308GT 150THP, drives like a regular 1.6

[MR31337]

Just got myself a 3door 308GT. Very nice, like the car.

I thought it was quite nippy when I had put my foot down as the revs picked up, "That'll be the turbo then." I thought to myself.

That was until about the same time the weather got very cold (10 days ago?). Coincidence? I thought turbos were supposed to run better with colder/denser air.

So anyway, the car drives fine, no fault codes. Fine that is if it were a 1.6 without a turbo. Basically there is no more boost. Eh, I'm not exactly David Hasselhoff. so who needs turbo boost when the roads are this iced up? Well heck, I like to know its there even if I can't use it!

Is this a cold weather issue or something that needs investigating by Peugeot?

[chopper1192]

They're not a ball of lightning (though no slouch either), and the map on the 308 is much better than the lumpy delivery on the 207, so it should feel smooth and linear with no pronounced kick.

Still, if you're not sure get it checked out. Maybe the supplying dealer will let you try a regular 1.6 as a comparison?

Nice motor BTW.

[MR31337]

Thanks for the reply. Actually, I have just driven a regular P308 1.6 I think powerwise it felt almost exactly like mine does now.

I'd have to say my car 'felt' slightly better than linear until recently, now it feels slightly less than linear, perhaps almost a third drop. There used to be enough power to experience a little torque steer under hard acceleration, all that edgy feeling has all gone now.

Its still under warranty so I think I'll have to book her in. While they're checking the 'turbo boost' I will ask them to install the talking computer from the top spec RCZ that addresses me as 'Michael' in a camp voice.

[MR31337]

I've booked her in tomorrow at my local dealership, they'll run a diagnostic and take her for a test drive. Charge is £75 (apparently only if they find a problem), wear and tear repairs I pay for, but anything else should be covered under warranty. They were unable to specify the cost of making a K.I.T. upgrade.

I'll let you know the outcome.

[MR31337]

Peugeot ran diagnostics: No problems found.

Peugeot mechanic test drive: No problems found.

Peugeot suggestion: Book it in for a whole day for extensive testing.

So I decided to think about it. I Drove it away and found it drove like a champ again. In fact I gave myself a shock because I expected much less power, so I put my foot down, torque steer was back and everything, so was the much fruitier exhaust note!

Yeh, so something they did with the diagnostic software seems to have fixed the turbo (or whatever). This wasn't an intermittent problem, it had been every time I drove, engine hot or cold. Anyway, I advised them by phone and they were just like, "oh, if it happens again let us know". There was no charge for today.

Did they press the secret turbo button? Had I turned it off by accident?

I'm really no wiser what the hell the last two weeks have been about, but at least my baby is back.

[MR31337]

Had a few weeks of really good driving then the power went slack again. Instead of 0-60 in 8.5 seconds, it can almost do 50-60 in 8.5 seconds.

This problem is somewhat intermittent, a few times the power comes back (always for a whole journey). Anybody got any ideas please?

[PureJoe]

When were the air and fuel filters last changed? Fuel system should also be checked for vacuum/air leaks, but this is probably a job for a specialist.

[MR31337]

Thanks for your reply.

First service was about two or three months ago (20k miles). But looking at what is in the service looks like neither filter has been changed. I can try changing these to see if it helps.

[chopper1192]

Ah, sad to say that as time goes on this sounds like a fault that afflicts a lot of the turbo'd Prince engines - that's what happens when you let BMW redesign a perfectly good Peugeot TU unit for you!

There are 2 main problems that afflict this unit...

1) Software issues that suddenly leave you with big holes in the power delivery, usually half-way through a really tight overtake. However, yours is one of the later cars with this engine so I would hope that it would've been addressed by the time yours was made.

2) More worrying. Somewhere in the valvetrain is a metal peg or key that keeps the cams properly timed up. This can wear/fail, and while it only makes a fractional difference to the mechanical timing of the engine, it is sufficient to cause the ECU to get confused and throw a wobbly as the signals it received from the camshaft angle sensors are then at odds with what the rest of the engine is telling it.

At this stage, from what you tell us, I'd be plumping for number 2 at the moment.

BTW, if it's under the manufacturers warranty, and not an extended aftermarket warranty, all inspections related to reported faults (aside from wear and tear, or otherwise damaged through misuse, collision etc) are free, regardless of whether they find a fault or not. The EU says this must be the case - after all, it's hardly your fault if it's an intermittent problem and the car is behaving the day it goes on, or their techies are dullards and can't find it.

[MR31337]

Thanks Chopper.

Ironically they recalled the car for a software "upgrade" shortly before the first problem started, hmm. I think I'll have to go back to Peugeot while I still have some warranty left on the car.