Help needed by newbie RCZ owner

[Mickh]

Hi all, new to the forum so please be gentle
I have very recently purchased a beautiful white 2013 phase 2 RCZ GT THP200, fantastic looking car and reasonably quick, the car was initially a demo and has had only the one owner since with a full Peugeot service history, I also transferred the Platinum warranty in to my name at an additional cost of £360, I purchased the car privately from a lovely couple in South West Wales and the 350 mile drive home and all was good except towards the end of the journey the radio, climate control, cruise control and electric windows starting working intermittently with the radio and climate control going on and off, when this happens there is an audible clicking noise from the passenger side like a relay clicking in and out !!
Also worth noting is the following day the car started immediately when I put the key in the ignition BUT I didn’t turn the key to start the engine, this was rather disconcerting and I am now understandably worried the car has multiple electrical problems.
Does anyone have any knowledge of these issues on an RCZ, also I hope that purchasing the Peugeot platinum warranty most if not all of these issues will be covered and Peugeot will sort at their cost ?

I look forward to any help offered

Regards
Mick

 

[2retro]

The car started immediately when I put the key in the ignition BUT I didn’t turn the key to start the engine.

I don't know why that is and I've never heard of it before but it's obviously not right! I would had said duff battery until I read that bit...

 

[Mickh]

Hi 2retro, the car went in to the Peugeot dealer yesterday and they carried out a diagnostic check but found no errors !!!
They fitted a new battery as the original was slightly low on power and carried out a BSI reset but the issues are still there, annoyingly the battery and diagnostic time are not covered by the warranty so I had to pay for that and i’m no further forward in sorting out the problems.
The car is going back to the dealer in early August for further investigation

If anybody has any idea what might be causing the issues that I’m experiencing please do chirp in with suggestions

Cheers
Mick

 

[neilgsxr69]

Never heard of these problems somethings very wrong I’m wondering if it could be a fuse box issue I’ve heard of water ingress causing problems in the fuse box, then there’s the old one that water ingress into the boot lock could cause all kinds of electrical issues but I haven’t heard of anyone having these issues for quite a few years but you never know?
And if all else fails get a vicar in

 

[Mickh]

Yeah it could be the fuse box, hopefully the garage will sort it as they are having the car for 3 days

 

[neilgsxr69]

Keep us informed how things go

 

[Pedro]

If the dealer diagnostic showed nothing try disconnecting the battery for at least 5 mins

 

[Mickh]

Hi, the dealer fitted a new battery so would disconnecting really do anything ?
If you think it might help then of course I will give it a try

 

[NF7]

Not trying to hijack the thread but you guys have any recommendations for the battery? Mine is at the end of its life with its "Economy Mode Active" almost everytime.

 

[Mickh]

The Peugeot dealer only charged £90 for the battery and that included the fitting and disposal of the old one, I know you can get one from eBay for £50 but I thought the dealer price was very fair
“I just hope they can sort the ongoing electrical issues I have, I don’t trust the car at all now because as soon as the key goes in the ignition it tries to start, this happens all the time now and I’m not even turning the key to start it !!”
These issues are really putting me off Peugeot ownership, perhaps I have just been very unlucky but there does appear to be several threads here regarding electrical problems

 

[Philip]

Also worth noting is the following day the car started immediately when I put the key in the ignition BUT I didn’t turn the key to start the engine

That can be a symptom of the ignition switch needing to be replaced. It's common when people have their car keys on big heavy keyrings - eventually the weight damages the switch.

 

[Pedro]

Hi, the dealer fitted a new battery so would disconnecting really do anything ?
If you think it might help then of course I will give it a try

If you disconnect the battery then reconnect the systems you mention should reset to factory default as for the auto start you may have a software corruption which can cause the ECU & BSI failing to talk to each other sending out conflicting data hence the spoilers windows etc getting command prompts but not from actual controls I was asked to look at a 207GTI with a slightly similar software issue & the BSI had a botched up job done by a previous owner

 

[Mickh]

Interesting, should I try and encourage the dealer to fit a new BSI module ? I’ve also heard reports of the engine earth strap corroding and causing similar issues.
I’m told that most things (but not all) are covered by the Peugeot Platinum Warranty so hopefully it will have been money well spent if they can sort it out

 

[Mickh]

Today’s update on the electrical issues, the car has been with the dealer a week today and hopefully they have found the problem.
Apparently the windscreen washer pump seals have failed causing water to travel down the electrical wiring harness (would you believe the electrical plug is at the bottom of the pump allowing water in to the harness, bad design !!). This I am told through a process of osmosis caused water to travel to the fuse box corroding several key electrical contacts, a new washer pump and fuse box have been fitted and the car is undergoing road testing.
I have to say the Peugeot dealership has been extremely good, especially the service manager who has also confirmed that all costs will be covered under warranty which is fantastic news
I collect the car on Monday so fingers crossed this is now fixed and there won’t be any further electrical issues

 

[Mickh]

Just to update all, I have had the car back from the dealers for almost a month and everything is still all good based on the very good experience I have had with the dealer and the outstanding Peugeot warranty which has covered all costs, I am now going to have them service the car !!
Very happy with the car but I do wish it had a bit more power, any tuning ideas such as tuning box or remap specialist would be very welcome, perhaps I should save my pennies and invest in the RCZ R

 

[Ecrivain]

Welcome - been away, and first time I've seen this thread. Glad you got sorted. I'm sure there are re- mapping threads on here, and also on the RCZ Facebook groups (though 163 is quite enough at my age... )

I'm in South Norfolk, about 25km south of Norwich (which I visit frequently) btw, so look out for a red one if you're down here!

 

[Mickh]

Hi Ecrivain, car seems to be behaving itself so hopefully issues all sorted, it’s actually going back to the dealers in Burt St Edmunds for a service and mot in a couple of weeks time.
I’ll keep my eyes open for you on the road, I’m actually located in South Norfolk also, not far from Diss