ClareQuilty

My new 30,000 baht Peugeot 405 is working out surprisingly well.. Seems to "get better" the more I drive it. However there are definitely a lot of strange little niggling issues. One being: no instrument panel illumination, and very low-aimed headlights. My mechanic says these are related and caused by the non-functioning of the unique 3 way headlight system. I have no idea what this system is.. Any advice or help? Photo coming in a moment.

I changed a lot of stuffs within the first month of getting mine as a pre-emptive measure, and I've not been able to find the exact spark plugs that came with mine in any of the Peugeot shops in BKK. Another thing that I was told (at Peugeot Bangkok and by some other people ) was that the Peugeot 405 engines are not LPG/NGV friendly.

As I have heard from nearly everyone I've talked to on the subject - avoid any car that has LPG/NGV: it burns up engines. Right now I have two Thai friends having expensive valve jobs on their newer cars due to burnt up valves from running LPG.

I stopped by my mechanic's shop today, and he agreed a sensor was a possible or fairly likely culprit, so he had me leave the car for about an hour while he 'clean sensor'. Luckily I keep a very old and decrepit Honda Nova motorbike there at the repair shop, just for using while my car is being fixed.

I have no idea which sensor he cleaned or whether it was more than one sensor, but so far the problem hasn't re-appeared. Keeping in mind that I've only driven the car 8 kilometers since then so it wouldn't have been likely to have appeared in that time anyway (as we all know, that's the catch with intermittent problems).

At least it was a 'no charge' deal..

The problem is gone. I paid B900 for a used throttle body, and fitted it myself.

I don't go near the Peugeot mechanics any more. One of the parts sellers told me they were taking me for a ride.

That's great you could fix it. By the way, what year is yours? Mine's about a '96, so its fuel injected. But, I suppose it still could have a 'throttle body'.

Lambda sensor, ignition coil-pack (if this is the one with dual ignition coil system) and air intake vacuum hoses, and MAP (manifold absolute pressure) sensor would come first in mind. Also check all ground wiring points, and fuel injector connectors for rust.

Thanks Jabis, yeah a sensor does seem to be the most likely culprit. I had some very mild occasional engine knock when i ran a tank of 91 gasohol in it, now no knock when I refilled with 95 Benzine... so that kind of had me thinking about timing and distributor cap anyway. The car seems really 'heavy' in the throttle as well - very hard to push down the throttle, kind of reluctant to get going, but quite quick at higher speeds.

I was trying to conflate the two problems, but they may be unrelated.

I prefer a car that can run comfortably at lower engine speeds - I really hate revving. I guess its the American in me - I grew up with cars that we never revved past 2,000 RPMs and rarely went over 1,500.

I had the same problem for a few months last year, and I bought 3 ignition coil packs. The situation improved each time I fitted a new one for a couple of days. The Peugeot mechanics are only interested in buying new parts because they get to keep the old one.

After changing the throttle body (it came with all the sensors), I came to the conclusion that it's sensor related, but I don't know which one.

You can try cleaning the carburetor to see if it'll help.

I guess I'm lucky that my mechanic isn't a Peugeot mechanic, so maybe he'll try to fix it another way. My car has no carburetor - it is fuel injected (about a 1996 model).

So, did you mean to state that the your similar problem is now gone? (that changing the throttle body fixed it?) If so, by the by, do you remember the cost?

I've been driving my new 30,000 baht 405 for many days now, and quite a few kilometers. I've become a lot more confident in it overall, except for one scary problem - the engine will 'cut out' on moderate acceleration, but only once in a while, and it only lasts for the briefest instant.

So brief in fact that this phenomenon has never caused the engine to die - it just loses power for an instant and is then back 'on'. This can happen whether the air is on or off, but I do seem to notice it happening more when the engine has been running for quite a while (say after an hour's drive).

I don't think I'm lugging the engine, so I haven't any clue what is causing this. Fuel injectors? Distributor cap?

Lostinisaan - yeah I got that door fixed months ago: there was a whole thread about it including pictures. Since then I bought & rebuilt an old Honda Civic, and now I've progressed to a 30,000 baht Peugeot 405.

