Bonjour! Ca Va?

[Kitchski]

405's a good car! Largely forgotten now, but that's a shame as it's an era when Peugeot knew how to make good cars.

[Scoticus]

Kitchski said:

405's a good car! Largely forgotten now, but that's a shame as it's an era when Peugeot knew how to make good cars.

I completly agree.. And until the phone call today, I too had forgotten about these cars.

Tonight I have run it in, do over 90 miles of driving in and around Doncaster, and the only faults I can now report goes as follows:
Clutch is still playing up a little
The boot doesnt lock
The n/s rear door doesnt lock
Remote central locking doesnt work
drivers side heated seat doesnt work
Front fogs dont work.

Tomorrow Ill see if i can get the locks working

On the plus side, it pulls like an animal, the heaters can melt human bone, the sound system is up to modern day standards (if not better) and the seats are without doubt the best I have ever sat in

All in all I am very happy with the car, and ill be even happier when all the little faults are sorted

I shall keep you all posted (if anyone actually cares that is)

[Old Merc]

The only thing that will cost a few quid is the clutch,the rest??.Even if you pay an Indy £300? to fit a new clutch you have the bargain of the year.
The boot lock will probably be the central locking motor seized?as with the door.These can either be replaced or better still remove them and lock everything manually as you can get into more expense with other parts of the c/locking.
Those old 405`s are as tough as old boots and the XU diesel engines are bullet proof.Just change the engine oil and filters every year,the cam belt every 80K and it will last for ever.
Bring back real Peugeot`s !!

[Old Merc]

Forgot to add. Take a look at the topic below "my french car family".His Peugeot XU diesel has done half a million miles!!! yours is the same but with a turbo.

[Scoticus]

Old Merc said:

The only thing that will cost a few quid is the clutch,the rest??.Even if you pay an Indy £300? to fit a new clutch you have the bargain of the year.
The boot lock will probably be the central locking motor seized?as with the door.These can either be replaced or better still remove them and lock everything manually as you can get into more expense with other parts of the c/locking.
Those old 405`s are as tough as old boots and the XU diesel engines are bullet proof.Just change the engine oil and filters every year,the cam belt every 80K and it will last for ever.
Bring back real Peugeot`s !!

Ah, thanks for that good think.. ill have a look at the c/locking motors.. I think its the pick up on the car thats stopping it from working, a well known problem with all pugs from this age

The clutch is behaving (for now) but ill keep my eye on it..

The car is coming up on a service and will be done in a month of two. I want to get the little niggles out the way first


The freind who gave me the car has a 306 XUD with just over 800,000 miles on it, and its still brilliant to drive.
Ill give it to a froggy freinds, they do know how to build a good derv engine.. or at least, they KNEW how to

[Old Merc]

Your correct,the c/locking can get involved.Assuming the key fob works?? have a look at the receiver,its inside the plastic housing around the interior light.I bet its been contaminated with water?(the roof aerial leaks) sometimes you can bring them back to life by carefully cleaning the printed circuit etc with electrical cleaner or WD40.Also,If I remember(long time)the c/locking ECU is under the rear seat??

Edited by Old Merc on Wednesday 6th March 18:03

[Scoticus]

Old Merc said:

Your correct,the c/locking can get involved.Assuming the key fob works?? have a look at the receiver,its inside the plastic housing around the interior light.I bet its been contaminated with water?(the roof aerial leaks) sometimes you can bring them back to life by carefully cleaning the printed circuit etc with electrical cleaner or WD40.Also,If I remember(long time)the c/locking ECU is under the rear seat??

Edited by Old Merc on Wednesday 6th March 18:03

Thanks very much, I shall have a look in the morning..
Managed to get the rear door to lock manually, but the boot is still open

[Dave Brand]

Kitchski said:

405's a good car! Largely forgotten now, but that's a shame as it's an era when Peugeot knew how to make good cars.

As you say, it's a shame. My 405SRi was the best car I've ever had (although the current DS3 looks like a strong contender for that crown!), so good I kept it for 11 years. I've yet to find a car which rides or handles better - that, for me, was the secret of the 405's appeal, both superb ride and handling. Great seats, too.

[Old Merc]

Dave Brand said:

As you say, it's a shame. My 405SRi was the best car I've ever had (although the current DS3 looks like a strong contender for that crown!), so good I kept it for 11 years. I've yet to find a car which rides or handles better - that, for me, was the secret of the 405's appeal, both superb ride and handling. Great seats, too.

I have a soft spot for 405`s.In my "boy racer" days I had a 405Mi16x4 which was the Impreza of the day.
Citroen active rear suspension,16V 4x4.Had to be the most underrated car of its day,stick to the road like glue and top 150mph.Those were the days.

[W124Bob]

Dad got one in '95,a GRD I think, to replace a 2.1D(Pug engine?) Sierra GL which died at 110K miles in 3years.He retired and took it with him in '98. Only went on until 2008 when the body work finally killed it at 217k miles.It was the most comfortable he had and nearly as bullet proof as a 190E .

[S10GTA]

Got a Haynes manual for one of these at home, sent to me after my ill fated 405 mi16 purchase. You are welcome to it if you want it?

[sjabrown]

Free car - great stuff. If you do end up scrapping it then sell the alloys to some of us 2-5 rally folk first. That style are a lot stronger than the 14inch alloys fitted to 205s.

[Scoticus]

I doubt the car will be scrapped.
Not by me anyway

I have already had a few cash offers, so I know when the time comes, the car will sell fairly quickly.

Thanks though.