[chief barker]

I have been having a few problems over the past 7 days or so, with my 4 year old peugeot 307 rapier 1.6. Currently it has 29k on the clock.

When I start the engine first thing in the morning the car exhibits some sort of missfire or erratic tic over. At first when the engine starts, the car runs smoothly, but after 20 seconds or so the engine seems to missfire and over revs very slightly to overcome it. This symptom comes and goes whilst the engine is warming up.

This problem lasts for about 3 minutes and after that all is well, however if I have been driving for any time and 'say' pull into a petrol garage and fill up, the car will hesitate (after restarting the engine) slightly when pulling away but eventually runs fine thereafter.

I have had It serviced 2 months ago, but the plugs and filters were not changed, just the oil and oil filter.

Has anybody got any advice as to what the problem could be?, would it be worth my while changing the spark plugs before i book it into a garage for a probable expensive repair bill?. I believe (from the service book) the spark plugs do not need to be replaced for 5 years.

Any other ideas would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks for the help.

[Ayub]

Originally Posted by chief barker

I have been having a few problems over the past 7 days or so, with my 4 year old peugeot 307 rapier 1.6. Currently it has 29k on the clock.

When I start the engine first thing in the morning the car exhibits some sort of missfire or erratic tic over. At first when the engine starts, the car runs smoothly, but after 20 seconds or so the engine seems to missfire and over revs very slightly to overcome it. This symptom comes and goes whilst the engine is warming up.

This problem lasts for about 3 minutes and after that all is well, however if I have been driving for any time and 'say' pull into a petrol garage and fill up, the car will hesitate (after restarting the engine) slightly when pulling away but eventually runs fine thereafter.

I have had It serviced 2 months ago, but the plugs and filters were not changed, just the oil and oil filter.

Has anybody got any advice as to what the problem could be?, would it be worth my while changing the spark plugs before i book it into a garage for a probable expensive repair bill?. I believe (from the service book) the spark plugs do not need to be replaced for 5 years.

Any other ideas would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks for the help.

Remove spark plugs and clean then with some wet n dry. Also have a look at your spark plug leads they may be look. Dont PULL ON THEM. push them slightly when the engine is cold.

[dereks]

probably the ignition coil pack quite common on the 1.6 engine

[chief barker]

Originally Posted by dereks

probably the ignition coil pack quite common on the 1.6 engine

Yes, I have been reading about the same problems with the 206, being the coil pack failing at around 30k (mine has just completed 28k).

I have just driven home from work and the situation has gotten worse. The engine now holds back at about 1800 rpm in any gear. And the idle from cold has greatly deteriorated from yesterday.

I have got it booked into a specialist tuning garage that came very highly recommended from work colleagues, so hopefully they will diagnose the problem.

The coil pack from peugeot is around £75 pounds, so if I change it and it doesn't cure the fault I would have wasted that money, so I had better leave it to experts.

I really want to avoid going to a main dealer as they have extortionate hourly rates.

Thanks.

[SteveTDCI]

Try a breakers yard for parts or just bite the bullet and buy the coil pack, its likely to cost you £75 just to be told its the coil pack

[dereks]

bite the bullet and get a new one chances are the scrappy one wont last long.

another word of advise change the spark plugs as well and make sure you use peugeot genuine plugs a lot of the coil pack problems are due to the wrong type of plug being fitted.

[chief barker]

Update guys, contaminated fuel is the reason for the missfire.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/6405051.stm

I got a call from the garage doing the repair, they say it needs a new oxygen sensor at a cost of £200. And guess what they say they are having problems getting a new one, I wonder why.

When I got home from the garage they called me and asked where I bought the petrol from, as they are compiling a report on why so many oxygen sensors are failing.

How do I go about claiming from the garage?.

[Lord Lucan]

Re the garage I asume you mean filling station?

If you paid for the fuel with a credit card could you not make a claim through the issuer?

[SteveTDCI]

The contaminated fuel story has just broken out on the Golf forum .... not sure if it could be the reason though.

[chief barker]

Originally Posted by Lord Lucan

Re the garage I asume you mean filling station?

If you paid for the fuel with a credit card could you not make a claim through the issuer?

1.Yes the filling station. I only buy the petrol from that station as it's on my way to work.

2.Paid by debit card mate.

[Jammyb]

As I understand it the oxygen sensor is not faulty, it's working properly, but the oxygen lvels in your exhaust gases are wrong, caused by the of-spec fuel, this is causing your engine management to change the fuel/air mix to compensate, hence the engine problems.

Hope that makes sense

[Jammyb]

It appears I got it wrong and that the fuel is knackering the probes, so they do need replacing. I don't feel so bad about my job today then

[chief barker]

Originally Posted by Jammyb

It appears I got it wrong and that the fuel is knackering the probes, so they do need replacing. I don't feel so bad about my job today then

I telephoned my repairer this morning and he said he has 10 cars in his care with the same fault, but my car is the only one he is having problems finding a replacement LAMDA sensor for.

The wife and I walked down to the Murco station where I buy my petrol from and logged my complaint with them, however he said that we were the first to report this, but he would contact his area manager. He did mention that his petrol supply comes from the same depot as all the supermarkets, which should back my case up.

I just hope it hasn't knackered the catalyst.

[dereks]

let me know if you struggle to get one i may be able to help.

[chief barker]

Originally Posted by dereks

let me know if you struggle to get one i may be able to help.

Thanks mate, I have just picked the car up.

All they did was drain the old petrol out (about 1/4 of a tank) and refill it with Shell optimax. The car is running like a dream. They said they could'nt change the sensor because of supply issues, however they gave a report, i'm really not sure what it means. But they assume everything will be fine now.

% vol CO 0.01
% vol CO cor. 0.02
% vol CO2 7.73
ppm vol HC 0
% vol 02 9.4
and some other symbol that looks like a slanted T 1.821

I have filled the car up completely with optimax and gave it a 30 min belt down the motorway hoping to clear out the old petrol.

Total cost of it all was about £127.