406 de-misting problem

[avmcleod]

I have a 406 LX DT S-reg, and it has recently become very difficult to keep de-misted, even with the heater and aircon on. Any suggestions please?

TIA
Andrew

[Michael]

Try checking out the pollen filter located under the bonnet. If this is clogged it hinders fresh air flow into the car. Leave the filter off for a few day to see if it improves.

[avmcleod]

Thanks Michael, found the pollen filter and cleaned it but I now think the problem is with the recirculation flap which is behind the filter. It seems to stay closed all the time whether the recirc switch is on or off, but when I wedge it partly open the problem disappears. So the next question is, is there a motor or solenoid which opens and closes the recirc flap and how do I get at it to check it out?

[PowerLee]

Hi

There is a small flap motor that controls the flap, Its located behind the glovebox & is held in with only 2 x screws.

Have you noticed any clicking noises coiming from behind the dash lately?

Normally the small plastic gears inside the small flap motor strip the teeth off, You then have a choice of £85 for the part alone from Peugeot.

A trip down the scrapyard & a hunt through the Peugeot / Citroens for a good working flap motor or you can repair the motor you have.

Some people have found that Tamiya radio controled model car gears fit perfectly, They can also be picked up for around £5 too.

Heres the motor, Note the drive gear is removed

img.photobucket.com/albums/v201/PowerLee/TheMotor.jpg

Heres one inside the motor

img.photobucket.com/albums/v201/PowerLee/Inside.jpg

Heres the dodgy gear

img.photobucket.com/albums/v201/PowerLee/DodgyGear.jpg

The hard part is getting at the motor!

[avmcleod]

Thanks for that, yes there has been a funny noise coming from behind the glove box. As you say, the hard part is getting at the flap motor, it's just taken me about 2 hours to get the glove box far enough off to see the motor. When I unplugged it the clicking noise stopped so that proves it's the motor. However getting the motor out has so far defeated me, screws are very hard to see/get at. Looks to me like the whole heater fan assembly will have to be dropped out to get at the flap motor.

[PowerLee]

Hi

Yes the screws are a right swine to get out.

You wont have to drop the whole heater / fan assy, It is fiddly, But it can be done in situ, About 20 minutes for a Peugeot mechanic friend of mine.

You can drop the blower motor if that makes it easier, Only 3 or 4 screws & the brown plug & the motor will drop down & out.

Make sure the ignition key is OFF because the blower fan will run EVEN if the blower is set to off.

Once those 2 x screws are out the flap motor will lift of the 2 x pegs.

Theres also a splined drive gear on the flap motor that drives the flap, It pushes in that white platic clip in the flap. You need to line this up on reassembly, Trick here is pop the pollen filter out under the bonnet & get a helper to line the flap up as you line the flap motor up with it.

[avmcleod]

Thanks, I'll give it a go tomorrow.

[PowerLee]

Hi

One other thing to check while you have it in bits is that the flap hasnt cracked where the white plastic clip is attached to it, I had that problem on mine last winter, A lovely working flap motor & a flap that just hung there flapping about, lol

If it has cracked then superglue is your friend for this little fix.

Just make sure that when the white plastic clip is turned the flap turns with it.

Have a look at how the drive gear & the white clip go together before taking the flap motor screws out.

[PowerLee]

Hi

I had a look at a 406 in the scrapyard today, I managed to get to the flap motor in under 10 minutes by removing the passenger side dash panel.

I must say, The 406 dash is easier to work on then a 405s, You cant beat a simple torx 20 screw, Much better then the rivits used on the 405.

Unclip the glovbox lid, 2 black plastic dowls under the glove box.

Unclip the grey end panel & remove the 3 x torx 20 screws.

Remove the 4 x torx 20 screws, 3 at the top of the glovebox & 1 on that black plastic cover at the back.

Pop the carpet trim off under the glovebox, Theres a couple of torx 20 screws there.

Now there 1 x torx 20 screw you need to remove, But its facing the wrong way & has to be attacked from behind the dash., Its in the right hand corner of the glovebox opening.

Get all the screws out & the glovebox panel lifts off nicely, Watch the wiring loom on the right hand side, Its clipped to the panel, Just unclip the 2 x clips & its free.

You now have full access to the heater assy, The deadlocking assy, alarm ( if fitted ) & the dreaded flap motor.

Let us know how you get on.