406 HDI 110 - Hot key

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Sniff the lock, are there any burning smells? I'm not the world expert on cars but this definitely seems wrong to me.

I had the same car, S Reg 406 and the key was always hot, it ran like that for couple of years till I swapped it for

02 estate. The present owner still has a hot key, but it doesn't seem to cause any problems.

Bryan

Give your main Dealer a ring about this matter.or ring a auot ele man , if you got anybody round near you with the same car ask them. good luck please let the group know what the out come is.

It may be due to the fact that it takes a large load through the ignition switch part. I seem to recall the heater blower motor feed goes through it at least. May account for the heat. I'll try to remember at work to check the keys after a road test!

Odd, is there something putting out a lot of heat in that area, are the switch contacts dirty or is the switch overloaded. Given that the contact resistance in the switch should be rather low it should take an awful lot of current (too much) to make it even warm.

Pete

Thanks Nigel. That would certainly make sense as over the last few weeks the blower has been running continuously to push out cold air. My wife says that she thinks her S reg 306 key gets hot as well so she is going to check it. I will be interested to see what you find.

Good thought Pete, have a look at Nigel's reply which seems to indicate that that may well be the answer.

Do you have TPFT or Fully comp insurance? If so don't worry unduly.

Not convinced. Trouble is I can't see anyone listing typical ignition switch contact resistances on line and I can only guess as the current drawn by the blower. Power dissapated is I^2R. I just can't see anyone sufficient load being put through the ingition switch to cause it to get hot.

Pete

The more I think about it, the more I have a feeling that I noticed the same thing last year - of course that could also be age related (me, not the car) ;o)

I will hang on and see what findings Nigel and my wife (when she remembers to check) come up with.

Keith Checked my key today (2.0l 16V petrol 406) after a 15 minute drive and it was very hot, barely comfortable to hold. Martin

That is exactly how mine is. I am thinking that Nigel's suggestion, that it is the current being pulled through by the blower that is causing it, is on the button as I went for about a thirty minute drive yesterday, deliberately leaving the blower off, and the key remained cold.

It will be interesting to see if anyone else can reproduce the hot key effect.

I did 2 406's today, both around your age (the car I mean!!). One journey with the blower off of around 15 minutes. Key cold. The other one on the same route with the blower on full blast and the key was very hot. To be scientific though it would mean doing the two journeys in the same car, but I don't think the customers would agree with that!!

To be scientific, yes. But what you have found is good enough for me, especially as two other people have come up with similar results. Once again you have helped me out and put my mind at rest. My sincere thanks Nigel.