1990 Peugeot 205 GTi from UK and Ireland - Comments

Brake master cylinder.

CV joint.

Needed airflow meter re-adjusting.

Some erratic idling.

After owning a diesel version which was reliable and still powerful even with 144,000 miles on, I wanted something a bit quicker and with a better image.

I have had much fun and I always enjoy a blast through the mountain roads in Aberystwyth. I did thoroughly enjoy burning off a few of my mates when I first had my car as their 8v Golf GTI's just didn't seem to pick up as well.

I would recommend a 205 to anyone, but if I was going to have another I would definitely opt for a 1.9 GTi and a much later model with the extras like PAS as around town the 205 can be quite heavy especially when parking.

I would enjoy a reply if anyone has any recommendations for tuning mods for my 205. And also my car doesn't seem to pick up well and idles erratically, although I have had the emissions re-adjusted.

I have recently purcahsed a 205 GTi 1.6 J Reg. It is in immaculate condition and I am very pleased with it. But it does not seem to want to run very well at slow speeds, it is very jumpy but as it speeds up this stops and it runs normally. Apart from this the car is a vast improvement on the Fiat Tipo 1.4 I had before.

I have owned a Peugeot 205 1.9 GTi for the last few months and it has been the dream car that it's reputation has led me to believe.

This one is a 1993 L reg, limited edition titanium grey which I bought for only £2300! This left me with some money to spare. In answer to your question, I bought a Magnex back box and a K&N induction kit and now the car feels smoother and has improved performance. The rumble from the exhaust and the roar from the K&N helps to blot out all the rattling.

So for around £200 I've made the car more efficient, raised the performance, it sounds better and makes it seem more comfortable from deleting the rattles. Looking through all car magazines showed me that Magnex exhausts and K&N induction kits really work well and on my car it's living proof. Go for it and get what everybody has been going on about for years!

I have just bought a 1.6 GTi. I love it. Christ! I even talk to it (..don't say a word, I know) and pat the steering wheel every time it responds to my actions. When I bought it, it cut out all the time and had a blowing exhaust. A £20 tune-up and £90 for the exhaust. I also bought a bottle of Wynns fuel injector cleaner (£4.99) and it has made a lot of difference. The engine is now very smooth and alot more responsive.

Eventually, I will go for other mod (K+N Induction, Chipping etc), when I am positive I will feel the difference to the car and not my wallet.

The odd thing about this car is that I don't particularly want to go anywhere at great speed. It is beautiful and the more chance people get to see it, the better.

I own a 1.9 GTi, on a G-plate. Currently unmodified, but would strongly recommend that you use a semi-synthetic engine oil (10/40) coupled with slick 50. This helped to reduce the noise at idle, quite expensive at £20 though.

Can anyone get rid of the incessant juddering at low engine speeds? Apparently the Mi16 conversion elliminates this problem, but is the hassle worth it?

I also have a problem with irratic idle speeds, can you help? Hope to hear your findings.

I have have a K reg 1.6 GTi in Dark Grey with a green interior (it looks a treat) its exterior is unmodified as I think it looks good anyway. I have got a green cotton air filter and a 4" Stainless steel exhaust. It sounds a beast. My GTi has a few running problems, cutting out when stopping, and it serious hates 10mph and under. I have had performance HT leads etc and set up on a rolling road, but we all know the problem- Air flow meter. They are rather expensive and Id rather put the money towards a super chip which should smooth its running.

Previously I owned a 205 Rallye (92) in white what a car, I just needed more luxury.

I had stalling with my 1.6 GTI when I first bought it. Try checking the advance and retard pipe and also the air flow meter adjustment, it sorted my problem!

Hi,

Where abouts is the advance /retard pipe you have mentioned. I have a 1.6 GTi, with starting problems when cold. As soon as it warms up its fine. When cold I come to a stop ie junction in the road and the engine stalls. Any ideas

Kal.

I have a '90 205 gti 1.9 conversion and it too hates under 10 mph, I have found that by upgrading the engine and gearbox mounts helps a lot, I have replaced with race spec ones which are a lot stronger and I drag my 205 at times too, and they have no probs holding the engine where it should be!!

My car also used to cut out when cold, I found the best way to stop this is, when starting, pump the gas once or twice before you turn the ignition and then don't do it again for a minute or 2 just let the car now tick over by it self for about a min then rev gently to about 2000 rpm for 15ish seconds and mine doesn't cut out. hope this helps, what have you got to lose?

Isn't it fun just blitzing all these new, expensive, plastic, (un) fast hatchbacks???

I get this problems in the morning on a cold day aswell sometimes, like the chap above said just pump your accelerater a bit and leave your choke running for a wee bit, also if ya cars been runnin for a long time and you turn it off and want to start up again quickly, don't pump the accelerator and leave choke off it will start up everytime first time with no hassle.

Hi there! The erratic idle and "kangarooing" are common problems on 205 gti's, however there is a little divice that you can buy, not totally sure where to find it, but is commonly known as a widgit. Hope this is of help.

I've never owned any thing other than 205gti's.There simply the best.

The cold stalling until warm is usually caused by the cold start device, which is basiclly a choke. It lives under the dizzy, at the back of the stat housing.It's controlled by water temp, and should make the car idle high until water temp (and therefore engine temp) is high enough for the engine to run efficient.

Replacing sensor may cure, but not always! Some times a good tune can cure stalling problems, or even just turning the idle speed up a tadge.

The main reason 205's Kangaroo, is because the ECU cuts fueling when the throttle is closed (although the very close gear ratios don't help).This is why the engine is lumpy on over run. The throttle position sensor on the throttle linkage housing controls this. When you lift of the throttle, the switch shuts and tells the ECU the throttle is closed, and fueling is reduced.

Although I prefer to run twin carbs on 205's, I've found disconnecting the throttle switch has made my injection cars run much smoother. One I run at the mo is totally "Kangaroo" free!

A lot of the problems you are describing are caused by the rubber hoses around the throttle body, they can clog up with oil and perish, this can affect the volume of air the air mass meter measures, either this or the air mass meter itself can cause trouble. Cleaning the oil deposits from around the throttle body with petrol can help too. Because all the air going into the engine is measured, and apparently because of the crank case ventilation system design the slightest crack in vent pipes or even the seal around the dip stick will allow non measured air into the engine and cause poor idling. Also I wouldn't recommend disconnecting the throttle switch as the ecu will not know when the throttle is open, (WOT), you will have a shorter injector pulse and less fuel - hence less power.

Hi, where is this throttle switch so I can remove mine? Help please.

The reason 205 GTis have erratic revs and are a bit jumpy at low speeds is because as standard they have cams that lift quite high and also have very large valves. This means that when the car is revving low at low speed, there is too much petrol getting into the engine, and that is why it's OK when going faster at higher revs. One way to stop this is to switch the fuel injection to carbs. This will cancel out the erratic idling and also give more bhp, but saying that, the car will do no where near the same amount of mpg. It's a tough choice to make LOL.

I bought a 1.6 GTi in 2001 for £600.00, since then I have spent about 5 grand, on breakdowns and replacement parts.

I wouldn't have it any other way, I love the car.

Still have problems with idle though. Any ideas?