What causes a Peugeot 307 to suddenly fail to start?
3 Answers
Peugeot 307 suddenly failing to start can be due to a dead battery, faulty ignition switch, or insufficient fuel. Solutions for the failure to start: Check if the gear is correctly engaged; check if the vehicle still has fuel; check if the battery is dead - manual transmission cars can be push-started, while automatic transmission cars can be jump-started; call for roadside assistance. Car battery maintenance precautions: Avoid parking the car in an open parking lot for extended periods. If long-term parking is necessary, remove and take the battery to prevent freezing damage; car batteries need regular charging as they will gradually self-discharge when unused, leading to complete discharge and scrapping. Therefore, start the car periodically to recharge the battery.
I've seen this quite a few times, most likely it's a dead battery. Especially with old batteries that have been used for three to five years, the voltage drops significantly in cold weather, and you just hear clicking sounds when turning the key. If the battery terminals are oxidized and turn green, poor contact can also cause the entire car to lose power. Fuel system issues are also common—either the fuel pump is burnt out or the fuel filter is clogged, and you won't hear the fuel pump humming. If you've recently worked on the spark plugs, it could also be that the ignition coil connector isn't plugged in tightly. For older cars, pay special attention to the crankshaft position sensor—if this thing fails, even the tachometer won't move. If all else fails, check the fuse box, that black box under the driver's seat—fuse number 15 controls the starting circuit.
Last week my friend's 307 had the same issue, which turned out to be a seized starter motor. When cranking, you could hear the solenoid clicking but the engine wouldn't turn over - had to tap the starter to try. Another scenario is when turning the key to START position gets zero response, then you need to check if the ignition switch contacts are burnt out. A glitchy immobilizer system can also lock the engine - if you see the small key icon flashing on the dashboard, the key needs reprogramming. Also worth checking the ground cable (that black wire from battery negative to chassis), as loose connections make the entire electrical system unreliable.
