Don't Buy One Of These

[Ivor Windybottom]

Yeah we had a peugeot 407, nice car and basically the same 2.0 hdi diesel that the citroen had, except ot had a dpf filter, at the time mrs filly worked about a mile away. That car cost us a few quid in forced regens that weren't altogether successful.

You definitely had the wrong car for your needs. This would torture even a petrol car or any other than an electric one. Or possibly a bicycle or pair of walking boots could have worked better.

Also have the same Peugeot/Citroen 2.0 HDi engine, it's a good bit of kit if actually used as a diesel engine needs to be.

 

[Bodgedbuild]

I don't quite get it; if idling before razzing causes the problem, why disable a system that reduces idling time?

Idling on a hot engine is better than the shock loading on the timing chain each time the engine is switched off and on again. Before stop/strat, engines might be switched off and on maybe four times a day but with a stop/start system, this can easily be 40 times a day. Diesels are fitted with an anti-shudder valve which reduces the shock but an engine running compression pressures of up to around 500 psi is always going to stop and start slightly violently.....

 

[Ivor Windybottom]

Peugeot/Citroens use the alternator as a motor to restart the engine, taking its power from a combination of the battery and a super-capacitor. It's incredibly smooth - there's just a little "zup" noise and it's running, in less than a second. I don't know why they don't all do this, presumably the expense is the issue.

I find it quite amusing that my cheapo Citroen restarts in such a civilised way, while much more expensive cars such as BMWs and VW group cars sound like a coughing old bloke.

 

[Stivino]

I wonder if this is one of the affected vehicles.

 

[motorbiking]

428i so no.

 

[ReganAndCarter]

Imagining that the Americans aren't having tree hugger cars forced on them just yet. They're still building vans, trucks, etc with big V petrol lumps.

 

[securespark]

The Coventry Climax racing engine was designed to pump water for fire engines, it had to go from 0 to **** knows what rpm in seconds, rattled like a bastard because of the tolerances until it warmed up.

Was it called the Climax engine because it delivered the water in spurts?

 

[ReganAndCarter]

Was it called the Climax engine because it delivered the water in spurts?

That was the w@nkel engine.

 

[robinbanks]

I don't know why they don't all do this

Anecdotal it may be but it seems to me that the French are very good at innovating with electrical based features, but not so good at making them reliable for years on end

 

[securespark]

Is that why French car electrics were notoriously unreliable?

 

[motorbiking]

Culturally they are very protectionist. They will always buy produce locally and feel ashamed to go to the supermarket. They are happy to subsidise French industry.. cars, boats, planes, even IT. That tends to mean they have market share unmatched by quality.

 

[RandomGrinch]

Culturally they are very protectionist. They will always buy produce locally and feel ashamed to go to the supermarket. They are happy to subsidise French industry.. cars, boats, planes, even IT. That tends to mean they have market share unmatched by quality.

Maybe, but with the global conglomerate that is Stellantis, I feel some of the traditional French culture may be lost!

 

[Ivor Windybottom]

Anecdotal it may be but it seems to me that the French are very good at innovating with electrical based features, but not so good at making them reliable for years on end

That myth may have been true about 40 years ago if ever, it's definitely complete rubbish now. I've heard the same said about Italian and other nationalities of cars too, it was probably all rumour put about by the dismal British car companies in the past to try and justify buying their ropey rustboxes instead of looking at the good imported alternatives.

I've had my Citroen from brand new, now over 8 years old. Still stopping and starting perfectly without a hitch. It's been the most reliable car I've ever had, and I've had many brands.

Besides, most electrical and electronic systems aren't made by the car brand at all, they're bought in from one of the big manufacturers of such symptoms, e.g. Bosch or another similar supplier. I suspect that some of the premium car brands are actually cheaping out on their components to maximise profits. You can end up paying more for less, but with a supposedly posh badge stuck on it. The posh brand charges more and makes much more profit.

 

[ReganAndCarter]

That myth may have been true about 40 years ago if ever, it's definitely complete rubbish now. I've heard the same said about Italian and other nationalities of cars too, it was probably all rumour put about by the dismal British car companies in the past

Lancia, Fiat, Magneti Marelli.

 

[Ivor Windybottom]

Morris, Austin, Ford, Vauxhall...

They were all crap back in the good old days, when Citroens were also crap.