anti pollution fault and catalytic converter warning

[stokes]

i have a 52 reg 2.0 cc 81000 miles with a full service history, today when i started it i noticed the engine management light was on and flashing and the display came up anti pollution fault and catalytic converter warning and sounded like it was misfiring. any help or information i would be really great full,cheers

[Capncol]

Most likely coil pack.

[GrandadMonkey]

If there is a misfire then I would normally check spark plugs first. How long have they been in? Are they the correct spec Bosch ones - Peugeots don't seem to like other brands? If the plugs are ok and the correct ones. Then you could have a coil starting to break down. However, you say you have full service history so when was it last properly serviced with a brand new air-filter? A dirty or wet air filter can cause the engine to run too rich and that would bring on the warnings that you mention. Sometimes when the air filter is renewed people don't fit the air-filter housing lid correctly and water can get in - particularly when it has been as wet as it has recently. Check for split or cracked breather hoses while you're at it - you'll sometimes hear them hissing.

One other thing, what fuel are you using? I stay away from supermarket fuel and stick to quality stuff like BP Ultimate and Shell V-Power. They contain additives which keep your engine, and particularly the injectors clean, and should maximise the performance. One of our previous cars would never run properly on supermarket fuel but when we used decent stuff the problem disappeared for good.

Finally has the exhaust system got any leaks? If so put that right.

[shadow]

my money is on the code is P0300 multiple missfire detected (which is very generic) i had it the other day it usualy happens on the 1st min of start up while trying to demist the screen my solution at the moment is to put the heater down to 18c switch the auto demist on which then puts the revs up abit more seems to work at the moment, my theory behind it is that because of the pre heat of the manifold and when you put the cabin heater on full the heat is being taken away causing a drop in revs so fueling becomes iregular causing a misfire hence P0300. always happens this time of year last year it was once a week then i got it down to once a month by doing the auto demist (when i remembered) then the weather warmed up so been alright until now, last year i changed the coil pack,plugs, filter, used injecter cleaner nothing changed if it carrys on my next job is the coolant temp sensor as this must be connected in this code i might record the live data from the ecu one morning and see if i can pin point the problem but its so random when it happens.

[stokes]

quick up date did 60 miles 2day all warnings went out and car never missed a beat

[GrandadMonkey]

Perhaps you have been doing a few short runs with the engine not getting properly warmed up? The longer run may have burnt off any unburnt deposits from the lambda sensor. Are you using decent petrol or not?

[stokes]

thanks for the replies. grandadmonkey i think u have it the nail on the head the cars my wifes and is only used as a second car doing about 30 miles a week, i only use the cheap unleaded petrol would it make a difference if i used the top quality one.

[GrandadMonkey]

If you are only doing that sort of mileage then the extra cost of using Shell V-Power and/or BP Ultimate won't add up to much over 12 months will it? Say 6 tankfuls a year. Well worth the extra £30 - £40 per annum.

We never use anything else in ours if we can help it and after 7 years it still runs perfectly. Averages 42 mpg too, but of course ours is the smaller engine.