steering angle sensor

[jmkoz]

Hi Guys,

As in my 'Welcome' posts, I have just bought my first 406 which is a 2002 D9 with V6/Leather etc. It is designated as the SV here in Australia and has around 98,000 kms on the clock.

When purchased I noted that the Mirrors and seat memory were non-functional and lived with it for a couple of weeks waiting for an opportunity to do a BSI reset as recommended on this forum. About a week in to our ownership my wife came home in the car and told me that there is a light showing on the dash. It turned out to be the ESP/ASR (Stability Control) system light. On looking at it I noted that the light on the ESP on/off switch was also flashing and the centre console screen also reported that the ESP/ASR system is not functioning when you first start up. There does not feel to be any difference in the drivability of the car and it has certainly not gone into limp mode. I told her not to worry and assumed that the BSI reset would probably reset whatever had caused it.

I did the BSI reset on Sunday and like magic I now have functioning mirrors (with or without memory) and memory seats all function perfectly. Unfortunately this did not cure the ESP light. I have found very little around the internet on this problem except for this post on aussie frogs: http://www.aussiefrogs.com/forum/showth ... hlight=406 which seems to indicate that this owner had a similar issue which turned out to be the comms unit steering angle sensor. I am assuming that this is somehow part of the Comms 2000 unit that has been cause of much previous discussion here.

Is anyone able to confirm if this is part of the Comms 2000 or a stand alone part ? I have not seen it mentioned in other threads on the Comms 2000 but I am not sure how widely spread the ESP system is. I don't fancy paying $2,000 as per the aussie frogs post and this seems extravagant cost even if it is a replacement Comms 2000. Does anyone know anything about this one?

I note that the respondent in the aussie frogs post talks about recalibrating. Does anyone know what might be involved?

Thanks isn advance for your help/advice

John

[steve_earwig]

Mornin' Yep, I'm afraid it's part of the com2000, that's why a unit for an ESP-equipped car will cost you both kidneys instead of the usual just one The steering angle sensor needs coding to the car's BSI, which I'd think requires it to be hooked up to Peugeot Planet. I'm not sure how possible it is that the unit has come "uncoded" but I reckon this would be worth checking. There's always the possibility that someone's changed your com2000 and hasn't bothered to get it coded, or perhaps could only source a non-ESP unit cheap and has decided to live with the warnings (or sell it on to you )

If you do need another unit I'd think it would be worth joining the 406 coupe club (http://www.peugeot406coupe.com/) mainly 'cos there a guy on there, Adrian, who breaks coupes which in this half of the world are far more likely to have ESP. The guy does lurk on ebay but does discounts for club members. Not sure what the delivery costs are but I still reckon you'd be doing better than going to the Peugeot organ donation unit.

Btw I see the Japanese are showering you with space junk, ever read The Andromeda Strain?

[jmkoz]

Thanks for that.

I don't think that it is down to a replaced and uncoded comm2000 as it was trouble free for a week or two. The talk about calibration on Aussie Frogs is interesting and seems consistent with other non-Peugeot posts I have read on similarly equipped BMWs and the like. Apparently wheel alignments can bring up this type of problem due to discrepancy between the yaw sensor and the steering angle sensor (sounds more like a boat than a car!) and the workshops have to recalibrate via the computer.

I actually have a friend who is one of the largest Peugeot parts importers here in Oz ( http://www.eai.net.au ) so hopefully he can hook me up with a new Comm2000 at a reasonable price (I hope!).

I'll let you know about the recalibration - if that fixes it.

John

[steve_earwig]

Ah, I didn't realise it'd actually worked, I suppose we'd better hope for a dodgy plug somewhere then I forgot about the yaw sensor (Ha' ya seeeen the white whale?) lots of nice tiny springs to break. Plus there's an ecu and some sort of pump. You really need to have the codes read for a proper diagnosis as all these bits of kit are going to be stupidly expensive even if you're buddies with the importer

[Welly]

I think most of the members here won't have this traction control as it came much later on and there's not many contributors here with year 2002+ cars.

If it's like most systems it will have it's own ECU and will be looking at throttle position, vehicle speed, yaw (some sensor in the middle of the car on the floor somewhere), steering input and probably more. It normally uses a combination of cutting fuel (power) and dabbing the brakes using a kind of pressure reserve through the ABS system....all very complex. I think the problem you have would need a proper code read by a Peugeot Dealer to see what tells.

I know from my Volvo-derived forum knowledge that some systems don't like having the wheels turned whilst in the air.....many Volvo owners have had the traction control light on after they've been to the tyre shop and the wheels have been turned (perhaps with the ignition on?) and the ECU throws a fault. The volvo system resets itself after so many driving cycles if the 'problem' doesn't return.

[jmkoz]

Yes I think you are all correct. I will have to have the fault diagnosed - naively perhaps, I am still hoping that there is a recalibration process to save me from extraordinary expense. I'll let you know what happens.

John