Neverending Peugeot-woes

[ClareQuilty]

Some of you may have followed my tale of struggle in the past - the extreme difficulties of Peugeot ownership in Thailand. I haven't updated in a year, but the saga continues. 

The car's engine is stout, strong, and runs better than ever out on the highway, after about 10-12 cleanings/adjusting of the sensors, intake manifold, etc. But the ongoing problems are worse than ever - 1) car won't idle/very low idle/dies at stoplights or under deceleration, and 2) occasionally "cuts out", for the briefest instant, under acceleration. 

I've tried taking the car to a few other mechanics - most won't touch a Peugeot, those that do say "it cannot be fixed", and cannot identify the problem. My regular mechanic continues to limp along with me, unable to fix or even diagnose the problem, he merely cleans and adjusts each time. Sometimes the car runs better for a few days after he's had it, sometimes not. 

I'm still considering putting in a Toyota engine as is the norm for European cars in Thailand, but given the 30-40,000 baht cost, is it possible to replace the fuel injection system with some kind of jury-rigged Toyota carburetor? 

 

[giddyup]

Cut your losses and get an old Toyota or Nissan. Why put up with the headaches?

Edited June 7, 2018 by giddyup

[ClareQuilty]

22 minutes ago, giddyup said:

Cut your losses and get an old Toyota or Nissan. Why put up with the headaches?

Oh that never occurred to me. But seriously, surrender is not an option. ?

[giddyup]

3 minutes ago, ClareQuilty said:

Oh that never occurred to me. But seriously, surrender is not an option. ?

Perhaps learn to be your own mechanic then if no one local can fix it.

[canthai55]

Won't idle - replace IAC - idle air control

Have your mechanic replace every - EVERY - vacuum hose on the car. Clean every plug with contact cleaner, the ones to the sensors. Replace spark plugs. Blow thru the fuel line from engine compartment to fuel tank. Remove fuel tank, replace fuel pump and all filters.

Put a couple bottles of injector cleaner in, fill tank. Better to remove injectors and clean on the bench - you tube has many vids

If these steps are done you have eliminated most of the problems, The FI system is just a bunch of parts, many sure to be OK.

 

[ClareQuilty]

8 hours ago, canthai55 said:

Won't idle - replace IAC - idle air control

Have your mechanic replace every - EVERY - vacuum hose on the car. Clean every plug with contact cleaner, the ones to the sensors. Replace spark plugs. Blow thru the fuel line from engine compartment to fuel tank. Remove fuel tank, replace fuel pump and all filters.

Thanks for the good advice. One of the main problems I have had with the car is that there are no Peugeot parts available in Thailand. Some parts my mechanic has replaced with jury-rigged Japanese parts, but obviously this isnt easily done in the fuel injection and engine control system. 

[cornishcarlos]

11 hours ago, ClareQuilty said:

But seriously, surrender is not an option. ?

 

Sometimes, it's just not worth it.... 

This sounds like one of those times ?

[canthai55]

It is just a machine. No Voodoo or doctors with a bone in their nose required.

There are good mechanics around - maybe not where you are but it is not rocket science.

Source an IAC from France. Small, cheap, easy to replace. Even for a novice.

https://www.google.com/search?q=peugeot+iac&client=firefox-b-ab&tbm=isch&tbo=u&source=univ&sa=X&ved=0ahUKEwi2jIOT5cLbAhXmIzQIHfoWBxUQsAQIKw&biw=1366&bih=631

Just a few examples

[Nip]

I have a Peugeot granted I'm not in Thailand at present but when my car has a problem my local mechanic hooks the car up to a Peugeot diagnostic app on his computer which gives him a complete read out of the entire electrical and mechanical system.

[tompelli]

Surely some of the generic software will handle a Peugeot? Download to laptop or phone, buy a lead to connect up to car Then trawl the internet for the meaning of the error codes.

[hkt83100]

Which one is behaving better, your Peugeot or your Corolla KE70? Maybe make one car out of two? SCNR ?

[noahvail]

14 hours ago, ClareQuilty said:

Oh that never occurred to me. But seriously, surrender is not an option. ?

Peugeot owners have *always* been a loyal breed. Back in the 70s, a good friend owned three of the. He said he needed three to keep one running. Lovely car, really. 

[captainhornblower]

2 hours ago, canthai55 said:

It is just a machine. No Voodoo or doctors with a bone in their nose required.

There are good mechanics around - maybe not where you are but it is not rocket science.

Source an IAC from France. Small, cheap, easy to replace. Even for a novice.

https://www.google.com/search?q=peugeot+iac&client=firefox-b-ab&tbm=isch&tbo=u&source=univ&sa=X&ved=0ahUKEwi2jIOT5cLbAhXmIzQIHfoWBxUQsAQIKw&biw=1366&bih=631

Just a few examples

I don't know what part of the country you live in but there is at least one Peugeot garage in Bangkok that is expensive but extremely good - or at least it was when I lived there around 15 years ago. 

