Peugeot 205 GENTRY (GTi)

[dominicrr]

Hi to everyone,
I have decided to join a forum before I rip the rest of my hair out in desperation at my lil 205.

She's a Gentry (only 400+- in country) and an eBay special purchase - about 15 months ago.
When bought it had no MOT, and only obvious failing points were windscreen, cracked down pipe, brake reline front and back!

Any way she has been worked on to get those problems resovled and I took it for a pre-Mot and cambelt change etc.
That was the starting of the on going nightmare. Since going into a friends garage 9 days ago, it has failed the first MOT and the list of things to be done included:
New handbrake cables, new main brake line, new lower arm, handbrake adjustment. So far the car has had all new flexi and copper brake lines (flexis were nightmare to get hold of from Pug), new rear wheel cylinders, rear wheel bearings, driveshaft seal and gaiter, washer pump, lower metal water pipe, water pump and complete cam belt kit change, new autobox fluid, new coolant etc.

Anyway car was stood for a long time which didn't do it any good at the valve stem seals perished causing constant blue smoke on idle, and other rubber pipes and fittings have suffered too.
Hopefully the cataytic converter on the car is ok and not ruined by oil smoke.

Let this serve as a warning to anyone taking on a GTi as a part time do-er upper. These cars are wonderful (have owned diesel turbo and non 205 plus 205 xs plus 405 Mi16) but they require so much time and money to get sorted properly.
Beginning to wonder if its still worth it...(costs stand at £800 before valve stem seal replacement which must be done for MOT pass)

A couple of problems my mechanics don't seek able to fix (but have managed to discover them!) include:

- Stop light on dash stays on all the time but no other warning lights are on...(but not all the lights come on when ignition lights are on - no battery, coolant or oil pressure lights but gauges work)
Understand this is hopefully an earth problem but where do I start??
- Coolant dripping slowly from around the dizzy end of engine - can't see any offending pipes tho

So please please help anybody with any new ideas...the old girl deserves to be restored as best as possible on my budget (- £s)

Would appreciate any thoughts or comments on the car as it seems to be the source of much amusement to my mechanics and other traders - do they misunderstand the car or is it me?


Thanx guys

[Admin]

Hello and welcome! Sounds lie you could do with a specialist. A quick join of the main club would almost certainly save you the membership fee many times over with parts discounts and access to specialist repairers!

just a (promotional) thought.

ps, You don't misunderstand the car. They are certainly odd - GTi engine and auto box!!

[504gld]

Odd? the Gentry is a great model! looks good too, not all were auto. You might like to know that the offical DLVA count on manual models stands at 2, and Auto just 241 at the start of the year.

Are you auto or manual? if a manual then your car is one of the rarest 205s in the country on the road.

[dominicrr]

Hi,
Mine is an auto...

I know the car is a rare one - glad I have found some ppl who appreciate that fact. Has anybody had electrical problems with dash lights on 205 GTi as that is a major problem that I don't know where to start fixing...

[504gld]

Check what the alternator is kicking out voltage wise when running. Just a thought.

[dominicrr]

Thanx for the idea - mechanics had done this and its kicking out a healthy 14.4v - any other ideas gratefully received

[504gld]

Whilst your messing around with the car, can I suggest a good waxoyling session. It seems like you've done a lot to it, so nows the time to remove the door cards, boot hatch cover etc and give it a good seeing to. I know they not prone to rust like a 'fester fiesta but it just keeps the muck and salt off and out off the body. Give the rear underside a good clean and do the whole lot. In years to come, you'll be so glad you did. A jumbo can and sprayer to do the whole car is £30.

Stop light.. will think, but random thoughts like temperature sender for coolant faulty, oil pressure, oil temperature, exhaust problem??

I'm more a diesel man I'm afriad.

[dominicrr]

She's on the road and I am £650 lighter...only problem I have now is electrical. Stop light stays on and all electrics flicker very slightly. Also sometimes you have to turn the key a couple of times to get the engine to fire up - had a new starter motor and battery so can't be that....

Anybody got any ideas....pls!

[504gld]

Just a thought, the fuse box and relays I think that are in the glove box area? what are they like? remove them one by one making sure there is no corrosion. Peugeot's certainly have had week spots here in the past. Make sure of course you know what goes where when it comes to putting it all back! Also check the box itself, and the wiring that goes in to it.

[dominicrr]

Good thinking Batman! Hadn't thought of that (had a similar problem with a 205D fusebox after water got in somehow)...will let you know how I get on!

[504gld]

erm... that outfits just for the weekends..... <g>

[jedleo49]

Hi everyone , anyone interested in a 205 Gentry 1.9 auto approx 90,000 miles currently sorn and no mot . Not bad condition for year . Wife told me its got to go , its no good for family car . £400 . Several spares come with the car . I have had it decated but original exhaust comes with it . Wooden steering wheel , lexus style rear lights , one piece rear gti reflector , good leather interior ( all original bits come with it so you can change back to original ). rear spoiler . Also had towbar fitted to tow my small trailor with scooter on . I have a new family car now and need the space . contact me on [e-mail] location Norfolk

[frank]

check the 7 way brown connector under the airflow meter for the electrical flauts and starting problem, the engine sensors and starter wire goes through this plug and it corodes really easy. its the route to all problems in that area.

and all gentrys are auto no manual gentrys were ever produced, dont trust the dvla for that info as it also states that there is 205's produced in 1998 etc.

unfortunatly 205's that have been stood do take up a lot of cash if they wernt looked after right before hand.

[Piston Broke]

Wasn't the power delivery on these softened a bit to suit to auto box, down to 105-110 BHP? I'd be tempted but Mrs Piston-Broke would kill me if I brought home another vehicle!

[frank]

they were 110bhp if i remember rightly. not that quick either