Peugeot 406 Common Faults
The Peugeot 406 was first produced by the French manufacturer in 1995 and remained part of its European range until 2005. There are still plenty of 406s around the world, however as with all second-hand cars they can present certain problems. Read on and discover the common faults of the Peugeot 406 .
Thanks to the popularity of this car, it is still possible to find many in good working order.
How good is the Peugeot 406?
The 406 offers a great combination of power, comfort and cargo capacity, creating the perfect profile for family driving. If you want something with a little more oomph than your typical city car, this vehicle is a great option.
Common failures of the Peugeot 406
The Peugeot 406 was available in various styles and engines, including the economical 1.6L gasoline and the more powerful 2.9L V6 gasoline. With saloon, estate and coupé variants, there was something for everyone in this updated version of the 405.
It is better to be cautious, use our guide and make sure you know the common faults of the Peugeot 406:
1- Peugeot 406 does not start
Starting problems can arise on this car. In the HDI version of the Peugeot 406, it is common for the fuel pump to fail. If this is the case, you will have trouble starting the car, whether it is cold or hot. You will have to change the fuel pump , to solve this problem.
2- Black smoke in the exhaust
Black smoke comes out of the tailpipe when accelerating. Engine performance has often dropped at the same time. It is possible that the car’s EGR valve has reached the end of its useful life or has been damaged.
3- ABS warning light
There is a persistent issue with many 406s where the ABS sensor light is illuminating incorrectly on the dash. If the brakes feel normal under sudden braking and the car does not skid or stall on test drive, then you should know that there may be a fault in the electrical system . Although this does not affect the overall performance of the car, it does mean that you will not be able to tell if the ABS is failing.
4- Problems with the radiator
Open the hood and take a look at the engine . Look for signs of overheating around the radiator and connected pipes, such as rust and worn hoses. If you see any of these signs, overheating issues could have caused residual damage to other parts of the engine.
5- Failures in the suspension
When you’re driving over rough surfaces or speed bumps and you hear a knocking noise coming from the front and rear suspension, it’s usually an indication that the control arms or ball joints are failing.
To solve this problem, you are going to have to correctly identify which part is at fault and replace the faulty part. This should solve the problem.
6- Problems in the brake discs
Check stopping distances. If there are sometimes discrepancies or strange sensations coming from the brakes, take a look at each of the wheels. Discs are known to warp and replacing this part can cost you money in repairs.
7- Warm up
If you wonder why my Peugeot 406 turns off? You should know that many 4-cylinder Peugeots -particularly the 2.0L petrol versions- have regular shutdown problems. Vehicle performance may not be optimal. You should have the car checked by an expert.
8- Turn signal lever problem
When you are parked check that the indicators work correctly on both sides. Use the lever instead of turning on the emergency lights. If you can hear the relay click, but you can’t see any lights working, then you have a problem with your turn signal lever.
This is a low cost problem, but unfortunately it can be very complicated, so you will probably have to go to a Peugeot garage or dealer.
9- Vibrations
You can feel the car vibrate when you accelerate . Vibration may be present when idling but will be much less. This can be a problem with the rear engine mounts, because they don’t spook. Installing the brackets may seem like a big job, but it’s a lot easier than you might think.
10- Inconsistent acceleration
The throttle level is very inconsistent, and it’s using more fuel than before. Occasionally the engine sputters. Sometimes it can be one of the common faults on the Peugeot 406. The 406 has the well-known habit of wearing out the fuel pump much faster than you would expect. It is necessary to change the diesel fuel pump.
11- Distribution chain
You should know when the timing belt was last changed. This part should be changed approximately every 5 years or 60,000 miles. Check the service history of the car and make sure that this part has been replaced properly.
12- The Peugeot 406 is lower on one side
The car sits lower on one side even when not in use. Over time, the problem becomes more noticeable, even affecting the vehicle while driving. Believe it or not, over time this may be one of the common faults of the Peugeot 406.
Fortunately, it is not a question of having to replace the entire suspension. Instead, you’ll just have to fit new rear suspension springs. Although it is difficult to install, it is a job that most people are capable of doing.
13- Problems with the fan
Have you noticed that sometimes it has problems with the fan, either burning up or stopping, or sometimes the relay may have burned out? This is usually caused by one of two problems:
Once you’ve identified if it’s the ground or the control module that’s faulty, you’re going to need to either get a good ground or replace the fan control module to resolve the fault .
14- Stopping distance too long
Perhaps it takes longer and longer for the car to stop, regardless of how much pressure is exerted on the pedal. The 406 brake discs are very prone to warping, which is why this is usually one of the common Peugeot 406 failures. Fortunately, the problem will be solved with a simple replacement.
15- Air conditioning malfunction
The air conditioning has stopped working! If you don’t use the air conditioner very regularly, then it is very prone to failure. Unfortunately, the only solution will be to replace the entire air conditioning system. Although this is fairly easy to do yourself, it can be a time consuming task.