 

Also, in the area around the National Stadium/MBK, there is a car breaker area with hundreds of small garages that specialise in second hand spare parts - some of them have old Peugot model spares as well. Might be worth a visit but you will need a Thai to help you as no English is spoken in that area.

 

[toofarnorth]

1 hour ago, noahvail said:

Peugeot owners have *always* been a loyal breed. Back in the 70s, a good friend owned three of the. He said he needed three to keep one running. Lovely car, really.

I had a 505 7 seater estate in Plymouth , the former owner was The Lord Courtney of Powderham castle . 5 speed fuel injection 2.5.  Smashing car but I have never seen one over here.

[dddave]

16 hours ago, ClareQuilty said:

surrender is not an option. ?

Think of it as a strategic withdrawal. 

[connda]

Scrap it and buy a Toyota which will run forever and you can have fixed in even the smallest village in Thailand. 

Sorry, at some point you just need to be pragmatic.  Let it go.  Buy a new or used Toyota!

And you don't need to 'surrender'.  Keep the Puegot in your yard, fill it full of dirt, and turn it into a flower pot.  You'll both be happier!

Edited June 8, 2018 by connda

[newnative]

Have it crushed into a nice coffee table and then go buy a Honda, Toyota, or Nissan.

[transam]

2 minutes ago, newnative said:

Have it crushed into a nice coffee table and then go buy a Honda, Toyota, or Nissan.

Hmmmm, with that attitude we would not have any classic rides to look at...And yes, the OP's ride may well be a classic one day...

[transam]

OP, this is what you need, a universal inline fuel filter.....

 

 

 

[nss70]

I used to drive Peugeot as a company car (406) many years ago in the UK . They were pooled according to mileage so I ended up driving 6 different models over 3 years. They were good work horses, I only ever had one extra garage visit for a faulty injector.

I was told by my ex-colleagues that the change over to 407 was tragic with the cars almost living in the garage. After more than a year of pain the company moved to Ford and are happy again.

However, I would not own a car here without a support network that included my area, just guaranteed heartache.

Keep the pug as a project and pick up a better supported ride.

[smotherb]

I have to agree with those who say scrap the pigout and buy a Japanese car. I bought a 2004 Toyota with less 3kkm in 2007. It has over 162kkm on it now and I have changed oil and filters,  replaced tires, batteries, belts, wiper blades, a radiator cap and had the a/c serviced; period. Knock-on-wood, lest it not start next time I ask.

[transam]

1 minute ago, smotherb said:

I have to agree with those who say scrap the pigout and buy a Japanese car. I bought a 2004 Toyota with less 3kkm in 2007. It has over 162kkm on it now and I have changed oil and filters,  replaced tires, batteries, belts, wiper blades, a radiator cap and had the a/c serviced; period. Knock-on-wood, lest it not start next time I ask.

But the OP is not you....

[Oztruckie]

Sounds very much like a manifold vacuum pressure sensor, or a faulty ecm, or the software associated with it, as you state,engine tends to cut out on deceleration, manifold vacuum pressure sensors doesn't send correct info to ecm, and likewise on acceleration, be my first plan of attack, replace ecm as manifold vacuum pressure sensor. 

[smotherb]

2 hours ago, transam said:

But the OP is not you....

Really, you are so perceptive. At least it had something to do with the OP.

[transam]

19 minutes ago, smotherb said:

Really, you are so perceptive. At least it had something to do with the OP.

No it didn't, you were looking at stuff from your perspective and not the OP's liking of his ride..

I can relate to the guy because l myself got attached to older rides..This is the motoring forum and we like to help with any ride if we can...

[phil2]

As for the stalling, it's because the idle speed is too low, but that might be due to faulty sensors, so you should replace the idle speed sensor and the throttle positioning sensor. You could increase the idle speed if you don't want to invest in new sensors, but you'll end up spending more on gas. 

[watcharacters]

 

I commend your resolve and devotion Clare, but personally I'd be reaching for the towel by now.

 

I'd have to opt for the  "when in Rome..."  kind of approach.

 

Best of luck to you.

[observer90210]

Toyota, Nissan, Hyundai or even a Benz.....but for me, never something on wheels,  from France or Italy.

[smotherb]

2 hours ago, transam said:

No it didn't, you were looking at stuff from your perspective and not the OP's liking of his ride..

I can relate to the guy because l myself got attached to older rides..This is the motoring forum and we like to help with any ride if we can...

Yes, it did. You may not have liked my suggestion, but it may have solved his complaint about a car with continuous problems.

[ClareQuilty]

11 hours ago, dddave said:

Think of it as a strategic withdrawal. 

Yeah but you know it has to a very simple thing. I wish it could be replaced with a simple carburetor.