406oc.co.uk

Hello,
I have a problem with my 2001 3.0 v6 406, yesterday engine died while normal driving, now wont start.
Starter cranks fine, fuel tank is almost full, while starting everything on dashboard lights out just like it should, fuel pump and fuses looks fine.
Timing belt is ok, I tried starter moisture added directly to air intake - no result.
Universal EOBD scanner shows only inactive faults - I deleted it, nothing new was generated while starting.
Tried to push that red switch under the hood (I don't know the proper name of it in english).
Is it posible that crank sensor does not generate fault? Even if it's disconnected?

Sorry for eventualy language mistake, English is not my primary language.

Greetings from Poland!

Hi Andrew and welcome to the forum.

Andrew wrote: Tried to push that red switch under the hood (I don't know the proper name of it in english).

Inertia, or inertial switch - I guess you know what it does already

Is it posible that crank sensor does not generate fault? Even if it's disconnected?

Sorry for eventualy language mistake, English is not my primary language.

Do not worry about making mistakes in English - most of us do it all the time.

I would expect disconnecting the crank sensor to cause an error, but maybe it depends on what you are using to read the faults. The unversal EODB scanner may not work as well as Peugeot Planet 2000.

Sorry, I do not know much about petrol 406's. Someone who does may be along soon.

Hi, welcome, if you used the ether starting stuff and you had no luck in starting then you need to look at the spark first of all...

Assuming your timing belt is not the cause of the problem....take out the easiest to get at coil pack, keep the wire connected and attach a spark plug to it then rest it on a good earth point....turn the key to try to start and look for a spark....no spark could mean a crank sensor failure.If you have a good spark then you need to be looking at fuel supply.

When turning ignition on, does the immobiliser light (yellow key in a box) come on briefly then go out?

Woha, thank You all for fast response!
I tried to start engine without cranking sensor, but it doesn't gives any new engine errors, and that is a little bit strange.

jasper5 spark plugs are almost brand new (~10.000km), I'll try your spark plug trick.
mjb I've read about immobiliser problem, but it looks like I don't have immo or bulb is burned out, because I don't see any immo indicator or light go out realy fast. Besides I think, immobiliser fault shouldn't stop an engine while working. Oh dear, I forgot that is a french car and everything is possible . Will try second key.

Tomorrow friend of my friend will come to me with more advanced scanner (Lexia or something), so maybe I will learn something more.

All the best guys, thanks once again!

Andrew wrote:mjb I've read about immobiliser problem, but it looks like I don't have immo or bulb is burned out, because I don't see any immo indicator or light go out realy fast. Besides I think, immobiliser fault shouldn't stop an engine while working. Oh dear, I forgot that is a french car and everything is possible . Will try second key.

On UK-spec cars at least, the V6 will definitely have an immobiliser. I had a similar problem starting which turned out to be a battery outputting ever-so-slightly less power than it should have. The result is that while running the starter, there wasn't enough power available to successfully read the key.

Tomorrow friend of my friend will come to me with more advanced scanner (Lexia or something), so maybe I will learn something more.

Good luck.

Oh God what wrong is with this car,
Today we sucessfully started engine, problem was a lack of power on one of relays (as my friend said it's a permanent +12V and should be still on) in a small brown relay box near engine ECU. Now I have to strip main wiring and check it for breakings.
For now wiring is bridged, and engine runs almost fine
Almost fine, because it works very unequal like 5 cylinders, engine indicator starts to blink couple of times and MFD shows Catalytic Converter Fault, in a couple of seconds it stop to blink and message disappears.
ECU scanner - shows "no errors"
Coils in front are ok for sure - I tried to disconnect each for a while.
Tomorrow I'll change coils front to back and try once again.
Do you have any suggestions what else I can check?

It might be worth a quick check for this problem. viewtopic.php?f=10&t=13347

Andrew wrote:problem was a lack of power on one of relays (as my friend said it's a permanent +12V and should be still on) in a small brown relay box near engine ECU.

Ahhhh sure it ain't the relay box itself that's duff? Mine died and caused engine death. Actually IIRC it was caused by a burnt module near the battery which was caused by a bad battery earth strap...

Thankfully, full wiring diagrams ARE available, and with a bit of electrical know-how you can figure out almost anything

Today I had again problem with engine start.
Ok I thought: first of all, do what I have to do - change coils front to back. Meanwhile I decide to check spark plugs in front. One was extremely wet, but hey that cylinder worked properly there was a spark for sure.
I cleaned and put it together, try to crank engine, and yes! almost perfect, again 5cyl
Now time to put down intake manifold, and again I took a look for each spark plug - everything is ok. I swapped coils front to back and puted everything together. And again 5cyl. but now I have defective coil in front, by checking one by one I've found that little b.(oups)
Couple of phone calls to local car parts stores, "No we don't have it, that engine is extremely rare." - oh crap. Ok one last call and surprise they have one coil. I went there, bought it, and I changed it in front of store.
Now engine works perfectly smooth ;]
Problem solved

mjb wrote: Ahhhh sure it ain't the relay box itself that's duff? Mine died and caused engine death. Actually IIRC it was caused by a burnt module near the battery which was caused by a bad battery earth strap...

I don't know what "duff" means - My dictionary isn't helpful - (buttocks, ass)
http://peugeot.mainspot.net/wiring605/xu10j2te.shtml - it's not from XFX engine but it looks the same at least top of first wiring diagram.
Now I know how that mysterious brown box is called "1304 Injection multi-function double relay" original part no. is 1920 7L. There was no power on 11th pin, we bridged it with 8th.

Thanks for advice, next I'll look at engine fuse box and battery plus unit closely, especially I saw there some patina.

Thank You all for help!

Duff = defective, useless, not working, f------

Well done for fixing the problem