2000 Peugeot 306 Meridian from UK and Ireland - Comments

Nothing has gone wrong with the car, I did take it Peugeot because I was a little unhappy with the brakes, but there was no problem, and they checked it, cleaned & valeted it as well for me which I was very pleased about.

I have only had it 7 months, but it has been brilliant. The 1.8 16v engine has bags of poke, the car really hugs the road when you throw it about, it is pretty good on fuel and very comfortable too. The car has a very high spec, with air con, half leather, electric windows/mirrors & CD changer which I was very pleased with it as it is only my second car. Insurance is fairly cheap for me too considering I'm a 19 year old girl! It is a good looking car with side skirts, and front fog lights and in diablo red really finishes it off. I love this car, well done Peugeot for making a star car.

If you plan to keep the car for a while (and why not, it's a nice one), make sure you have the oil changed at every service (10,000 miles) rather than at every other service (20,000 miles) which Peugeot suggest. My own 1.8 (GLX model) is starting to suffer from engine problems at 70,000 miles which an independent specialist has blamed on lack of oil changes. The engine is becoming rattly and rough sounding, as it if has done 170,000 miles. Yet my car has a full Peugeot service history.

Have the oil changed every service and you should avoid these problems. These extended oil services were done purely to appease fleet managers who want to save every penny possible on maintenance. The idea is that the fleet is well shot of the car before the resulting problems start. I'm looking at a very expensive engine rebuild for the sake of saving a grand total of about £200 over the life of the car. Don't make the same mistake.

I have a Peugeot 306 Meridien (2000)

Yesterday it would not start for 2 hours (although warm) After 2 hours waiting for the breakdown services I turned the key and it started as if there was no problem.Does anyone know if this is a common fault and what causes it? I rang Peugeot who said they did not know and to bring it down.

I have the same problems of intermittent non-starting with my 306 Hdi Meridian. New in April 2001 it went well until August 2002 (although I had a front nearside wheel bearing replaced at 26,000). After a long run, on a hot day I stopped for shopping. When I got back - 20 minutes later, I had difficulty starting it. This problem got worse and worse and since that time it has been into the dealers 5 times. They still haven't been able to resolve the problem - I now have only 10 months left on warranty. Brilliant car when it starts!!!

I have a 1999 V reg Meridian, and although I do love it to mine has just started experiencing the problems mentioned. If I run it for a while-stop-and then try to start it again, it either starts (just about) chugs like mad as if the fuel line is blocked, revs up really high on its own, which then doesn't stop unless you turn the ignition off and if you do then it won't start again. I am having it looked at soon by my mechanic, but if he can't find the problem on his laptop then it will be a trip to Peugeot : (which I am not looking forward to.!!

Well 3 years on and I'm still driving my 306. I don't have a bad word to say about her - I have only replaced tyres and brake pads (and an exhaust clamp costing £6) and she sails through the MOTs. I am very particular and have her serviced every 10,000 miles and the main dealer I go to are just fantastic and so honest. Not once has she left me by the side of the road or even had a slight niggle and I have put nearly 40,000 on the clock.

I'm pretty sure I'll be driving this car for many more years to come as I just fall more in love with her everyday.

My 2001 Peugeot 306 SW has recently developed problems in starting when the engine is cold. Once it starts there are no problems for the rest of the day. It behaves exactly like a car in which the automatic choke is not working and with this in mind I took it to the Peugeot garage, only to be told that it does not have a choke. At different times these steps were taken: They checked the injectors (they were not blocked) ; changed the sparkplugs; I added injector cleaning fluid to the petrol; replaced the battery with a new one; had the new battery tested by the manufacturers - all without any improvement - the problem is worsening. I welcome suggestions.

I've got a 1.6 Meridian. Beautiful car to drive and good on fuel. Mine has a problem with the idle. This is a common fault where the stepper motor (idle control valve needs to be changed)

Apart from that great to drive.

