Car problem.. Need advice!

My car mysteriously wouldnt start sat morning so called they AA out and he thought it was the crank sensor but not sure. Anyway, the car started fine after he had played with it so I left if at that.
Last night, same fault, got the RAC out (on g/friends policy) and he thought it was a faulty fuse box, but not crank sensor. He fiddled with the fuse box and it started.

Don't know what to do now as I'm not sure what it is thats faulty! Been ripped off too many times by garages so I really don't want to take it to a garage and say 'can you have a look and tell me what's wrong please?' - I may aswell say 'can you spend a few hours and charge me lots of money but not actually fix anything please!'

What to do?

Can't afford a new car..

Originally Posted by nick_1871

My car mysteriously wouldnt start sat morning so called they AA out and he thought it was the crank sensor but not sure. Anyway, the car started fine after he had played with it so I left if at that.
Last night, same fault, got the RAC out (on g/friends policy) and he thought it was a faulty fuse box, but not crank sensor. He fiddled with the fuse box and it started.

Don't know what to do now as I'm not sure what it is thats faulty! Been ripped off too many times by garages so I really don't want to take it to a garage and say 'can you have a look and tell me what's wrong please?' - I may aswell say 'can you spend a few hours and charge me lots of money but not actually fix anything please!'

What to do?

Can't afford a new car..

It's not a Fiat is it?

Peugeot 406 2.0.. N reg..

Been very reliable for the last 6 months..

Originally Posted by nick_1871

Peugeot 406 2.0.. N reg..

Been very reliable for the last 6 months..

Sorry not likely to be able to help then... but I did have a problem like that with a 98 Punto once, and it was a common thing - broken wire within the sheathing going to the cam sensor, but behaved exactly like your problem.

Probably worth checking that sort of thing - jiggle all the wires to sensors to see if you can provoke a failure, one sensor at a time. Then try all the other wires.

Definitely sounds electrical though.

Originally Posted by nick_1871

Can't afford a new car..

You could afford a Bentley if you stopped buying 'zorsts.

[TSM]

Get yourself a ODBII cable, some free software and interface with the car computer to get the error codes off.

The RAC guy couldn't find the diagnostic port and reckoned that the car was too old to have one.. Is this right? It's a 96 model..

[TSM]

P = 96
N= 95/96

I think, possably its pre ODB as if it was post then it would be located in the center console or around the drivers foot well is most common.

[embee]

I'd guess that would be before diagnostics.

I don't know anything specific about your car, but FWIW electrical connectors are the most common cause of faults. Get some aerosol electrical contact cleaner (WD40 will do at a push) and take apart as many connectors as you can get to anbd give them a good squirt, push in/out a few times to clean the contacts.

At that age things can start to deteriorate and/or fail. Could be a crank sensor (it tells the engine management what angle the crank is at and so it can work out speed etc and sort out ignition timing, if it misses pulses the ECU can't make sense).

There'll almost certainly be an owners forum somewhere on the web, there is for most makes. Have a search, could be a well known issue.

Hi get the car running and have a play with the wires round the fuse box move the wires about see if this makes any difference also check the relays i had a problem like this today at work and it was the relay for the injection pump also by the coil on these cars there is a little black box with resisters in it the wires usually come loose from the connection plug hope this helps is it petrol or desiel .