is indeed the electronic control for the air re-circulation flap 'sticking'. I've had five 405s and three of them were effected. When you switch the re-circulation button on the thing starts clicking like a mad thing; when it's really bad it clicks all the time. Cheapest fix is to turn the button off, then access the flap from under the bonnet on the passenger side (it's under the pollen filter) - and lock it in the open position. My local garage has always done it for me so I'm not sure exactly what to do, but he only charges me £20 each time. You are of course left with the flap in the open position, with corresponding smells from the outside, but it's much cheaper than replacing the motor.

 

Everyone knows my feelings for 405s, my petrols are indestructible and cheap as chips to run. It's such a relief to get back into mine after driving anything else, and enjoy a car engineered by people who understood handling and driving enjoyment. I challenge anyone to name a car with a better ride/handling/steering combination. The 406 rides and handles as well but the steering has nowhere near the precision of the 405.

 

Let me know if you need any bits, I've plenty of spares.

[Timewaster]

Another 405 fan here!

 

Carlo makes me feel somehow inadequate as I have only had 2. A1992 Mi16 which was distinctly un-shite and a scruffy 1994 GLX TD estate which was as shite as could be.

 

Both had heater issues, the Mi16 had a hopeless climate control system (I HATE them, but thats another story) and a sensor gave up and I replaced the whole thing with the control panel from a basic model and the cables clipped into placeon the heater box once the actuator motors had been removed.

 

The GLX had been bodged when I bought it with an ingenious lash up.

A piece of speaker wire was connected to the heat flap motor connections at one end, and stripped bare ends hung out above the ashtray. In the ashtray was a PP3 battery and to adjust the heat you touched the battery on the wires one way for hot and the other way round for cold. The 9v was just enough to make the motor move the flap. Slowly.

I took it a stage further with a couple of cheap couloured push-to-make switches off ebay with a pair of batteries so I no longer needed to fiddle with bare cables. Just don't press both buttons at once!

 

You can see the hot/ cold buttons next to the clock:

[binhoker668]

Cheers guys - promising stuff...

So... can I remove the fuse for the re-circulation click/whirring machine, ensure that the FLAP is left open, then (hopefully) crimp a wire back onto the heater blower in a tighter fashion, and end up with a condensation-free and heated car?

That is how I have envisioned things, without even having a look, 'cos it's mad freezing out there.

Had to go pick up Mrs Hoker from her mate's gaff 10 mins ago. VERY dangerous - all windows condensationed up and then freezing on the inside. Nae vision at all.

Something will have to be done.

 

Otherwise, have booked it in fer timing belt action on Thursday.

[binhoker668]

Clicking noise is indeed the electronic control for the air re-circulation flap 'sticking'. I've had five 405s and three of them were effected. When you switch the re-circulation button on the thing starts clicking like a mad thing; when it's really bad it clicks all the time. Cheapest fix is to turn the button off, then access the flap from under the bonnet on the passenger side (it's under the pollen filter) - and lock it in the open position. My local garage has always done it for me so I'm not sure exactly what to do, but he only charges me £20 each time. You are of course left with the flap in the open position, with corresponding smells from the outside, but it's much cheaper than replacing the motor.

 

Everyone knows my feelings for 405s, my petrols are indestructible and cheap as chips to run. It's such a relief to get back into mine after driving anything else, and enjoy a car engineered by people who understood handling and driving enjoyment. I challenge anyone to name a car with a better ride/handling/steering combination. The 406 rides and handles as well but the steering has nowhere near the precision of the 405.

 

Let me know if you need any bits, I've plenty of spares.

 

You have PM good Sir...

[r.welfare]

When you're next under the bonnet, have a look at the rad - there should be a date stamped on the top, if it's more than ten years old you could consider replacing it; the headgasket problems are generally down to cooling system neglect and lack of regular coolant changes. A new rad is cheap enough (£40) but the fitting clips are a pain in the arse. Down to you really.