Hi, well I have just taken the plunge and bought a Peugeot 306 Meridian 1.8.

After reading this and other sites, i am somewhat apprehensive about buying it.

It is a 2001 Y reg with 57000 miles on the clock, the interior and bodywork are spotless, and it comes with a 12months M.O, T.

And a 3month warranty (not a lot I know)

From the time I drive it off the forecourt I will keep this site updated with the performance of the car, i am not a mechanic, but I have been driving for over 40yrs...and will give a honest and unbiased opinion of the car.

I've got a 1.4 2000 3006 LX which just needed a new heater matrix, I've put the hold car back together and it now will not start? It turns over, but nothing else anyone got any ideas many thanks.

I came to the conclusion a long time ago that there isn't a back street cowboy car repair outfit anywhere in the country that is any worse than the Peugeot dealer network. A friend had to replace his complete engine because the "technician" snapped an alternator mount off the block when changing the auxiliary belt, and then tried to cover it up by overtightening the other bolts to compensate. The car made it 20 miles before breaking down.

I had my own car returned to me eight times with one fault repeatedly unfixed / "tested OK", the car once was returned with 50 miles added to it, and one time to diagnose a problem, they left it idling all day, using half a tank of fuel, and then said there was no problem. I tried four dealers within reasonable distance of me, and they were all as bad as each other. They tried to put every warranty claim down to misuse, and the simplest things had to be argued and fought for. It was a nightmare.

On top of all this, I got to pay £70 an hour for the privilege.

One of my work colleagues had a 306 of the same year, and with the same engine as mine. Mine was serviced officially within the dealer network, and his by a local Peugeot independent specialist. His car suffered from a fraction of the problems mine did over three years, and ran and drove far better at equivalent mileages.

I haven't so much as sat in another Peugeot since. Apart from the current range of cars not appealing very much, I just don't need the hassle of getting them serviced and fixed any more. No wonder they aren't selling many cars in the UK any more.

Well I have had the pug for over a month and it is still running sweet.

I have done over a thousand trouble free miles up and down the motorway.

It certainly uses the petrol, but after the 205,it drives like a dream, the instrument panel is a pain.. rev counter could have been smaller, keep getting it confused with the speedometer... to the point of getting a speeding fine 16mins after I drove it out of the dealers. lol a harsh lesson.

The gearbox is a little clunky, but cabin noise is OK.. think I've got a goodun, but time will tell... watch this space!

My Peugeot 306 Meridian Y reg has been a great car, but last Summer it developed starter problems. These were very irregular; I would drive somewhere, leave the car for an hour, then try to start it and it would refuse to start. I would leave it sometimes for half an hour or even five minutes, and then it would start as if nothing was wrong at all!

I fiddled with the key thinking it was something in the steering wheel column, and it continued to be difficult for the rest of the Summer. The problem seemed to disappear, and over the winter I had no trouble at all, but now the summer is back, so is the starting problem again.

I have an N reg 306 1.9 Diesel, that has starting problems, I had the glow plugs replaced about 8-9 weeks ago and the starter motor about 3 weeks ago, now the engine turns over fine on starting, and sometimes it starts first time, but occasionally it will just turn over and over on the starter motor without catching, it does this for about 5 minutes of trying to start then eventually catches and throws a huge cloud of smoke out of the exhaust. Sometimes pumping the primer bulb under the bonnet helps as it is sometimes soft when the car is left over night, could this be a fuel pressure problem??? this problem usually occurs for several days to a week then the car starts fine for about a week before acting up again!!! Any suggestions welcome!!

Sounds like you have an air leak in the fuel system somewhere. The usual culprit is the fuel filter, as this is the only real part that gets disturbed. Check the drain cock is done up tight, and all hoses and seals are securely located.

I have a 2000 peugoet 306 1.6sw. I am located in South Africa it has +-250 000kms on the clock. I am having problems with cold starts. I service it myself. any advise. babyboomer@starmail.co.za.