I will do the introduction bit after I post this, while it’s all in my head!
A few weeks ago I bought a 2008 Peugeot Partner Tepee, and it’s been an utter clusterbomb of shenanigans and such like. Wiper failed the day after I bought it resulting in a replacement mechanism. Then the turbo quit, resulting in a whole heap of work from turbo, inlet/outlet pipe, new sump, pick up, intercooler. That was covered so no great loss to myself as annoying as it is.
However, I drove it home from the garage who I got to fix this. They mentioned that the starter is engaging when the key is at the first position (I never know what it’s called, but the bit before you turn it to fire the engine). It’s one of those that he said it happened but couldn’t get it to happen in front of me. I settled the invoice and when I went out it happened - like someone is throwing power at the motor itself for a split second so it’s throwing out the cog thing to start the engine but the engine itself doesn’t fire. He sprayed some stuff, it seemed if you giggled the ignition it would stop, so likely an ignition barrel going bad. But it stopped happening so I got in and drove to work, then the shop, then home.
As I drove home I wondered if the starter was engaged continuously so opted to open a window to find out, and it’s then when I realised I had lost the following:
- wipers (both front/rear, squirters too)
- both front windows
- no 12v accessory plug/cig lighter
- no central locking on the button
- no cruise control/limiter
Car ran fine though. Got me home.
When I pulled up at home I turned it off and the rear wiper came on for one swipe. Strange i thought. So I put the key back in, except this time when I put it at the first position the car fired up immediately. Caught me out because I always leave the car in gear when I park it so it lurched forward. Tried a few more times on the key and every time it would just fire up instantly. None of the above came back to life, except this time I was greeted with the STOP light and the ABS light, telling me the brake system was faulty.
Yesterday I went out to see if it had changed its mind. In fairness when I put the key in and to the first position nothing happened, I then started it and it ran fine but the STOP/ABS light came on. Wondering if the accessories like the window were working I put the drivers window down. It did go down, it wouldn’t stop until it reached the bottom, and then refused to come up. And I could feel it starting to rain. So threw a bin bag on it and waited for today. I also disconnected the battery as someone said that might help. That was left off overnight.
Today I swapped the ignition barrel over for a quality* item from Amazon. Just the barrel, not the wiring. I swapped it over and reconnected the battery, car went back to trying to throw the starter (so fairly sure it’s not the barrel). Car started, STOP/ABS lights/warnings came on, but the window went up. I had control of the window for about 10 seconds. Tried the passenger one but that seemed to go down a millimetre then stop responding. Same as the drivers window. Thankfully up this time!
Turned it off again. Can’t remember what I tried at this point but I started it again and still got the starter clicking, still had no windows, still had warning lights. I have a 12v Bluetooth transmitter thing that has a USB plug on it and I fiddled with that. Nothing. But I plugged my phone in and it did register a charge, but then nothing.
I turned it off again, and reasoned I should just let it run for a little bit for the battery more than anything. Did that, but I noticed a lot of clicking coming from the passenger side. I’ve no idea what that was coming from but it was like someone tapping away at a typewriter. Then it went away, and came back 2 more times I think.
I’ve been told these BSM things can be finicky, and the garage took great pride in telling me the engine was steam cleaned. Looks great which is just as well as it’s an ornament now. As I took the BSM out I noticed two things.
First was this brown stout cable. Looks like it should go somewhere, it goes round the back of the battery, but can’t really work out what it’s for. It’s been taped up by me now though.
It feels to me like a grounding issue, but then I know these have a BSI too and I wonder if that’s deciding like it wants to speak to Derek Acorah.
Any advice would be welcomed!