Car Problems...

Chiz · Trackday Trickster Joined: 06 Nov 2005 Karma :

Hi, i have a 1993 Peugeot 106 1.4 Diesel. Until recently it has been fine in terms of the engine but the other night it developed a problem:

i was driving back into the village where i live and slowed down for the 30 limit, as i put the clutch in the engine just cut out. I presumed it was ust being a bit temperamental so let the clutch out and it started again. it then stopped twice more in the next mile or so to my house.

Today i checked the oil and coolant both of which were a bit low so i topped them up and presumed it must have been this. I then went on alittle test run (5 miles or so) and it was fine. I then had to do another journey. After about 25 miles the temperature light came on (didn't yesterday, maybe because coolant was low?), i pulled over and it promptly cutout. It then did this another 5 or so times on the next 5ish miles home.

Does anybody have any ideas on what the problem might be? Any help would be greatly appreciated.
Thanks,

crazymotorbik... · Nearly there... Joined: 05 Mar 2006 Karma :

Head Gasket?

Ciarans-special · Two Stroke Sniffer Joined: 02 Feb 2007 Karma :

Ok so hears your problem.. ITS FRENCH!!

But to be more exact, is it firing on all cylinders? Start the car, lift the bonnet and take off the leads one by one replacing them as you go and see if any of them make no difference, if they dont they aint firing, other than that it sounds like a head gasket or rings.. nasty stuff..

finpos · World Chat Champion Joined: 13 Sep 2005 Karma :

He'll have bother taking the leads off - it's a diesil Smile

Sounds like it's overheating. The engine gets hot and gets tight, then when you put the clutch in on the overrun, the wheels stop turning the engine and it cuts out.

Your temp warning light came on, that kind of backs it up.

Either the cooling system isn't working too well, or the engine is completely buggered. I know the previous generation of those had air bleed points all over the place and you needed a phd the change to coolant.

Check that you have coolant in the radiator, not just in the expansion bottle. It says "do not remove while hot" on the radiator cap for a reason, so do that with the engine cold.

finpos.

Dave McCool · World Chat Champion Joined: 04 Jun 2006 Karma :

This may or not be of help to you, but I owned a 1.4 litre petrol Citroen AX a year or so ago.

Although yours is a diesel and mine a petrol and as such they will be fundamentally different, I know the 106 and AX share the same engine range, and those lazy frogs may have included a similar cooling system...

Anyway, mine used to overheat fairly regularly, I suspected it was the thermostat, so I replaced it, but it made no odds.

What it was, in fact, was an air-lock in the system, which was cured (from memory) by opening one of the air bleed valves, and filling up from the radiator until nicely full.

May or not be of help, but I thought I'd add my bit...
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Finglonga · World Chat Champion Joined: 27 Jul 2004 Karma :

As Finpos says...

Also how low was the coolant? Diesels go on forever and not much phases them but overheating will.
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feef · Energiser Bunny Joined: 11 Feb 2002 Karma :

jimbothe · World Chat Champion Joined: 29 Sep 2006 Karma :

The smaller french diesel engines are well renowned for water pump problems.Could be your water pump is leaking or is seized and not turning causing the water in the engine to boil up where it sits instead of flowing through the engine.

When you checked the oil and coolant was there any signs of discolouration i.e oil in the water and vice - versa?
Also check the oil cap to see if there is a creamy residue on the inside.These will all indicate towards head gasket failure.

You may be lucky and have caught it in time.A quick way to test if the water is flowing ok and the thermostat is working properly is to just feel the hoses all round the engine making sure they are all roughly the same temperature but be aware this will not be the case until the thermostat has opened and the system is flowing freely.
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Ciarans-special · Two Stroke Sniffer Joined: 02 Feb 2007 Karma :

feef · Energiser Bunny Joined: 11 Feb 2002 Karma :

Chiz · Trackday Trickster Joined: 06 Nov 2005 Karma :

Thanks for the help everyone, i think i've located the problem:
The heater matrix seems to have a leak which leaks water into the car (i presumed it was still damp from when the snow got in Embarassed

).
The cars going to go into the garage because i can't be bothered with the hassle of removing the entire dash etc. If its going to be expensive though i'll probably scrap it,it only cost £450 as it was.
Thanks again Thumbs Up

finpos · World Chat Champion Joined: 13 Sep 2005 Karma :

Probably about 150 quid for the new matrix, plus 8000 pounds in labour. They hang that bit from the ceiling of the factory by a bit of string and build the car around it Smile

Standard fix for a 300 quid car is to connect the hot water feed directly to the return inside the engine bay, and wear a scarf.

finpos.

Dave McCool · World Chat Champion Joined: 04 Jun 2006 Karma :