406 Clicking noise

Hi everyone.

My 1997 Peugeot 406 started to make a clicking noise from
behind the glove-box, in the passengerside. (I have a LHD
peugeot 406), so the noise is from the right hand side).
The clicking noise seems to be 1 click per second.

Could it be the ventilation fan or something around this area??

I noticed that when I turn on the recirculation of the air, the
noise stops.

I really hope someone can help me with some ideas.

Kindest regards
Martin
Denmark

 

You are hearing the motor that opens/closes the recirculation flap. It
strips its gears and then keeps on running. The expensive cure is to have
it replaced, about £140 gbp (200 euros ?) to buy plus fitting charges the
cheap way is to make sure the flap is in the open position (you can see it
if you remove the grid and filter beneath the windscreen wiper) and then
disconnect the motor. I did this and the only time I regret it is when a
smoky car is in front of me. This problem has been covered fully in
earlier threads, search Google Groups for "recirculation motor" +peugeot.

 

Martin,

This is a common fault and there is a past thread of correspondence
about it on this newsgroup. You could search for it on Google News.

The clicking is caused by wear of the nylon gears on the servo motor
that opens and closes the flap that controls whether or not the air is
recirculating in the car.

There are basically two options. Replace the motor, or disconnect it.
When it happened on my wife's car, I opted for the latter. Whichever you
decide on, it's good to have very small hands as it's difficult to get
at the motor.

Check the past threads for full details.

Raymond

 

Hi again.

Thanks for your replies.
How easy is the motor to get out? or disconnect?
And how is this motor accessed??
My haynes manual does not describe this :-(

By the way, when disconnecting it, how can I make sure
the flap is in "normal" position?

Hope you guys can help me a this, as its really annoying.

Kindest regards

 

This is all from memory: we traded in the 406 last weekend.

First lift the bonnet and remove the plastic grill/trim just under the
windscreen on the passenger side of the car. This will reveal the air
intake. Look down into it to see if the flap is open or closed. The
servo motor will probably still work enough to open it if it is closed.
Don't put the grill back just yet.

Remove the glove box. It's held in place by two white nylon pegs that
act as the hinges and simply slide out. Once you have that out of the
way, you should be able to see a small inspection plate (~10 cm square)
that is held in place by one (I think) Torx screw (can't remember what
size). Remove the plate and look up into the dark void above using a
torch to light your way. If you feel around, the main object up there is
the motor. If you are not sure that you have identified it correctly,
turn the re-circulation on and off a few times. You should be able to
feel the motor vibrating slightly.

To disconnect the motor, feel around for the pair of wires and
disconnect them: it's a simple pull connection. BUT FIRST, check that
you really have left the re-circulation flap open. You can now put the
grill back under the bonnet.

I never tried to get the motor out, so cannot help you there.

Once the motor is disconnected, the light on the re-circulation botton
on the dashboard will still work. That's good when you come to sell the
car: no awkward questions from potential buyers.

Hope this helps,

Raymond

 

I found the most essential piece of equipment was an agile son-in-law, as
you are working under the glovebox in front of the passenger, at times on
your back.

You should find that the flap still opens and closes (closed when the light
is on, open when it is off) but the motor continues running and clicking
when the flap reaches its limit of travel. You can also see the flap by
removing the grid outside under the passenger side wiper and the filter
below it.

Remove the glove box by taking out the plastic hinge pins. Behind it there
is a black panel, secured if I remember correctly by one screw. Remove the
panel. The motor is through the hole and round to the right, put your hand
through and you will find it. Operate the recirc button and you will feel
the motor running. If you want to remove the motor it is held by two
pozidriv type screws, in opposite corners. Otherwise follow the wires and
find the plug, it is tough but will pull out. I tried to get a replacement
motor (also apparently called a servo) from a scrappy but could only get the
later type which will not do. This link will take you to pictures of both
the original and later type motors.
http://uk.geocities.com//Recircpics.html

Hope this helps

 

Thanks for the tips from both of you.

I will try and find a replacement, and then try and replace
the motor..
I hope everything will go smoothly (otherwise, I might return
with more questions, hope that is ok

Kindest regards

 

If you are replacing the motor you will need to be aware that there are two
separate motors depending on whether you have automatic air conditioning
(climate control) or bog standard manual. Your car, like mine, should be
the early model and should have the type of motor referred to as original in
the web pictures. I decided, after having problems getting a replacement,
not to put the motor back and, to be honest, I haven't missed it. I don't
think I used it hardly anyway.

One other point. A number of people have said that you can buy the gears
for the unit from model shops and, apparently, there are matching ones in
Range Rovers. I do not, however, think that changing them will make a very
lasting cure as there is an electronic device inside which I suspect detects
the increased load when the flap reaches the end of its travel and cuts the
power. This is only guesswork but it seems the sort of thing that is done
these days and I could not find any other system for detecting when to stop
the motor.

I will be interested to hear how you get on.

Good Luck,

Keith

 

That's small motor which changes the air-intake (recirculating) when you
press the button. It is broken and you need a new one (expencive!!)
This is standard repair on 405,406...)...