Automatic gearbox fault/anti pollution fault - help!!!

[megwatkins123]

Hi guys,

I recently bought a Peugeot 206CC, 1.4 litre year 2001. It's an automatic and I bought it off a private dealer, it had literally just had an MOT and passed with no minors and only had 66k miles on the clock with no previous issues.

A week after I bought it I was driving it in a low gear and it suddenly jolted forward and a "automatic gear box fault" warning message flashed up on the moniter. I turned the engine off and on again and it went....Didn't think much of it, old car and all that, but since then it's been a nightmare!! Every time I drive the car after about a mile it will get stuck in gear and the dreaded automatic gear box fault light flashes up, from then it will happen every 10 miles or so (nightmare if you're on a long journey!!) sometimes I'll be driving 70 mph and haven't changed gear in 10 miles or so as I'll be on the motorway at 1 speed and it will jolt and the fault message will come up, have to quickly try pull over on the hard shoulder, it's becoming pretty dangerous.

Alongside that, every time I turn the car on a warning message will flash up saying "anti-pollution fault" and the enguine management light will come on, this stays on the whole journey but isn't effecting the way it's driving.

Am I doomed?! I took it to 1 garage who plugged the diagnostic tools in and said it came up with 2 problems, 1 was that the catalyst converter was old and the other was there were tuning problems or something. I don't really know what to do as I've literally just bought the car, and I hardly use it so don't want to pay to get it fixed. I want to sell it desperately as I probably only use it once or twice a month but can't sell it with all the faults.

Does anyone have any ideas?? I know the obvious answer it to take it to the garage but I really don't want to pay £500 or however much it will cost to fix a car I hardly use.

Help

[iooiuk]

Is there such a thing as a 1.4CC.

MOT means nothing other than car is roadworthy when tested.

If you have only had it a short while? (How long)

What is a "Private Dealer" As to me, you either buy from a dealer or a private seller.

If its someone that sells a lot of cars off their drive. Then go back and complain. If they try to fob you off then remind them that the Tax man might be interested in their selling record. Or involve Trading Standards.

[Capncol]

2 things.
#1 They didn't make a 1,4 'CC
#2 No such thibng as a private dealer. He is either a dealer or he is private. If he is a dealer, you have rights.

Did you get the fault codes from the diagnostic?

[megwatkins123]

Hiya,

Sorry, that was a typo I meant 1.6! He was a trader (no website or show room just a load of cars parked outside his house that he buys privately then sells on via autotrader), I bought the car sold as seen and signed some paperwork that said so so don't think I have a leg to stand on. I've had the car for 1 month, the problems started occurring after 3 days. I don't have the codes unfortunately!

I just wondered whether there was a simple solution, I read on 1 forum about pouring a can of coke on the gearbox as it might just be sticky and keep falling out of gear...but don't want to trust that as it seems too easy!

[Capncol]

Hiya,

Sorry, that was a typo I meant 1.6! He was a trader (no website or show room just a load of cars parked outside his house that he buys privately then sells on via autotrader), I bought the car sold as seen and signed some paperwork that said so so don't think I have a leg to stand on. CAB say different https://www.citizensadvice.org.uk/consu ... -used-car/ However getting anywhere maybe difficult, Try calling trading standards. You don't need a website or showroom to be a trader I've had the car for 1 month, the problems started occurring after 3 days. I don't have the codes unfortunately! With modern cars, diagnostic codes are key in getting to the bottom of the problem due to the complexity of modern cars

I just wondered whether there was a simple solution, I read on 1 forum about pouring a can of coke on the gearbox as it might just be sticky and keep falling out of gear...but don't want to trust that as it seems too easy! What?? I;ve heard some BS before, but that takes the biscuit, What is pouring a can of Coke over it supposed to achieve?


There are 3 ways you can approach this, first is to get the codes so that we (or any other knowledgeable website) can give an informed direction to go in. The second is to keep buying parts (or tins of coke) hoping you may eventually stumble on the answer (I call this the "poke-and-hope method" and is usually the most longwinded and expensive) Third is to take it to gearbox specialist for an estimate. Don't know where you live but if it is near me, I have a couple of companies I use.

