Peugot 406 auto windscreen wiper problem

Hi all,

I have a Peugeot 406 automatic HDI 2002 saloon model. This model is
for the British market. There are no rear screen wipers.
The windscreen wipers are working well except in the auto position
when they go far too slowly, and only operate occasionally.
Looking at the manual it says that if the car is switched off in auto
postion automatic function is reactivated by moving the stalk to any
other position and then back to auto.
It also says that activation of the function is accompanied by the
message "automatic windscreen wiper actuated". I have tried this
procedure and I do not get the message, so looks like the auto
function is not getting activated.

Any advice appreciated.

Jonathan

 

If it is the same as my wife's now sold on 306, the sensor is mounted in the
housing behind the interior rear view mirror. When the windscreen was
replaced we started to have problems with the auto wipers and it transpired
that the sensor was not fully secured against the glass. Investigation
showed that it works by shining a light (you can see it from outside the car
when the wipers are set to auto) from one side of the sensor which is picked
up on the other side, an inch or so away, through the refraction of the
glass. Rain on the window affects the refraction index and this is
detected to start the wipers. More rain = more refraction change and the
wipers respond by speeding up. After several attempts I did mange to get
the sensor stuck well enough to operate but the earlier attempts showed just
how pernickety it could be. Sorry, but I can't remember how I stuck it in
the end. If you want to get to it the mirror and housing slide up to
remove them. Watch out that you don't trap wires when replacing it (sudden
thought, maybe someone did)

 

Thanks Tinkerer that's a great help. Jogey

 

For what it is worth, I never saw that message on our 406 (not a HDi
which we ran for about 8 years - we now have a 407 - HDi). Your
experience resembles ours after we had to replace the 406 windscreen.
The interesting post, which describes how 'auto' works, probably
points to the conclusion (which is that you will have to put up with
your auto until you replace your 406 - hardly a major problem).