Starting problem finally cured

[ben19td]

Hi all, further to previous posts my 406's starting problem has sorted itself out. It was getting worse and worse, from happening every 10th time I tried to start the car to every single time. The starter would turn fine but the engine wouldn't start, towards the end it was taking 5 to 10 minutes of repeatedly trying before it would start.

I was just about to take the car off the road and replace transponder aerial, crank sensor and anything else I could think of.

I got 2 keys with the car, one that opened the car with the plip button and one that didn't, I assume it has a dead battery, so I have been using the one that worked.

As an experiment I decided to start using the spare key instead, as the plip is broken I had to use the key by putting it in the door lock to lock and unlock and hey presto ever since then the car starts perfectly every single time.

So the question is, why is the car liking this key over the other one? Is it because it is a different key, something to do with coding or is it because I am locking the car with the key in the door as opposed to via remote? What can I do to the first key to repair it?

I am really pleased the car is working now but I'd like to get to the bottom of what the problem was. Has anyone on here experienced anything similar? There's a company on ebay that offers an overhaul service for about £15, they replace micro switches, rubber buttons and battery, might this help?

Thanks in advance for your help. Ben

[gumby6371]

As yours is a 98 I presume you have no keypad imobilizer and it runs purely off the transponder chip in the key.

If the transponer in the plip key is weak that might explain the starting issues.
Try swapping the chips over, its a small dark coloured oblong inside the key, straight forward enough to do.

If you have anyone near with PP they should be able to sync a replacement transponder to your car, I believe chips from scrap cars can be re-sync'd to different cars but I may be wrong. I still have a spare key to my first D8 somewhere if you want it?

[ben19td]

Thanks Gumby, I'll swap the transponders over and go from there, cheers for the advice.

[gumby6371]

An easy test would to be start the car with your plip key and hold the other key as close as possible to the ignition as possible

[ben19td]

Thought I had all my ducks in a row, but the problem persists!

Used spare key for a week or so and it started perfectly every single time. Went to Timpsons in Yeovil to see about a replacement transponder for the other key. They were great, read both transponders, good and bad, said they were giving off different codes, which explained why I was having problems. Supplied new transponder based on the settings of the good transponder I already had, so I should have ended up with 2 keys that both worked perfectly, the new one would already be mated to the car so no need to pair it myself. happy days and only £20 lighter.

Now I'm back to square one again and neither key works very well, both are intermittent.

Is it possible that the BSI is forgetting the transponder because it seems like if I go through the pairing process (turning on ignition 4 times for 10 secs) it's ok for a few hours but then I go back to the car and it doesn't recognise it.

Maybe there is some slight difference between the two transponders despite Timpsons copying the good one, so is it that the car can only cope with one at a time - which would make sense.

If I reset everything and am happy that I have one working transponder, can I bury it inside the steering colomn next to the aerial and forget about having transponders in the keys. I'm sure it will invalidate my insurance but are there any other issues?

Any help gratefully received as always, am determined not to give up on this car!

[ben19td]

Just had a chat with Timpsons, he thinks most likely problem is the transponder aerial, but he doesn't think it's something I can replace myself, has anyone done it? I assumed it was just plug and play?

Thanks

Ben

[madmadmax]

the transponder will need to be programed some of us on hear have the equipment to do the job but you will need a new transponder not a second hand one and the code for your immobilizer which you may have on a card or can be got from a dealer or thers a site on the net that can do them for a price

[rwb]

The aerial lives around the ignition barrel, is easy to replace, and no re-programming of anything necessary. Peugeot replaced mine for £150

It's number 2 here (diagram for 1.9 XUD9TE).



I have seen a Boxer van with a key taped to the aerial...

[ben19td]

Thanks guys, will try a new aerial and will tape a transponder to it for good measure.