Any advice for maintaining a 2004 Peugeot 206 GTI 180
Discussion
I recently got a 2004 Peugeot 206 GTI 180 and it has quickly become my love. I know it's old and relatively rare and would be really grateful for any advice on looking after it.
I haven't got much money but i have got time and passion. What are the common faults i should be looking out for and what i can i do to stave off the death sentence of rust? What general maintenance should i make sure i do?
I am very lucky that the previous owner(s) seem to have really looked after it and i want to continue that and keep it going as long as i can.
It's the first car i have had of my own in years but previously i had a much loved mk2 XR2 and it saddens me to not see them around anymore.
Thanks!
I haven't got much money but i have got time and passion. What are the common faults i should be looking out for and what i can i do to stave off the death sentence of rust? What general maintenance should i make sure i do?
I am very lucky that the previous owner(s) seem to have really looked after it and i want to continue that and keep it going as long as i can.
It's the first car i have had of my own in years but previously i had a much loved mk2 XR2 and it saddens me to not see them around anymore.
Thanks!
Thanks for your reply and that is reassuring to hear. I will be honest with you that right at this moment i do not know what the rear beam is! Guessing it is to with chassis underneath stuff but I am going to google it now!
I haven't been underneath it until last week when a bracket holding my back box completely corroded and snapped and i saw online that it was a common thing to happen. But the rest of the underneath didn't look too bad. I just don't know what i am really looking at and i am scared of whats hidden. Especially after my experience with the XR2 which was apparently a deathtrap when i got it and i spent a hell of a lot on welding after my engine fell out and onto my driveshaft.
So hopefully the bits of rust i have seen starting are more on supercicial bits than structural as i can see a bit on one of the wheel arch mouldings and the number plate cover on the tailgate.
Is there anything i can do to prevent the spread on those sort of parts?
As i said i am grateful for any advice as i only seem to learn about cars from bad experiences. I am reluctant to blame this on being a girl but i do have to allocate some of my spare time on giving myself manicures and stuff.
Thats why i have come here to ask for help so thank you!!
I haven't been underneath it until last week when a bracket holding my back box completely corroded and snapped and i saw online that it was a common thing to happen. But the rest of the underneath didn't look too bad. I just don't know what i am really looking at and i am scared of whats hidden. Especially after my experience with the XR2 which was apparently a deathtrap when i got it and i spent a hell of a lot on welding after my engine fell out and onto my driveshaft.
So hopefully the bits of rust i have seen starting are more on supercicial bits than structural as i can see a bit on one of the wheel arch mouldings and the number plate cover on the tailgate.
Is there anything i can do to prevent the spread on those sort of parts?
As i said i am grateful for any advice as i only seem to learn about cars from bad experiences. I am reluctant to blame this on being a girl but i do have to allocate some of my spare time on giving myself manicures and stuff.
Thats why i have come here to ask for help so thank you!!
They suffer from all the usual Peugeot faults from this era of car, heater matrix's (as already mentioned), rear beams go, don't lower them as you need to adjust the front/rears correctly, wiring looms from the bulkhead to the doors (wires go brittle and snap, causes all sorts of electrical issues like central locking playing up, windows being a nightmare etc).
Gear linkages can also be problematic and feel stiff, if it does then it needs a new one.
Luckily me and the 206 GTI 180 didn't quite end up together (though I put a deposit down on one back in 2003), but Peugeot must have done something right with them as they were the best selling car they made....
Gear linkages can also be problematic and feel stiff, if it does then it needs a new one.
Luckily me and the 206 GTI 180 didn't quite end up together (though I put a deposit down on one back in 2003), but Peugeot must have done something right with them as they were the best selling car they made....
Thanks for that advice, that's just the sort of list of worry points i was hoping for from other peoples experiences.
To replace a heater matrix in this car does it involve taking out most the dashboard like i have seen in other cars? I think my XR2 was relatively easy to change but i remember a Toyota Supra at my workplace that almost needed dismantling to change that part (after we waited weeks to get it in from Japan)
And this thing about wiring going brittle? Could i do anything to help prolong the life such as armour all-ing the plastic coverings and lubing up connections?
I really think i should become a salesperson for Armour All in the future!
Thanks again for your help!
To replace a heater matrix in this car does it involve taking out most the dashboard like i have seen in other cars? I think my XR2 was relatively easy to change but i remember a Toyota Supra at my workplace that almost needed dismantling to change that part (after we waited weeks to get it in from Japan)
And this thing about wiring going brittle? Could i do anything to help prolong the life such as armour all-ing the plastic coverings and lubing up connections?
I really think i should become a salesperson for Armour All in the future!
Thanks again for your help!
Also i am glad you said about not lowering it without the right adjustments. Its a stiff enough ride as it is with all the evil speed bumps in london but it sure sticks to the road when I throw it about a bit.
I think i am happy to keep it as close to standard as i can especially as i feel lucky to have one that hasn't really been messed with.
I think i am happy to keep it as close to standard as i can especially as i feel lucky to have one that hasn't really been messed with.
J-Cam said:
Thanks for that advice, that's just the sort of list of worry points i was hoping for from other peoples experiences.
To replace a heater matrix in this car does it involve taking out most the dashboard like i have seen in other cars? I think my XR2 was relatively easy to change but i remember a Toyota Supra at my workplace that almost needed dismantling to change that part (after we waited weeks to get it in from Japan)
And this thing about wiring going brittle? Could i do anything to help prolong the life such as armour all-ing the plastic coverings and lubing up connections?
I really think i should become a salesperson for Armour All in the future!
Thanks again for your help!
A lot of people say you do need to dismantle the whole dash but that isn't the case! Here is a link of how to do it the easy way: http://puggy206.blogspot.com/2012/10/leaking-heate... I used half a bottle of radweld instead a few years ago. My sibling now has my 206 and it's still going strong! One of the guys on the 206 forum that lived closeby had a 180 and I know he had BC coilovers fitted to them. He seemed to be pleased with them, although as a fellow londoner with a lowered car, I can understand your apprehension about lowering it To replace a heater matrix in this car does it involve taking out most the dashboard like i have seen in other cars? I think my XR2 was relatively easy to change but i remember a Toyota Supra at my workplace that almost needed dismantling to change that part (after we waited weeks to get it in from Japan)
And this thing about wiring going brittle? Could i do anything to help prolong the life such as armour all-ing the plastic coverings and lubing up connections?
I really think i should become a salesperson for Armour All in the future!
Thanks again for your help!
Well please have everything crossed for me that i won't have that problem. At least not in the near future as i am still getting over getting the clutch replaced almost as soon as i got it!
One of my most embarrassing car memories is racing an XR2i along the A10, doing it at every set of lights. Then i turned onto a road with the evil square speed humps and had to wave them around me as i slowly mounted them in first gear. It was three men all jeering me as they went past and i think i went a bit red in the face! But i still did em at every set of lights though!!!!!
I'm glad to hear your one is still going strong though
Me getting busy with the Mer.....
One of my most embarrassing car memories is racing an XR2i along the A10, doing it at every set of lights. Then i turned onto a road with the evil square speed humps and had to wave them around me as i slowly mounted them in first gear. It was three men all jeering me as they went past and i think i went a bit red in the face! But i still did em at every set of lights though!!!!!
I'm glad to hear your one is still going strong though
Me getting busy with the Mer.....
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