My Troubled Cars Pt2: My 307 dilemma

Shawn_Dark

Okay so following on from my previous post about my wifes Corsa having problems, my own car is worse!

I have 2003 Peugeot 307 2.0 HDi SE 110 SW. I've pretty much had this car looked after by a local Citroen/Peugeot specialist since I bought it last November.

Since owning it I've had it serviced in January 2012 and the timing belt done back in April 2012. The auxiliary belt was also done and any work that was recommended at the time.

On Monday this week the car started juddering and i got a message:
ESP/ASR not functioning. Then the engine management light stayed on and I got the generic Anti-Pollution fault message popping up on the display every so often. Around ten to fifteen minutes later it happened again, only this time the car lost power and slowed to a stop. I managed to get it towed to work and got our garage to have a quick look.

After work, I started it up and it seemed fine. The car did judder occasionally but I managed to drive it to my mechanic. He tested the car but couldn't see a problem. He cleared the lights and got a diagnostic readout. There were three main codes and around five or six more which he said were generated from the first three.

My mechanic seems to think that there is either a fuel pump problem or some electrically-related issue. He could go on to investigate either but its all about cost.

I am at the point whereby I simply want to sell it on. I commute around two hours a day and need something reliable. I could really do with an automatic car anyway cos of an on-going leg problem I have (which isn't helped by constantly pressing down on the clutch pedal).


So my questions are:

1) Any ideas about the problem? My mechanic said a fuel pump replacement with labour could be costly (i.e. £300+). He doesn't want to use a second-hand pump as you don't know what your getting (e.g. it could be damaged/broke already). Yes my mechanic may be costly but he is a specialist, has never let me down and has always been helpful and considerate.

2) What can I sell it for as it is?
- Tax till March/April 2013, MOT Nov. 2012
- Has 138k on the clock (with part-service history)
- Its black in colour with matching blacked out windows
- Has a sixth seat (never bought the seventh)
- Has digital climate control, with fully electronic console
- Has a CD multi-changer
- Has a full glass panoramic sunroof
- Has front arm rests

3) Can I trade it in as it is?
I would like to trade it in against another car but obviously its a non-runner. Anyone know about this?

rxbren

1 if you dont believe you mechanic take it else where
2 check auto trader for same car engine spec and mileage
3 you can trade it in but youd lose far more than the £300 you were quotted to fix it as it would be a spares repair car and some dealers might not want the hassle

Shawn_Dark

rxbren wrote: »

1 if you dont believe you mechanic take it else where
2 check auto trader for same car engine spec and mileage
3 you can trade it in but youd lose far more than the £300 you were quotted to fix it as it would be a spares repair car and some dealers might not want the hassle

Yeah I want to get a second opinion but would have to pay to have it recovered/transferred each time I move it.

I am probably going to sell it as it is, rather then run around with the other hassle or attempt a trade-in.

We do have an older (family) car that's taxed and tested so I'll probably stick with that and use the time to sell mine and carefully look for another car.

Strider590

I'd get shot and never buy a French car again..... coming from someone who owned and loved a 306, Peugeot last made a good car in early 2001 and even then thy had reliability issues. Now they just make unreliable boring cars.....

Shawn_Dark

Strider590 wrote: »

I'd get shot and never buy a French car again..... coming from someone who owned and loved a 306, Peugeot last made a good car in early 2001 and even then thy had reliability issues. Now they just make unreliable boring cars.....

I know your pain!

I am sticking with a German or Japanese car. Perhaps a Vauxhall or Ford as secondary choices.

atrixblue.-MFR-.

esp/asr- either a faulty ASB sensor or ABS ring, (have you felt some feed back judder under braking recently?)

anti pollution fault could be the crank sensor (a common on these cars) or the EGR valve blocked or you need the elloys fluid topped up and DPF cleaned out.

Shawn_Dark

atrixblue.-MFR-. wrote: »

esp/asr- either a faulty ASB sensor or ABS ring, (have you felt some feed back judder under braking recently?)

anti pollution fault could be the crank sensor (a common on these cars) or the EGR valve blocked or you need the elloys fluid topped up and DPF cleaned out.

Hmm, how come my specialist didn't pick up on any of this?

I have felt some feedback/juddering but more when accelerating. Every so often the car seems to hold its revs (like cruise control) but only for a few moments. The car doesn't have cruise control.

custardy

I paid under £700 for an 02 307 SW with FSH about 6 months ago
110k miles,6 months tax,8 months MOT
not the best bodywork though

Shawn_Dark

UPDATE:
So it looks like there is a problem with fuel getting to the car. So again this could be a fuel pump issue, but it could also be one of the many, many sensors that these modern cars have.

I am going to try changing a few of the possible sensors and see if that reduces the number of fault codes (or the fault even).

Shawn_Dark

My brother had a look at the car today.

He did a back-leak test and injector two showed as providing too much fuel.

He also opened up the filter and fuel pump. We could see metal particles which he said means the fuel pump needs replacing and the entire fuel system needs flushing out.

Problem is, since I bought the car last year I've already spent just over £2000 on it (including the timing belt, aux. belt and service this year). I am concerned that if I spend any more money (which I cant really afford) and its not sorted I will be totally and utterly...

On the other hand, if I try to sell with fuel pump replacement made clear I may get anything between £800 to £1200 for the car.

Dilemma indeed!

Graham_Devon

Get rid. That would be my advice after owning the same model.

My 307 hdi was an absolute money pit, with massive bills at every turn. Dual mass flywheel, EGR, FAP system, injectors, turbo. About the only thing I didn't have was the fuel pump, which is also a common problem as you have found out. Luckily most of mine was under warranty, but the garage had the car more than I did and it was always bodge jobs to keep me going for another 2k miles. Had a replacement turbo, within 4k miles, the recon turbo went.

Every single problem on these cars seem to cause massive costs, often more than the car is worth.