306 with a few niggles

[Parko]

Ok, it's not my car, it's a friends, and I have only driven it once but have heard of these problems many times. So I thought I would investigate and put an end to the complaining.

The car is a '94 306 XR. The problems are:

Advertisement

* Indicator 'tick' but no flashing when not engaged, they work fine when they are engaged - I think it may be a faulty flasher unit, or wiring?

* Brake light on dashboard comes on every now and then and just stays on for a bit - once again faulty wiring?

* When the car is coldish and driving around the first corner it is as though the power steering is causing the car to stall. I know the car needs extra power to operate the steering but I wouldn't have thought that it would cause it to stall.

Any ideas on the above 3 would be greatly appreciated.

[purrr-geot]

* Indicator 'tick' but no flashing when not engaged, they work fine when they are engaged - I think it may be a faulty flasher unit, or wiring?

* Brake light on dashboard comes on every now and then and just stays on for a bit - once again faulty wiring?

These issues are due to the car being 'french'

[penelope_s]

The indicator 'tick' is probably a faulty switch in the indicator - mine did this, and my mechanic replaced the stalk. It was quite expensive, and while it wasn't affecting the working of the indicators the noise drove me nuts so I elected to have it replaced. I believe that sometimes just cleaning the switch will get a while longer out of it.

My understanding is that as the switch wears, the stalk doesn't return to the neutral off position in the middle. If you just move the switch slightly as if turning the indicators on but not actually turning them on (if that makes any sense) you can get a 'normal' stalk to make the same noise.

Sorry can't help with the other problems - the only time my brake warning light came on was when a brake fluid line had ruptured and I had no brake fluid left!

penelope_s

[Haakon]

My 406 has just starting making the annoying ticking noise when the indicators are off. I have found that firmly switching them on and off again shuts it up for while, which leads me to think its the switch. Another thing to get looked at before the warranty runs out....

[Parko]

It appears that the brake warning light is faulty wiring.

Having had a look at the indicator switch, I discovered that you guys were right and it isn't returning to the 'off' position properly.

Still have no idea about the power steering but two of three isn't bad. Thanks very much all.

[vroom]

ma dad has a 1995 306 xr and the indicator is not worth replacin, ma did it and it was tikin away not 6months later. and the brake light mean LOW BRAKE/CLUTCH FLUID, GET IT CHECKED!!!

[slick]

I got a weird indicator issue with my 306 ('94 S16) and I can spell quite well so I reckon I should get help first

Ok - my problem is weird
When the engine is hot on a really hot day (35+ Celsius) the right indicator starts flashing twice as fast as normal. The left indicator has never behaved like this. As soon as temperatures return to normal (in the evening or the next day in the morning) the left indicator behaves as it normally should.

So what's my issue ? Switch? Bulb? It's definetly a heat problem that affects something...

[SLC206]

ma dad has a 1995 306 xr and the indicator is not worth replacin, ma did it and it was tikin away not 6months later. and the brake light mean LOW BRAKE/CLUTCH FLUID, GET IT CHECKED!!!

Hmmm,

From memory there are also electronic brake wear indicators on the 306 - a little wire going to each pad that is easily broken just in normal driving.

It could be a) indicating incorrectly; or b) indicating correctly, ie. telling you one or more of the brake pads may be worn to it's indicating limit.

[slick]

does anyone have any ideas about my issue?

[XM Mechanic]

Ok - my problem is weird
When the engine is hot on a really hot day (35+ Celsius) the right indicator starts flashing twice as fast as normal. The left indicator has never behaved like this. As soon as temperatures return to normal (in the evening or the next day in the morning) the left indicator behaves as it normally should.

So what's my issue ? Switch? Bulb? It's definetly a heat problem that affects something...

Usually when the flasher operates at a higher speed it indicates a bulb is blown. The heat may affect the resistance in the globe or the globe connection.
Next time it happens leave the indicator on, pull over ( in a safe place of course), get out of the car and make sure all the indicators are working. If there is one not working then remove/install the globe (even clean the contacts) and see if it fixes it. Or simply replace the globe.

Hope this helps.