[megwatkins123]

Hiya, apparently pouring a can of coke on it is meant to get rid of corrosion or something and clean the gearbox...won't be trying that don't worry!

Thanks for all the info, it seems a faff going after the guy that sold it to me, I really don't think I'd get anywhere to be honest and it'll probably be pretty long winded.

I think I may have to go down the gearbox specialist route, I have a feeling with the multitude of problems it's not going to be simple. I live in Romford in Essex, if you know of any around this way?

Thanks so much for the info I really appreciate it!

[Luditus]

I experienced exactly all those symptoms a few years back. Took it to a well known reputable vehicle repair establishment for analysis and rectification. They had the car for a whole day and presented me with loads of computer printouts - and achieved nothing, other than to tell me the vehicle was basically scrap! Not accepting this, I spread my enquiry net further. Everywhere I phoned replied with a deep drawing of breath and potential costs running into thousands - until I hit lucky.
What a breath of fresh air, to speak to someone so confident and knowledgeable of the problem. "Solenoids, Sir, we do them all the time. Bring your car in tomorrow morning, we'll have it done by 5pm."
3:30 pm the next day, I received a call. All done, computers reset, road tested 50 miles, and.... only a couple of miles from where I live! Moral of the story - don't give up.

[gazza82]

Thanks for all the info, it seems a faff going after the guy that sold it to me, I really don't think I'd get anywhere to be honest and it'll probably be pretty long winded.

Then the toe-rag gets away with it to do it to someone else. Pretty sure he has to sell a vehicle that is fit for purpose. Ask TS, I doesn't cost anything and they might already have him on file! He might be genuine and this is a mistake. If he values his reputation he'll sort the car or give you your money back.

Find a citroen or peugeot specialist, NOT dealer, nr you and get them to check the costs. Failing that register on 206info.co.uk and ask if someone local has PP2000 and can come to you and connect it to you car (Peugeot diagnostic system)

Then you have somewhere to start.

Oh and coke does work but you have to soak the part for several days ... Not suitable for a gearbox! s ...

[Capncol]

Oh and coke does work but you have to soak the part for several days ... Not suitable for a gearbox! s ...

Used for rusty bolts yes, but not poured over the top of the gearbox.

[Piyas]

I experienced exactly all those symptoms a few years back. Took it to a well known reputable vehicle repair establishment for analysis and rectification. They had the car for a whole day and presented me with loads of computer printouts - and achieved nothing, other than to tell me the vehicle was basically scrap! Not accepting this, I spread my enquiry net further. Everywhere I phoned replied with a deep drawing of breath and potential costs running into thousands - until I hit lucky.
What a breath of fresh air, to speak to someone so confident and knowledgeable of the problem. "Solenoids, Sir, we do them all the time. Bring your car in tomorrow morning, we'll have it done by 5pm."
3:30 pm the next day, I received a call. All done, computers reset, road tested 50 miles, and.... only a couple of miles from where I live! Moral of the story - don't give up.

do you know what specific solenoid was replaced? was the acu on th e engine bay you are referring to that was reset? my problem is only sold in our country are the new models and technicians are not trained on the 206cc.

[mark farrier]

Private trader or not, I think the law only allows you to sell so many cars from a private address,
home address in a year.
Capncol......no doubt you will know.
If it was me, I'd visit him with a few mates and have a friendly word or two in his ear.

[Luditus]

Hi Piyas, sorry I missed your post, but hopefully this link will help you http://my206xr.blogspot.co.uk/2010/06/a ... block.html
It shows the replacement of the two solenoids that I had done on my car.

[Piyas]

Hi Piyas, sorry I missed your post, but hopefully this link will help you http://my206xr.blogspot.co.uk/2010/06/a ... block.html
It shows the replacement of the two solenoids that I had done on my car.

Thanks.

[Luditus]

Walang anuman.
I sympathise with your plight. In all the time that I lived there, I never found a mechanic of any description. I just had to do everything myself, which, without an air-conned workshop, meant just a simple fuse replacement would turn me into a dripping sweat ball. I was in GenSan (Dust City), so hydraulics really suffered, and automatic repairs were a definite no.
I don't know exactly what was done with the computer resets, but believe it involves clearing all the stored faults and maybe some recalibration for the new solenoids. Good Luck. Sige na.