Peugeot vehicle owner who does his or her own maintenance according to the recommended service schedules should not have to visit and use this section. Modern component reliability is such that, provided those items subject to wear or deterioration are inspected or renewed at the specified intervals, sudden failure is comparatively rare.

Faults do not usually just happen as a result of sudden failure, but develop over a period of time. Major mechanical failures in particular are usually preceded by characteristic symptoms over hundreds or even thousands of miles. Those components which do occasionally fail without warning are often small and easily carried in the vehicle.

With any fault-finding, the first step is to decide where to begin investigations. Sometimes this is obvious, but on other occasions, a little detective work will be necessary. The owner who makes half a dozen haphazard adjustments or replacements may be successful in curing a fault (or its symptoms), but will be none the wiser if the fault recurs, and ultimately may have spent more time and money than was necessary.

A calm and logical approach will be found to be more satisfactory in the long run. Always take into account any warning signs or abnormalities that may have been noticed in the period preceding the fault - power loss, high or low gauge readings, unusual smells, etc - and remember that failure of components such as fuses or spark plugs may only be pointers to some underlying fault.

The pages which follow provide an easy-reference guide to the more common problems which may occur during the operation of the vehicle. These problems and their possible causes are grouped under headings denoting various components or systems, such as Engine, Cooling system, etc. Whatever the fault, certain basic principles apply. These are as follows:

Verify the fault. This is simply a matter of being sure that you know what the symptoms are before starting work. This is particularly important if you are investigating a fault for someone else, who may not have described it very accurately.

Don’t overlook the obvious. For example, if the vehicle won’t start, is there fuel in the tank? (Don’t take anyone else’s word on this particular point, and don’t trust the fuel gauge either!) If an electrical fault is indicated, look for loose or broken wires before digging out the test gear.

Cure the disease, not the symptom. Substituting a flat battery with a fully-charged one will get you off the hard shoulder, but if the underlying cause is not attended to, the new battery will go the same way. Similarly, changing oil-fouled spark plugs for a new set will get you moving again, but remember that the reason for the fouling (if it wasn’t simply an incorrect grade of plug) will have to be established and corrected.

Don’t take anything for granted. Particularly, don’t forget that a “new” component may itself be defective (especially if it’s been rattling around in the boot for months), and don’t leave components out of a fault diagnosis sequence just because they are new or recently-fitted. When you do finally diagnose a difficult fault, you’ll probably realize that all the evidence was there from the start.

Engine

• Engine fails to rotate when attempting to start
• Engine rotates, but will not start
• Engine difficult to start when cold
• Engine difficult to start when hot
• Starter motor noisy or excessively-rough in engagement
• Engine starts, but stops immediately
• Engine idles erratically
• Engine misfires at idle speed
• Engine misfires throughout the driving speed range
• Engine hesitates on acceleration
• Engine stalls
• Engine lacks power
• Engine backfires
• Oil pressure warning light illuminated with engine running
• Engine runs-on after switching off
• Engine noises

Cooling system

• Overheating
• Overcooling
• External coolant leakage
• Internal coolant leakage
• Corrosion

Fuel and exhaust systems

• Excessive fuel consumption
• Fuel leakage and/or fuel odor
• Excessive noise or fumes from exhaust system

Clutch

• Pedal travels to floor no pressure or very little resistance
• Clutch fails to disengage (unable to select gears)
• Clutch slips (engine speed increases, with no increase in vehicle speed)
• Judder as clutch is engaged
• Noise when depressing or releasing clutch pedal

Manual transmission

• Noisy in neutral with engine running
• Noisy in one particular gear
• Difficulty engaging gears
• Jumps out of gear
• Vibration
• Lubricant leaks

Automatic transmission

• Fluid leakage
• Transmission fluid brown, or has burned smell
• General gear selection problems
• Transmission will not downshift (kick down) with accelerator fully depressed
• Engine will not start in any gear, or starts in gears other than Park or Neutral
• Transmission slips, shifts roughly, is noisy, or has no drive in forward or reverse gears

Driveshaft

• Clicking or knocking noise on turns (at slow speed on full-lock)
• Vibration when accelerating or decelerating

Braking system

• Vehicle pulls to one side under braking
• Noise (grinding or high-pitched squeal) when brakes applied
• Excessive brake pedal travel
• Brake pedal feels spongy when depressed
• Excessive brake pedal effort required to stop vehicle
• Judder felt through brake pedal or steering wheel when braking
• Brakes binding
• Rear wheels locking under normal braking

Suspension and steering systems

• Vehicle pulls to one side
• Wheel wobble and vibration
• Excessive pitching and/or rolling around corners, or during braking
• Wandering or general instability
• Excessively-stiff steering
• Excessive play in steering
• Lack of power assistance
• Tire wear excessive

Electrical system

• Battery will not hold a charge for more than a few days
• Ignition/no-charge warning light remains illuminated with engine running
• Ignition/no-charge warning light fails to come on
• Lights inoperative
• Instrument readings inaccurate or erratic
• Horn inoperative, or unsatisfactory in operation
• Windscreen/tailgate wipers inoperative, or unsatisfactory in operation
• Windscreen/tailgate washers inoperative, or unsatisfactory in operation
• Electric windows inoperative, or unsatisfactory in operation
• Central locking system inoperative, or unsatisfactory in operation

Source : Peugeot Fan Club

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