The vehicle is 2006 Peugeot Partner Combi Van 1.9D. This problem has been occurring intermittently for a year. The last time was at the end of September; it occurred once a month mostly, more than this one or two times. Seasonal and daily environmental changes didn’t affect the situation as the problem occurred in winter and summer, in morning and afternoon.
If I remember correctly, it always occurred when I start the van for the first time in the day. Engine starts, but stops in a second. Battery indicator light turns on, gauges (fuel, speedometer, tachometer) drop to zero (engine temperature gauge is already at zero naturally). After turning off the ignition and trying again, engine starts normally and I drove the van everyday in all kinds of conditions without any problem. All accessories and components work normally; there has been no dimming in internal or external lights.
Engine and electrical parts checked in different shops, no problem found. But there must be a problem somewhere; any advice can be helpful.
As this is a chronic problem, I provide additional information below:
Engine stopped while driving only once, in 30 August, I went to an auto electrician, he checked and tested the van. He found no problem, but suggested that I should observe if all the gauges drop to zero when the problem occurs. As it happenned only once after that day, I’m not sure if it was the same in all the occurrances; but I think that battery indicator light turned on everytime, so let’s assume that everything was same everytime.
After the last time I went back to the same electrician; he decided that the problem is caused by the ignition switch, just because all the gauges dropped to zero. I considered replacing the ignition switch with all the locks, but he suggested not to do so. He said that the problem has not worsened and it isn’t necessary.
A week after, I went to the authorized service at the dealer. The van stayed there for 2 days. They said that they checked all the related parts including the brain, done test drives and pushed to limits; but they didn’t found any issues.
My auto mechanic has checked the vehicle multiple times; considered the fuel filter, fuel pump, bad fuel, catalyzer and immobilizer. He visually checked fuel filter and fuel flow. He removed and checked the fuel tank in November 2020; there was no problem. I replaced the battery that month as a precaution. Last week I checked the battery voltage myself with an analog multimeter; it was a little over 12 before engine started. It was a little over 14 after started the engine, turned on the AC and increased the revolution over 2000 for about 10 seconds. I guess these values are normal. I disconnected the battery terminals to check; there was only very little oxidation (if this is the right word; there was a white residue) on the cable end at negative terminal. I wiped both terminals and cable ends with a rag.
There are three events prior to the problem that can be related to it. I know exact date of some of them, because I take notes when a repair is done; just the date, cost and what changed. I guess the problem started in fall 2020. At around that time a camel spider had entered the van, I couldn’t catch it, it went under the dashboard at the passenger side. I don’t know if it died in somewhere or found a way to outside; but I didn’t use the van for 3 days, it stayed under the sun and I used aerosol insecticide which probably not effective over this animal kind. I don’t think it could have stayed alive inside the vehicle.
In August 2020 after regular oil and filter change, engine was washed with pressure washer (big mistake). I drove at least 50km without any issues. But later that day the engine revolution and sound began to decrease and increase erratically, like it was choking. I parked the van, checked the engine; only saw that a small tube was disconnected from pressure converter, exhaust control. (Probably it was disconnected way before and the mechanic disconnects or doesn’t connect it; I know that I used the van for the last year with this loose tube. It was reconnected at the authorized service, but end of the tube is split and I didn’t get a clear answer whether there is a problem in this part or if it has to be connected.) It was Saturday evening; I used the van in Sunday without any issues and went to mechanic later day. There was no apparent problem, but some fault records found when connected to computer.
From top to bottom; I tried my best to understand correctly first and then translate from Turkish, the text in the software is awful:
1-[leakage/runaway?] fault: Vehicle speed signal [,] compatibility with engine flow and speed
2-[leakage/runaway?] fault: Engine flow signal [,] Signal loss
3-fault that is not referenced After Sale
4-[leakage/runaway?] fault: Sucked air temperature signal [,] Short circuit in chassis
My head hurts now.
Mechanic asked me to take this photo and then deleted the records. I don’t know if only the record with the asterisk was detected or all of them.
Lastly, in June 2020 we replaced the fuse box in the engine compartment with a used one. I drove the van. After washing it (just the body) I noticed that the headlights are on while the headlight switch was off and the key was not in the ignition. The van didn’t start and we towed to the electric shop. I don’t know what was wrong with the box and didn’t see it; my mechanic took care of the repair.
My van is on sale now and I tell this problem to all buyers. I have no doubt that it will be sold easily and have no problem with the price drop. I just seek another advice for myself and the future owner.
