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1 Introduction
This Chapter is designed to help the home
mechanic maintain his/her vehicle for safety,
economy, long life and peak performance.
This Chapter contains a master
maintenance schedule, followed by Sections
dealing specifically with each task in the
schedule. Visual checks, adjustments,
component renewal and other helpful items
are included. Refer to the accompanying
illustrations of the engine compartment and
the underside of the vehicle for the locations
of the various components.
Servicing your vehicle in accordance with
the mileage/time maintenance schedule and
the following Sections will provide a planned
maintenance programme, which should result
in a long and reliable service life. This is a
comprehensive plan, so maintaining some
items but not others at the specified service
intervals will not produce the same results.
As you service your vehicle, you will
discover that many of the procedures can -
and should - be grouped together, because of
the particular procedure being performed, or
because of the close proximity of two
otherwise-unrelated components to one
another. For example, if the vehicle is raised
for any reason, the exhaust should be
inspected at the same time as the suspension
and steering components.
The first step of this maintenance
programme is to prepare yourself before the
actual work begins. Read through all the
Sections relevant to the work to be carried
out, then make a list and gather together all
the parts and tools required. If a problem is
encountered, seek advice from a parts
specialist or a dealer service department.
2 Intensive maintenance
1 If, from the time the vehicle is new, the
routine maintenance schedule is followed
closely, and frequent checks are made of fluid
levels and high-wear items, as suggested
throughout this manual, the engine will be
kept in relatively good running condition, and
the need for additional work will be minimised.
2 It is possible that there will be some times
when the engine is running poorly due to the
lack of regular maintenance. This is even more
likely if a used vehicle, which has not received
regular and frequent maintenance checks, is
purchased. In such cases, additional work
may need to be carried out, outside of the
regular maintenance intervals.
3 If engine wear is suspected, a compression
test (refer to Chapter 2A, B or C) will provide
valuable information regarding the overall
performance of the main internal components.
Such a test can be used as a basis to decide
on the extent of the work to be carried out. If,
for example, a compression test indicates
serious internal engine wear, conventional
maintenance as described in this Chapter will
not greatly improve the performance of the
engine, and may prove a waste of time and
money, unless extensive overhaul work
(Chapter 2D) is carried out first.
4 The following series of operations are those
often required to improve the performance of
a generally poor-running engine:
Primary operations
a) Clean, inspect and test the battery (See
“Weekly checks”).
b) Check all the engine-related fluids (See
“Weekly checks”).
c) Check the condition of the auxiliary
drivebelt (Section 9).
d) Inspect the distributor cap, rotor arm and
HT leads (Section 27).
e) Renew the spark plugs (Section 7).
f) Check the condition of the air cleaner
filter element and renew if necessary
(Section 26).
g) Renew the fuel filter - fuel injection
models (Section 32).
h) Check the condition of all hoses, and
check for fluid leaks (Section 6).
5 If the above operations do not prove fully
effective, carry out the following operations:
Secondary operations
All the items listed under “Primary
operations”, plus the following:
a) Check the charging system (Chapter 5A).
b) Check the ignition system (Chapter 5B).
c) Check the fuel system (Chapter 4A, B and
C).
d) Renew the distributor cap and rotor arm
(Section 27).
e) Renew the ignition HT leads (Section 27).
3 Engine oil and filter renewal
1
Note: A suitable square-section wrench may
be required to undo the sump drain plug on
some models. These wrenches can be
obtained from most motor factors or your
Peugeot dealer.
1 Frequent oil changes are the best
preventive maintenance the home mechanic
can give the engine, because ageing oil
becomes diluted and contaminated, which
leads to premature engine wear.
2 Make sure that you have all the necessary
tools before you begin this procedure. You
should also have plenty of rags or
newspapers handy, for mopping up any spills.
The oil should preferably be changed when
the engine is still fully warmed-up to normal
operating temperature, just after a run; warm
oil and sludge will flow out more easily. Take
care, however, not to touch the exhaust or
any other hot parts of the engine when
working under the vehicle. To avoid any
possibility of scalding, and to protect yourself
from possible skin irritants and other harmful
contaminants in used engine oils, it is
advisable to wear gloves when carrying out
this work. Access to the underside of the
vehicle is greatly improved if the vehicle can
be lifted on a hoist, driven onto ramps, or
supported by axle stands. (see “Jacking and
vehicle support”). Whichever method is
chosen, make sure that the vehicle remains
level, or if it is at an angle, that the drain point
is at the lowest point.
3 Position the draining container under the
drain plug, and unscrew the plug. On some
models, a square-section wrench may be
needed to slacken the plug (see illustration).
If possible, try to keep the plug pressed into
the sump while unscrewing it by hand the last
couple of turns (see Haynes Hint).
1•8 Maintenance procedures
3.3 Slackening the sump drain plug with a
square section wrench
Every 6000 miles or 6 months
Keep the drain plug pressed into the
sump while unscrewing it by hand the
last couple of turns. As the plug releases,
move it away sharply so that the stream
of oil issuing from the sump runs into the
container, not up your sleeve!