 

If that mileage is correct there's plenty of life in it, three of mine reached 200k (the most perky one had 247k on it!). I'll echo everything Carlo said about ride/handling/steering and add in driving position and seat comfort (particularly as yours looks like it has the up-level seats with firmer bolsters), they're fantastic.

[binhoker668]

I fucking love this forum.

Spurred on by some sage advice and some internet hoking, I took it apart this morning.

Recirculation module? Fuck you. *SNIP*. No more whirring and clicking. Flap permanently open. I never needed A/C, and can live without out it now too. Farmyard smells permeating the car? Love it. Reminds me of my Dad's old cars.

Now. Blower motor still not spinning. So. Off with the pollen filter etc, and in with the poking-around-screwdriver of bodgeness. And it starts to spin. Just. And only a bit. So, bit of WD40, and some proper jiggly jiggly action, and off it goes. Spinning like a good thing. Then stopped again, then more jiggly action, and away we go. All back together, and hey presto. A non clicking, non whirring full on blower heated 405.

Am as proud as punch. With me oily fingers and dirty clothes. I iz a total mechanick an' that.

Booked in fer new belt tomorrow.

Will have to have a good look at radiator/coolant etc.

Feeling very very good.

Didnae take any pictures though as was too busy being busy.

Cheers!!

C

[Rocket88]

Isn't it great when bodgery actually works [especially when the ECKSPERTS tell you it can't be done...........]

[tooSavvy]

No ideas on heater/blower anyone?

Minimal info on other pages...

 

From some posts on Renault Forum, re: Whirr/clicking constantly behind dash..., I believe if the flap for recirc is knakked, then the motor drive cant 'know' it is closed and keeps going .

 

Obv Renault... but must be a possibility in designs of others.

 

tooSavvy

[carlo]

I fucking love this forum.

Spurred on by some sage advice and some internet hoking, I took it apart this morning.

Recirculation module? Fuck you. *SNIP*. No more whirring and clicking. Flap permanently open. I never needed A/C, and can live without out it now too. Farmyard smells permeating the car? Love it. Reminds me of my Dad's old cars.

Now. Blower motor still not spinning. So. Off with the pollen filter etc, and in with the poking-around-screwdriver of bodgeness. And it starts to spin. Just. And only a bit. So, bit of WD40, and some proper jiggly jiggly action, and off it goes. Spinning like a good thing. Then stopped again, then more jiggly action, and away we go. All back together, and hey presto. A non clicking, non whirring full on blower heated 405.

Am as proud as punch. With me oily fingers and dirty clothes. I iz a total mechanick an' that.

Booked in fer new belt tomorrow.

Will have to have a good look at radiator/coolant etc.

Feeling very very good.

Didnae take any pictures though as was too busy being busy.

Cheers!!

C

 

Well done! Another 405 advantage, you can often fix the b**stard thing yourself. I had my eye on that car incidentally for the missus. Wonder if the Diablo red laquer peel's as bad as mine?

[Lacquer Peel]

Speaking of PSA heaters, is there a simple fix for a Xantia heater that's a furnace at 30 degrees, freezing everywhere else on the slider?

[binhoker668]

Speaking of PSA heaters, is there a simple fix for a Xantia heater that's a furnace at 30 degrees, freezing everywhere else on the slider?

That's how mine is.

I like furnaces.

[binhoker668]

YIKES!

Just cancelled the garage. They were quoting 350 clams to do the timing belt.

Surely it MUST be cheaper than that?

Got timing belt fear now. Also money fear.

Anxious little twat that I am.

[Lacquer Peel]

Timing belt access is quite restricted but it shouldn't be £350, it's fairly easy, especially without turbo/intercooler pipes in the way.

[binhoker668]

Well done! Another 405 advantage, you can often fix the b**stard thing yourself. I had my eye on that car incidentally for the missus. Wonder if the Diablo red laquer peel's as bad as mine?

 

Bizarrely, the guy's Dad - who used to own it, decided that he couldnae deal with the lacquer peel on the bonnet and roof, so paid 1300 clams to have them professionally resprayed. So they're like new!