Stupid car. Can anyone help?

[capnjim]

Step one: Soak rag in gasoline
Step two: Insert rag from step one into open gas tank filler hole.
Step three: Ignite above rag from step two with a Zippo brand lighter.
Step four: Give a big ole Woo Hoo!!! When she bursts into flames.
Step five: Buy a used Toyota.

 

[Munjibunga]

This and the left indicator could both be electrical problems.

FWIW, I had a squirrel eat a bunch of wires in my vehicle a few years ago. I repaired it myself, and while it took a fair amount of time, it wasn't particularly expensive.

It wasn't that Marc Serio guy, was it?

 

[slobake]

Given the fast rise and fall of the temp indicator, my vote is for one of two things, in order of likelihood:

1) Bad temp sensor (bad wiring is not likely)

2) Thermostat sticking

Number 2 is unlikely because coolant temp doesn't go up and down in a few seconds. It can't. it has to take time to circulate around the radiator and block. I'd see if I can find the wire that connects to the temp sensor, ground it and see if the gauge maxes out. If so, I bet the sensor is doing the same internally. In any case, I'd replace the sensor and see what happens.

Now all you need is to find a 70-year-old French mechanic to open the hood on the Peugeot.

This makes sense, listen to Pilgrim or call the Tappet Brothers. Invalid Link Removed

 

[ZenG]

If this particular vehicle has an external or secondary fuse-box under the hood..........you might just want to pop it open and check for moisture, excessive dust, birdnests,spiders, mice or anything else that could cause a temporary short.......you don't need to take the fuses out though.


You can buy a "code-reader' device from most auto-chain stores for about a hundred bucks...
Very helpful in a host of situations.

But you need to know if your vehicle has a plug-in to accept it and you need the correct code-reader. There are a couple of different types.

 

[Bob Lee (QSC)]

CTS (coolant temp sensor) or the wiring.

Here's a song written by Peter Lehndorff, a friend of mine in Massachusetts, and it seems appropriate for this thread:

I drive an old Peugeot, but
I can't speak French.
I carry jumper cables, and
I carry a wrench.
It skips when it's raining
And it stalls when it's dry
And the damn thing blew up on the
Fourth of July.

Whoopee ty-yi-yay
Parlez-vous francais
Whoopee ty-yi-yo
Would you fix my Peugeot?

I bought a new engine,
I bought a new clutch,
And another thousand dollars
Didn't buy much.
I went to my mechanic, and he
Shed not a tear,
He said, you and that Peugeot
Just get out of here.

Whoopee ty-yi-yay
Parlez-vous francais
Whoopee ty-yi-yo
Would you fix my Peugeot?

Well it spits and it sputters as I
Drive down the street
And something keeps dripping on the
Top of my feet.
We're going on vacation
If I have some luck
My Peugeot will follow
I'll drive a tow truck.

Whoopee ty-yi-yay
Parlez-vous francais
Whoopee ty-yi-yo
Would you fix my Peugeot?
Whoopee ty-yi-yay
Let's call Triple-A
Whoopee ty-yi-yo
Would you fix my Peugeot?

 

[ZenG]

You may also want to check your user manual for that vehicle....

Most cars come with an onboard rudimentary form of code-reader.......accessed by turning the ignition key in a prescribed combination.

Once you access...it shows the malfunction code on your dash....and you compare the code to a code master list (which should be in the back of the manual someplace).

Or it will be an audible "beep' code......sort of like Morse code....something like ,say, 2 short-1 long-3 short.......so you compare the number to the code list and find out what's wrong.

Or you can take it to your neighborhood auto repair guy...who is usually way cheaper than a dealer for repairs......he'll most likely have a code reader or master engine analyzer.

and this how many of the auto repair guys quickly find out where to start on a malfunction......

 

[Bob Lee (QSC)]

You may also want to check your user manual for that vehicle....

Most cars come with an onboard rudimentary form of code-reader.......accessed by turning the ignition key in a prescribed combination.

Once you access...it shows the malfunction code on your dash....and you compare the code to a code master list (which should be in the back of the manual someplace).

Or it will be an audible "beep' code......sort of like Morse code....something like ,say, 2 short-1 long-3 short.......so you compare the number to the code list and find out what's wrong.

Or you can take it to your neighborhood auto repair guy...who is usually way cheaper than a dealer for repairs......he'll most likely have a code reader or master engine analyzer.

and this how many of the auto repair guys quickly find out where to start on a malfunction......

The OP said the car is 15 years old, so it would have an OBD2 port that a code scanner can plug into. However, it's very likely that the ECU would not report an electrical fault related to the sensor for a gauge, unless the ECU uses the same sensor for calculating the fuel/air ratio (from what I've seen, that would be unusual).

 

[David Jayne]

Sensor, thermostat. My money is on sensor/connector, because I believe the temp indication goes up as resistance increases. Less current flow=higher reading. This could be caused by a bad connection at the sensor, or where it terminates. The turn signal issue is probably an unrelated, different problem. But I don't know those cars so MAYBE there's a 'global' problem somewhere, with a large multi pin connector, or a ground bus someplace. Look for crusty engine grounds, or bus grounds in a fuse panel.

 

[placedesjardins]

Step one: Soak rag in gasoline
Step two: Insert rag from step one into open gas tank filler hole.
Step three: Ignite above rag from step two with a Zippo brand lighter.
Step four: Give a big ole Woo Hoo!!! When she bursts into flames.
Step five: Buy a used Toyota.

Ha ha ha.