I just had two Roadstones put on my Honda Civic at B-Quick, just 1,450 each for 175/70R13s. Has anyone had any experience with this brand? I tried very hard to get a cheap tire that was not made in China, and these appear to be labelled 'made in Korea' (whether that means they were actually made there, I can't say).

Also, I tried to persuade the B-Quick chaps to put the new tires on the back (anyway it was the back tires which needed replacing), because I had read online that you should keep your better tires on the back. The Michelins I had on the front are still extremely good, but the B-Quicksters insisted on putting the new Roadstones on the front and shifting the Michelins to the back. Is this anything to bother about?

Well today I had my first big adventure in the 405 - I drove an hour away, and back late at night. The good news is: I made it! Other good news... the car ran at precisely the same engine temp the entire trip - just right at 77-78 degrees C. The steering tracked straight and true down the highway, and the car used surprisingly little fuel - maybe 10% of the fuel tank.

The bad news was as follows: 1) the car died a few times in town during throttle-off deceleration after I had driven one hour on the highway. Always started right back up and didn't lose too much drive-ability. 2) just as I arrived back home (in the rain), the battery light came on. Only time will tell if its alternator, battery, or my theory of the moment - something rain-related like wet connections under the hood or something like this.

... I have one ...

phil2, do you have any advice about the power windows and locks? On mine, I'm now convinced the engine, gearbox, and clutch are all OK, but the windows and locks are a big mess: the two front windows do go up and down, albeit a bit 'binding' near the top, while one back window will hardly move (due to weak motor and/or binding?), and the other doesn't work at all.

Finally the power locks don't work, but 3 door's locks will work manually, while one simply won't lock at all, which is a little bit of a security issue.

Thanks Nelson.

By the way, the mechanic took a look at the timing belt and found it to 'look like brand new', so advised against changing it. In addition, I do feel (now that the shift lever is working fine) that the clutch itself seems quite heavy, and engages too suddenly (rather than smoothly), and a bit too near the floor. I suppose it could be many things, from needing a new clutch or hydraulic cylinders, to needing the clutch fluid 'bled' and replaced. Don't know much about it, but due to this problem the car is pleasant to drive on the highway, but not so pleasant around town in stop-and-go.

I have the car based on partial down payment, waiting for owner book and financing. Here's some photos as promised:

One of those TIT stories - as is nearly always the case in Thailand, when buying a used car, it takes a week or three longer than you might expect with a 'first world' mindset. In this case the 'wealthy rice mill owner' to whom the car is titled is 'at his Bangkok residence' for the time being, rather than his local one, and thus we'll just have to wait for him to come to sign the title and papers over whenever. I'm told next week, but not holding my breath. I must say I do feel no doubt as to the eventual outcome - another TIT fact: if you are extremely patient, things will always come out successfully in the long, long run. But you have to be very, very patient.

Bloody hell ClairQ 3 cars 3 tax 3 insurance so I'm a poorly paid teacher is obviously not applicable any more

Well, the other two are being used by other persons, and there is no net cost to me on those for the time being, kartman.

So CQ ... this will be the end of lhe saga. You do seem to have had a little bad luck with cars. Have you got your Yellow Book or proof of sddress letter so that things will go smoothly at the Land Transport Office or where ever you will do the biz.

Anyway congrats also ...

Thanks JAS21, actually I have had fantastic luck with cars... I have a great-driving Honda Civic that stays cool and has good air-con for about 65k, a mundane but reliable and comfortable Toyota Soluna for about 70k, and now, we'll see about the Peugeot. I think my little travails in getting to the point of having some reliable cars VERY cheap have been - not so bad really. And all the advice and help I've gotten on Thai visa has been a real assist. Thanks everyone.

Worn gear linkage = common problem on 405. Note the problem is now sorted, but generally this is what's required:

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/PEUGEOT-405-GEAR-LINK-LINKAGE-LINKS-ROD-KIT-3PC-88-ALL-/370599975108

Yes! That's exactly it, Lanc. Though, for the 650 I think he replaced only one of those linkages, plus the 'bushing', whatever that is. Apparently some parts of the linkage were still OK. That's my mechanic - always parsimonious.

