1998 Peugeot 306 D Turbo 1.9 turbo diesel

Summary:

Con-rods work better inside the engine!

Faults:

Was running really well until it threw a rod through the side of the block at 44,000 miles.

General Comments:

There I was accelerating gently away from a pedestrian crossing when there was what can only be described as a "CRACK" from under the bonnet. It sounded like a gunshot, but as all the warning lights lit up and the engine stopped dead, I realised it wasn't. The waft of hot oil and wisps of smoke from under the bonnet added to the sinking feeling.

Pushing the car to the side of the road, I open the bonnet to see a jagged hole the size of a fist in the front of the engine block. Subsequent investigation revealed number three con-rod had snapped like a carrot and punched its way to freedom through the cylinder block.

Turns out this isn't a rarity on 1997/1998 XUTD engines in either Peugeot or Citroen models. Needless to say the manufacturer wouldn't accept responsibility as the last service on the car (a minor 9k service) was done outside the dealer network. They were also implying the oil level was probably too low, although as most of the engine's oil poured all over the street, I don't see how they can substantiate this. I never let oil run low on cars, but I might as well have been talking to a brick wall.

Conspiracy theories are rife, but one consistent and plausible explanation is that a batch of turbo engines were fitted with non-turbo con-rods in error. As all the XUTD engines were built in the same factory, this explains how the problem is spread across both Peugeot and Citroen models.

The two types of rod are interchangeable, but the non-turbo items are a much lower grade and the extra stress (the turbo engine produces twice the torque of the non-turbo) causes fatiguing and eventual failure. There have been documented cases of this on engines as new as 2,000 miles so mine did well considering. Apparently pre 97 and post 98 engines are fine, as are some of the 97/98 units themselves. Hardly comforting to a buyer though.

Fitted a reconditioned engine at considerable expense and ran it for a while, but it was never the same after that so I eventually sold the car on. Because of Peugeot's disinterest, it ended my long line of Peugeot purchases. A shame as the D-Turbo was a corker before this failure. Lively, economical, superb handling and well specified. I would never buy another PSA group car though.

Would you buy another car from this manufacturer? No

Review Date: 4th July, 2005

7th Jan 2006, 14:10

I've just suffered the same conrod trick, but amazingly the engine still wants to run with just three cylinders!!! My car has never ever been short of oil, I work with large generators, so oil is not in short supply!!! However the car has done about 112k miles and has been serviced by reputable dealers, sadly not peugeot though. Have I been unlucky or did it just take a lot longer for the fault to show, I do a lot of high speed miles, but had no warning at all, before such a catastrophic failure, no loss of power etc??

1998 Peugeot 306 XS 1.6

Summary:

Cheap to run and insure back road battler!

Faults:

Blown head gasket at 70k.

Air bag wiring fault.

Fuel line feed split at 75k.

General Comments:

Quick little car, loads of fun on British B road!

Insurance friendly! Great if you can't insure the XSI or GTI 6.

Design still looks great today!

Eats front tyres if driven hard!

Would you buy another car from this manufacturer? Yes

Review Date: 15th June, 2005

1998 Peugeot 306 DTurbo 1.9 DT

Summary:

Great buy with performance and economy to match!

Faults:

- Classic airbag light problem. Eventually I'll have to get the connectors off and solder the wires together.

- Interior fan stopped briefly then a week later decided to get going again :-s.

- Roof leaked, still unsure where from though. Tried the aerial and the sunroof drainage ports.

General Comments:

I used to own a Peugeot 205 GRD and decided that the Dturbo 306 was a good upgrade. So far so good! It gives great performance compared to the 205 and also sticks to the road like glue. The only downside to this is the MPG, I used to get 50+ with the 205 but am yet to get past 42Mpg with the 306.

The interior is also much better; the sports seats are comfy and supportive and the trim hasn't yet started to fall off or squeak as most Peugeot's do!

Would you buy another car from this manufacturer? Yes

Review Date: 7th June, 2005

6th Aug 2005, 15:31

I've owned a 1998 306 TD for a whole 2 weeks now and it sure beats the mpg I used to get with my old Ford Mondeo, but it sure isn't built the same - the Peugeot, not only harder to spell, but seemingly a lot flimsier in build quality than the German built Ford!

Of course the lower insurance banding & higher second hand values mean the 306 is probably better value for money than the Ford.

All in all the Peugeot is a reasonable car with an outstanding turbo-diesel engine - no more no less!

14th Jul 2006, 08:13

I was given my 306 D Turbo a few months back, and I drive around 500 miles per week, the mileage is now on 175860 and it's still going strong.

The only thing that needed replacing was the n/s/f anti roll bar link, which was missing, now fixed.

It drives like it's on rails, and delivers superb economy considering the power it has, best I got was 48mpg and the worst was 35mpg.

A fantastic free car.