Yet Another 'I Bet Everybody Knows the Answer But Me'

[Rolebama]

I read about Planet and PP2000 and COM whatever, but can someone tell me what system I have in my car? It is a 1998 2.1 TD GLX. I got a Haynes table stabilizer, and that's about all it's good for, as almost every paragraph seems to end in 'take it to a Peugeot dealer'. Thanks.

[jasper5]

Your car is definitely NOT the COM 2000!

Your car has the more reliable early system.

Planet and PP2000 is Peugeot Planet 2000 software for diagnostics.

[steve_earwig]

I don't think you even need PP as your car's pretty basic (and that's in a good way!) so a boggo code reader will probably be all you need. It has no BSI and no mux at all, nothing to configure, nothing to go wrong either.

What are you looking at in Haynes? I.e. what's up doc?

[mjb]

Actually Steve, a bog standard code reader won't talk to early 406s (which don't speak CAN, OBD2, etc) - pp2000 is the only thing which will work. Despite not having a BSI, there's still an awful lot pp2000 can speak to - alarm ecu, seats ecu, engine ecu, abs ecu, airbag ecu...

[steve_earwig]

Oops, ok, that's me told

[Rolebama]

So, according to Sod's Law, if I buy a PP2000 reader, and chuck it in the boot, I will probably never need it?

[jonsowman]

Yes, I had PP2000 on my old 2.1TD and there are indeed a few bits and pieces. The main useful one is the engine ECU which does support a reasonable amount of error detection and reporting.

I think it could also talk to the radio unit and the ABS system, but that was about all

[mjb]

also i forgot to mention that a '98 car might have a 30-pin diagnostic connector, not an EOBD socket, so it'll only be pp2000 that physically fits

So, according to Sod's Law, if I buy a PP2000 reader, and chuck it in the boot, I will probably never need it?

PP2000 is not a standalone fault code reader; it's a bit of peugeot software you run on your computer which uses a usb dongle (the Lexia interface) to speak to your car.

If you think you'll never need it, it might make sense to just pay your local pug dealer to do your diag work.

[Rolebama]

Steve_earwig, I have no real problems at the moment, I just like to know a bit about the car I own. Unfortunately there doesn't seem to be much competition for Haynes around anymore. I used to buy Autocar as they did 'proper' Workshop Manuals, but with a severe lack of pictures. With writers/publishers having different agendas, worked very well with some of the Haynes pictures.
The Peugeot Handbook seems just as bad. I was trying to find out how much antifreeze to mix into the coolant, and it doesn't tell. I 'guestimated' around 4 liters, the hydrometer says OK, so I guess around 8 litres. That's the sort of info I like to have at fingertips.

[gumby6371]

Hi mate, can't help much with manuals etc. but when I do coolant I just drain the system and measure what comes out with a measuring jug. Once you've measured it I flush with water in an attempt to clear a bit more crud.

IMPORTANT NOTE - do not use the other half's new one out of the kitchen, they get funny about it for some reason???

There is an art to bleeding the coolant system on a 406 due to the header tank not being the highest point in the system, lots of info available on here.

[Rolebama]

I am aware of bleeding 'problems' so I just drained two litres from the rad, topped up with a/f, then drained another two litres, and topped up again. No need to bleed. As a matter of interest I always drill a 1/16" hole in flat of thermostats when fitting new. Solves airlock problem in every car to date.