By the way all, speaking of costs, he's going to also change the timing belt before I buy it, but I did agree to pay for that upgrade - he quoted 1,800 baht for the complete job, parts and labor. Is that reasonable or unreasonable?

Just buy it. If you don't hurry I'll come over to buy it for that price.

Done! Well sort of - handshake agreement to finalise the sale early next week.

Happy to report the seller was already able to fix the loose shifter, with 650 baht worth of new parts delivered next day from Khon Kaen. He confirmed that most parts were still readily available and not too expensive.

If the fans are Ok, and the engine block isn't leaking, the engine will mostly hover around 80 degrees Celsius.

Yeah it stayed right at 70-75 degrees C the whole time I drove it in afternoon heat. The mechanic told me the car has no thermostat, as is commonplace in tropical Thailand, thus on the whole might run a little cooler than a car with a thermostat.

The seller is actually my mechanic, who got it in payment for repairs to another car. He's not a Peugeot mechanic, just an all-round old-car mechanic, and he's used to me limping along on the cheap for years with my old cars, so I think he could keep the car going reasonably cheaply. Anyway he claims he can. He suggests the car needs only 1) the gearbox linkage, bushing, whatever tightened up, and 2) he suggests a new timing belt mightn't be a bad idea as the car was sitting so much for years, and it is an 'interference engine'. So, maybe 5,000 baht in repairs/updates, and the car should be safely usable.

By the way, are you saying, phil2, that in fact the parts are neither difficult to find nor expensive on a Peugeot? If that is true it would be great news, but it isn't really what I've heard elsewhere..

I read up a bit about extremely loose manual transmissions, and talked to my mechanic about it, and both suggested it is likely to be a fairly cheap/easy fix. Will go in the next couple of days to try to "do the deal". BTW, I found out the engine is the 2 liter.

Nobody can address the gearbox issue? I mean the throws are ridiculously long.

The 405 is very reliable, it is still very sought after in France to be exported to Africa where they have very very long careers (like the 404, 504 and 505 before)...

What is the mileage on this one?

Just at 201,000 kilometers if it is accurate (the odometer is working at present), so, about 125,000 miles. Not too bad for the age (a 1996). He did say that the previous, original owner had let it sit for about 5 years, so that mileage sounds believable.

Went back to check it out today, and they'd gotten the air-con working reasonably well ("new solenoid"). It wasn't super powerful like a Toyota or Honda, but it kept the car quite comfortable on a bright, sunny, 93 degree afternoon.

Took the car for another long (30 minute) test drive, engine stayed cool, no big problems. The extremely long-throw gearbox remains a concern - is that a sign of a worn-out gearbox?

Also, when a car has a very heavy 'on-center' feel or tendency on the high way, is that a sign of something wrong?

Yeah not a high priority kartman, as I'm an extremely slow driver and never 'push the limits' of any car. I'm more concerned about the air and the general Peugeot reliability issue..

I've been offered a very cheap early 1990s Peugeot 405, which is an interesting though naturally somewhat dubious car due to parts availability.

This one looks great, great condition in and out, engine runs very well (and stayed cool during very long middle-of-the-hot-afternoon test drive), and the car drives perfectly (straight down the road, no wandering or vibrations). Great handling, great brakes. Not a huge amount of power, but that's to be expected with 1.6 or 1.9 liters in a not-small car.

The only peccadilloes are 1) very weak air-con - the air is cool, but the volume of air blown out by the fan is very small. I've been told by friends who have previously owned Peugeots that this is 'just how Peugeots are, nothing can be done about it, its why nobody wants them in Thailand'. and 2) the five-speed manual transmission, though working perfectly, seems to have - to my mind - unnaturally long 'throws'. I don't know if that's how it is designed, and I'm used to 'short throw' manual shifters on Japanese cars, but it just seemed odd to me.

Has anyone had any experience about this model? Is it worth trying out for a mere 30k purchase price? Also, any ideas about doing something to rectify or supplement a badly designed air-con system?

Some photos of my bill. Does anyone read Thai? I'm just curious what all was replaced.