clarawagner1

Peugeot 406 Electrical Issues

I'm having some electrical issues with my 2002 Peugeot 406 diesel (210k km). I'm getting an undervoltage warning causing poor starts, intermittent system failures, weak/flickering lights, and a weak battery. Thinking it might be a heavily discharged or defective battery. Any ideas or similar experiences?

The conversation revolves around electrical issues in a 2002 Peugeot 406, characterized by undervoltage warnings, poor starts, and weak lights. The initial suspicion was a heavily discharged or defective battery. A suggestion was made to check the alternator's output, as a faulty alternator could prevent the battery from charging properly. After checking the alternator and finding it borderline, the issue was resolved by replacing a heavily degraded battery, which restored proper function.

Did this summary help you solve your problem?

4 comment(s)

Sounds familiar. I also have a 406. I had a similar voltage drop issue. Have you checked the charging system? A faulty alternator can cause the battery to not charge properly, which leads to all sorts of low voltage weirdness. What voltage are you seeing at the battery when the engine is running?

Thanks for the quick reply! I haven't put a meter on it while it's running yet; I'll check that tomorrow. What voltage levels should I be looking for to verify its output? And where exactly did you check for a voltage drop? At the battery terminals?

Yes, check the voltage at the battery terminals while the engine is running. You should be seeing around 14V. If it's significantly lower, the alternator is likely the culprit. If you've checked the alternator and the voltage is within the spec, then you should suspect parasitic drain, meaning that an electrical device keeps using electricity even when the car is off. If it is below spec, I'd suggest taking it to a shop for a proper diagnosis. Could save you chasing ghosts.

Thanks a lot for the advice! I checked the alternator output and it seemed okayish, but borderline. Took it to the shop, and it turned out the battery was heavily degraded and not holding charge well, probably since a bit time now. Ended up costing me 290€ for a new battery and fitting. All sorted now!

rmh_community_comment_box_header

community_crosslink_scanner_headline

community_crosslink_scanner_intro

community_crosslink_scanner_title

community_crosslink_scanner_price

community_crosslink_rmh_headline

community_crosslink_rmh_intro

community_crosslink_rmh_title

community_crosslink_rmh_subtitle

community_crosslink_rmh_brand

PEUGEOT

community_crosslink_rmh_model

406