HELP!! 206 WON'T START!!

smemon · Post by **smemon** » Tue Aug 03, 2010 1:13 pm

Hello All,
I am a brand new member of this forum and I come to you in my hour of need.
I have a Peugeot 206 1.6 16V GLX (2002), 80k miles and it won't start. Never had a problem with the car before but when I tried this morning, it sounded like it wanted to turn over then I heard a "bong" sound, the doors locked themselves, the clock reset itself, all the needles on the dash died and nothing happened. Subsequent attempts have resulted in the same sequence of events.
I am a complete novice when it comes to cars so please make any advice idiot proof for my benefit!!

Many thanks
smemon

Thar · Post by **Thar** » Tue Aug 03, 2010 3:47 pm

Hi smemon and welcome to the forum!

I can't help with the cause or solution to your problem, but hopefully someone may be along later to advise you.

reap · Post by **reap** » Tue Aug 03, 2010 4:36 pm

sounds like the battery is dead. pobably making a clicking noise to when your trying to start it

smemon · Post by **smemon** » Wed Aug 04, 2010 10:45 am

Thanks for your responses Thar and reap.
Time for a new battery then.... I knew this day would come!!!
My next question therefore is do I buy from a Peugeot garage or are there any good websites where I can get a compatible battery for less? Also, what is the "model number" for the battery I require?

Thanks
smemon

52nd of February · Post by **52nd of February** » Wed Aug 04, 2010 2:35 pm

Hi smemon! What is happening to your car is exactly what happened to mine, bu the sounds of it - my problem was a loose battery terminal - the positive terminal is a safety latch, rather than the xonventional screw-on (so that if there is an electrical fire, you can very quickly flip up the latch and instantly kill the power). The problem with this comes when the battery housing pushes on this terminal and eventually pushes it off - this is bad for systems in the car. The ignition will still turn on, because the terminal is now sitting on top of the battery and so there is still contact, but not enough to start the engine (it draws alot of power) and so 'click!' and the clock reset, radio memory reset, date reset, it was very annoying! I too thought it was a dud battery (had just had it replaced!) but that is what the problem on mine was.

I took mine to a mechanic who widened the hole in the housing around the positive terminal lead.

Hope this gets to you before you buy a new battery!

Thar · Post by **Thar** » Wed Aug 04, 2010 8:07 pm

I do hope you get to read 52nd's post and try out the suggestion first smemon. If you do end up sourcing a new battery, I know that you need to be careful with compatibles as they tend not to be as tall as the original battery and sometimes you need to pack them to fit correctly. Keep us posted!

smemon · Post by **smemon** » Thu Aug 05, 2010 10:53 am

Thanks for the suggestion 52nd. I checked the positive terminal and the latch you mentioned is on very tight. So tight in fact, I couldn't undo it!! I have managed to jump start the car now and took it for a long run and it seemed fine. I'll be taking it to my local Peugeot garage on Friday to get the battery replaced.
If anyone has anymore suggestions, please keep them coming!

Many thanks
smemon

Post by **GrandadMonkey** » Sun Aug 08, 2010 7:42 am

If the battery is the original and is 8 years old it has already done well.

The end of summer is approaching and the cooler autumn mornings will soon be sorting out the batteries reaching the end of their life.