406 2.1TD running on

I bought a 97 406 2.1TD Executive a few months back and everything has
been peachy until today. A bit of background: It has just over
170,000mls on the clock, averages about 45mpg around town and doesn't
use oil or water. It has been serviced at regular intervals all its
life (it shows). I've been running it on bio-diesel for the past month
without any issues.

I've noticed over the last few days that it has been taking slightly
longer to stop when turning the ignition off. Today came to switch it
off at B&Q and it ran on at tickover for about 4-5 seconds - no reving
on its own and throttle inputs made no difference. When I came out and
restarted it, it did so straight away as usual except after a few
seconds the check engine lamp came on and stayed on.

Now every time I turn the ignition off it runs on for a few seconds and
the engine lamp comes on and stays on whilst driving. It starts without
hesitation (hot or cold) and drives/responds just a usual.
I first suspected a faulty stop solenoid but being fly-by-wire I'm
unsure as to whether it has a conventional stop solenoid. Does anybody
have any ideas?

Your help is much appreciated.

Cheers
Craig

 

By engine lamp I assume you mean the orange light with a picture of an
engine and showing what appear to be oil ways shaped a bit like a K. This
means that there is a fault message waiting to be read. Take it to a
garage (not necessarily a Pug agent and they should be able to read the
message which in turn should tell you what the fault is.

 

I thought it was going to be that sort of problem, just hoping it
wasn't. I'll try and get it plugged in this week and go from there.

Cheers
Craig

 

Well I put it into my local LSUK (with it being a Lucas EPIC thought it
would be best) They diagnosed it as being faulty actuators within the
pump and managed to do a rebuild whilst in situ. The final bill came to
£268. When asked what caused it they reckon it was the bio-diesel I
have been running it on - i'm a little sceptical as my previous 405TD
ran fine for years as does my parents range rover, still for now i've
switched back to regular diesel and all is well again.

 

Is it definitely a TD and not an HDI because I have seen quite a lot of
warnings about using BIO in HDI engines.

 

I may have had my fair share of blonde moments in my time but I am
certain it is a TD (XUD11BTE) and if it isn't i'm gonna look and feel a
right spanner (and rightly so). If it was a HDI I definately wouldn't
use bio as like yourself i've heard too many stories of complete fuel
system failure and repair bills in excess of £2000!!