306 will not start and all electrics have gone

Hi everyone
Please help with my problem.
This is gonna be quite long so bear with me.
I have a 1997 306lx 1.4i. I took it to my local tyre and exhaust garage
for a new middle box and 2 new front tyres. I left it with them for the
day. I go to pick it up. The guy says to me that they had problems
starting it prior to putting it up on the hoist. But they did manage to
start it.I pay them for the job that was done. I get in my car. Both
front windows were left down by the mechanics. Went to start the car. I
noticed that the temp gauge needle was as far over to the right as it
could possibly go. The digital clock was flashing. Upon turning the key
the car turned over fine but wouldnt fire up. At that point i heard a
buzzing from one of the relays in the fuse box. The dials went
nuts.Speedo went to 100mph, rev to 6000, fuel gauge to 3/4. temp gauge
went back to normal position. I realised that i had a big problem. I
wanted to secure the car but found that i could not wind the windows
up. Motors just made noise but did nothing. Went back to the garage to
ask what they did to it as it was fine when dropped off that morning.
They said that they had trouble starting it. So they left it for 5
minutes then returned and it started. The guy also said that the fuel
gauge was showing nil. I had over half a tank when i dropped it off. He
thought that the gauge was faulty. Anyway i got a tow home. Checked
battery terminals.They're fine. Charged the battery just in case it was
a little low. Battery charged up fine. Tried once more to start it up.
Same scenario again. Still no functioning windows, mirrors, radio,
clock, gauges, or locking. I have had to cover the windows with plastic
sheeting for now. I am very dubious about going to a dealer with this
problem as i think they will overcharge me and probably do a process of
elimination with parts in the hope of fixing the problem when it could
just be a simple thing like a dodgy relay, fuse or whatever.
I was wondering whether anyone else has had a similar problem or if
someone can give me any help in locating typical problem areas with a
fault like or similar to this.
Thanks for your time and effort in reading this article.
I personally think im fooked and this is gonna cost me more than the
car is worth!!

 

In message <>,
joss stops reading and ponders a while before
scribbling this reply

Possibly, just possibly it may be your earth strap problem.
Check to see if one to the engine is still fixed and secure and is
making good contact. On my 306 there is also an earth strap from the
rear exhaust box to the chassis, check that too.
You might also want to visit the link below as a very good place for
help with Pugs.
http://forums.preloved.co.uk/fuseaction-forums.listthreads/sec-Motoring/c
ategory-Peugeot/6a0230df.html

Joss

 

Sounds definitely like an earth strap failure. I had the same - engine
turned over, but generally wouldn't start. Relays clattered, sometimes
speedo read 140mph and then down to 0 in a second.

Full details of my problem can be found here:
http://groups.google.co.uk/group/uk...read/thread/95a5364ae60dc8b3/4009700c048e3415

All fixed for less than £5.

D

 

As you said, I recon most garages would have started with replacing the ECU,
then gone on to replace everything else in sight, before eventually
stumbling on the actual fault. After all it's not their money they are
wasting is it?

 

I'd Like to thank all who have contributed to this post. As of today i
have fixed the car. You were all correct. It was the earth strap from
the engine to the chassis. It had completely come away from the engine.
Put a new strap in place and hey presto.
It cost me a little more than £5 but hey, everything in Cornwall costs
more than anywhere else in the country!! LOL
Cheers again

 

In message <>,
joss stops reading and ponders a while before
scribbling this reply

Brill a result of for the collective then. Thank you for coming back to
let us know its fixed.

 

This probably will cost quite a bit. But it will be worth it. As you have an older vehicle without all the computerised dash. Just remember one light on the dash. Is a mot failure. Don’t forget that OLD IS GOLD ? and you can fix it on the side of the road. Anyway that’s precisely why I’ve just bought a Peugeot 405 diesel estate. With no expensive electronic dashboard to go wrong. This problem is probably a faulty starter motor relay. Until I get my Peugeot delivered I won’t be able to help as I won’t be able to play about with the relays. As that’s how I help people. By investigating with what I’ve got.

 

That’s bloody well true.