NooB from Reading

[perils]

Hi all,

I've just purchased a 2001(Y) 406 GTX 2L for £2700 from a local small trader.
I must that after looking around now I think I've been ripped off just a wee bit.

The car has covered 44K miles, has had 2 owners from new and comes with a full history.
Its a light green metallic (Jade??) and is very clean indeed and all the toys seem to work fine.

This leads me to some questions....
I take it that the stalk beneath the light stalk is cruise control, I do have an owners book with the car but the stalk in the pics inside is smaller and wider with an obvious on/off switch on it.

Is the switch to the right of the headlight height adjuster related to this stalk ?

What does the button on the end of the light stalk do ?

Do I have traction control/ABS ?

Can I use 5/40 fully synth in the engine ?

Am I right in thinking that this is indeed Jade and not Sherwood ?


Think that'll do for now... A little about me...

My name is Nick and I live and work in Reading, Berkshire.
I am a 42yr old I.T. Technician married with 2 teenage sons.
I have also just purchased a 2007 Kawasaki ZZR1400 which is my real petrolhead fix....

All I ask of the Pug is reliable and comfortable motoring as from now on I will probably be the one that works on this car for servicing/maintenance etc. This is my first non Ford or Vauxhall motor.

Cheers for your help..
I shall be browsing these pages regularly now.

Nick

[teamster1975]

Hi Nick, welcome on in!
Im afraid I can't help you as I own a D8, there are loads of chaps in the know who'll be along shortly though!

[Welly]

Welcome aboard fella

The price does seem slightly high BUT if it's low mileage and well looked after and you like it then I can't see a problem. The petrol 2.0 engine is very very reliable and you should easily enjoy 5 years motoring at very little cost and lets face it - what else could you buy with equivalent mileage, comfort and spec for that money?

I don't have cruise so can't help on that one but I think the button on the end of the lighting stalk activates the 'auto lighting' where the lights come on themselves, again something mine doesn't have (even though it's an exec).

ABS is standard, traction control came in 2003 (I think).

You may have side airbags wthout knowing - look for a sticker on the seat base or feel for a distinct hard lump in the side of the seat (but don't poke too hard )

I'd be a little carefull slopping in some fully syn oil - if the car has been pootling about on semi-syn then some oil experts say the fully syn can 'clean up' old waxy deposits in the oil ways and start moving them around personally I would use a high quality 10W/40 semi synthetic like Fuchs/Silkolene.

One more thing - have a butchers at the a/c condenser up front because you are unfortunately bang on time or a replacement. Not trying to scare you but they seem to fail with annoying accuracy at the 7 year mark here and will cost £300.00 fitted (or £180.00 if you do the donkey work) maybe it's allready had a shiney new one? or maybe with the low miles it will be ok? worth a look.

Welly

[mbell666]

Welcome Nick, sounds like you've picked up a nice clean car. I thinks it always worth spending that bit extra to get a nice clean example.

I don't have cruise so can't help on that one but I think the button on the end of the lighting stalk activates the 'auto lighting' where the lights come on themselves, again something mine doesn't have (even though it's an exec).

I believe that auto lights are only on com2000 models, thats why you don't have them Welton (and mine didn't have them either).

I believe the stalk on the lower left of the steering wheel is cruise control (no idea how to work it thou), stalk on the right lower is radio control.

[djp30djp]

Hi, the switch by your knee "arms" the cruise, press it so it lights up. Cruise only works in 4th & 5th.
Lift the stalk to set the speed, hold it up to increase speed - down to decrease speed - pull towards you to cancel.
The button on the light switch is a dummy.
Good luck.

[lawsys406t]

hi mate

[perils]

Cheers guys thanks for your comments...

I'll have a fiddle with the cruise at the weekend and see if it works.

[perils]

It's looking like the cruise control doesn't work.... I gave the car a run from J11 to J12 on the M4 yesterday and fiddled with the cruise..... No Joy.

I've had a quick look on this forum and think my best bet is to look at the switches on the brake and clutch pedals.
The green LED lights up on the switch next to the headlight height adjuster so I take it that the circuit and fuse are ok.

Going to have a look during my lunchbreak today.

[mjb]

Be very careful around the switches - the one which activates the brake lights is next to the cruise control one, and you don't want to be driving around without brake lights...

[perils]

BINGO !

All done... It was the microswitch on the clutch pedal.

Screwed the switch in a few more threads and now alls fine.
Used the cruise on the way home from work today for a quick test due to the traffic, I felt the pedal being taken away from my foot at 50mph.

Now I know why I always join the forums for my cars and bikes...

Nice one.

[teamster1975]

Well done matey! I'll watch out for you on the M4 cruising happily

[siriuf]

The button on the light switch is a dummy.

Does that mean the 406 was never equipped with auto headlamps? I recollect reading somewhere that newer cars have them or was that auto wipers?

[perils]

Hmmm,

I have auto wipers on mine but not auto lights....

[mypugscool]

my old man has a51plate 2.2 hdi estate gtx that has auto lights

[REDLEADER]

Well Im New to But im still waiting to pick my car up!
But I have to say I Hate you already! ZZR1400!! now thats a Bike! Pitty its not mine! Ive had to stick to my Old But Faithfull CBR1000F in fact its all ive got untill my 406 Estate arrives!
Carnt wait! Im sure everything will be ok with the Pugs! Lets face it If mine breaks down! Heck at least I can sleep in its Back Box!