richardswift5

Peugeot 406 Defrost Issue

I've got a 2003 Peugeot 406 with a gasoline engine and I'm running into a weird climate control issue. The car has about 177000 km on it. Basically, the defrost isn't working properly. I'm getting an error stored, and the heating output seems way too low. I've checked some basic stuff, like fuses and visually inspecting some wiring, but haven't found anything obvious. I suspect it might be related to the defrost air distribution flap, maybe a faulty cable or plug connection. Anyone else experienced something like this with their 406?

4 comment(s)

Sounds familiar. I had a similar problem with my 406. Same symptoms – weak heat, especially on the windshield, and a nagging error code related to the HVAC unit. Did you try checking the connection to the heater core itself? It might be worth a look to rule out any issues there before diving deeper into the flap motor and its wiring. The plug can be really sensitive.

Thanks for the tip! Where exactly is the heater core connection located? Is it easily accessible, or do I need to dismantle half the dashboard panel to get to it?

Unfortunately, it's not the easiest thing to reach. You'll probably need to remove at least part of the lower dashboard panel on the passenger side to get a good look. Honestly, if you're not comfortable with that kind of disassembly, I'd recommend taking it to a workshop. From my experience with the same symptoms you mentioned, the local workshop could locate a faulty connection in the linkage to the flap quickly. It might save you a lot of hassle in the long run.

Appreciate the advice. I took it to my local workshop, and it turns out you were spot on about the faulty connection to the flap being the culprit. They charged me 95€ for the repair. Thanks for pointing me in the right direction!

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