Automotive Marketing in Malaysia

Although communications is a part of marketing - marketing is NOT communications.
Although advertising is a part of marketing - marketing is NOT advertising.
Although sales is a part of marketing - marketing is NOT sales. And,
Although promotion is a part of marketing - marketing is NOT promotion.

So, what is marketing in automotive business? and what actually marketing people do?

V-12 Engine without Timing Chain?

No timing chain, no electronics, no ECU, no coolant, nothing what so ever other than basic components but this uncle made it possible... and it is a V-12!

Watch this...

Timing Chain Pinion

The diagram below shows where timing chain pinion in EP6-DT engine is located.
(click on the image to enlarge)

Now, which of the following pictures do you think similar [in principle] to the pinion used in your EP6-DT engine?



I've got no further comment here. Please read my earlier postings about serious problems developed by the pinion design...

The World Should Know...

Feb 21, 2012
Morning
Went to a Peugeot authorised SC early this morning to see the progress on myPeugeot308 getting things fixed up as further described hereinafter.

Fortunately I was lucky to meet both, the Service Manager and the chief mechanics to confirm my 'allegations' on what I have been writing true.

I was 'honoured' to be taken for a tour in the fully packed workshop with over 30 Peugeots - either being serviced, repaired or just waiting for their turns. Mine was still in the Q even after day 8. I don't want to jump Q since nothing to complain for the delay as it looks like this particular workshop is full - where most Peugeot owners send their cars to get service/repair done here.

To my surprise, the truth was beyond my imagination. There was a worse case when the valve timing was totally out of synchronisation. In such case the piston hit the valves and damaging all of them! A few cars lying there with their engine on the floor waiting for the spare parts to arrive.

I left the SC and let them had a discussion among themselves and decide what to do on my car after 8 days lying there.

Afternoon
During lunch hour, the Service Manager at the authorised SC called me up. My place is located about 30km down south. I took a public transport and decided to take the car home because I knew myPeugeot308 turn would not be possible before end of February. Too many cars are already in the 'operating hall' while a few more still waiting for their turns.

I don't want myPeugeot308 to be exposed under intense tropical sun-rays and rain for another week or 2. On top of that I just want them to practise on other cars first; then we decided roughly the date for myPeugeot308 - subject to confirmation though...

to be continued...


Feb 19th 2012
Probably Peugeot/PSA has already realised and now I'm telling that certain batches if not all Peugeot THP engines have a serious design fault that timing chain pinion may slip and hence the engine loses its valve [and ignition?] timing.

Why Peugeot don't tell the truth?

Technically speaking, by looking at the design [pls refer to the illustration below]...
The timing chain pinion does not have a key and slot or any other way of locking into a fix position to the crankshaft except the pulley hub and bolt. You don't need to have a PhD or a Master Degree in mechanical engineering to figure out what would happen if the bolt become loose or elongated.

Now, if "mysteriously" it does happen, there would be subsequent angular displacement for the relative position of the camshafts to the crankshaft hence altering timing. Now I would say it is the design fault. Peugeot should have recalled every effected engine and fix it. Unfortunately it did not happen and Peugeot is gambling with the aftermath.

How Peugeot/PSA should have fixed it?
Simple answer is to "redesign" the whole pulley hub, timing pinion and chain assembly. Anyway, I think PSA has already done so, after all they are not a bunch of idiots, are they?
Now, are you worried?
Well, when buying stops, worry can too!

Peugeot Recalls 308?

Peugeot would recall 308 over bolt problems in China - reported by the Xinhua News Agency in early 2010 .

The statement said that bolts for the right transmission shaft may cause vibration and noise that may affect driving. Those vehicles were imported into mainland China from France. Peugeot authorized service centers would send letters to car owners to arrange for repair, the statement said.

About two weeks later another story from Reuters - French carmaker PSA Peugeot Citroen would recall nearly 100,000 cars [fortunately, not 308] because they have accelerator-related problems ...

"... We are going to do a recall," said a PSA Peugeot Citroen spokesman.


Question to ponder:
What about timing mechanism problem for certain batches of Peugeot 308 THP?

Looks like they are handling just "case-by-case"? No recall exercise so far. I'm sure there would be a lot of cases will crop up especially when the warranty period is over.

Super Knocking!

I've been observing "Super Knocking" is a common problem associated with EP6-DT* engines. At the beginning it is not easy to detect by normal "feel" [or with "buttDyno"] because most of the time the ECU would regulate the combustion parameters accordingly to make the engine run as usual after it had sensed "knocking". Not withstanding, once happened, there is a high probability for a series of unfortunate events to happen which lead to a catastrophe.

The remedy could cost a fortune!


It is essential for you to have OBD2 diagnostic tools ready all the time - as the "first aid" kit and lets you know what's happening in your car engine. The diagnostic tool normally comes as a stand alone device [OBD2 Scanner] or a set of ELM327 dongle and diagnostic software [for laptop] can be bought on-line cheaply nowadays. Some diagnostic software can even be downloaded for free!


The Causes of Engine Knock
Simple answer to engine knock is "Abnormal Combustion", but no one really knows exactly the reasons behind "super knocking". Based on what had happened to myPeugeot308 looks like the mechanics at an authorised SC is doing trial-and-error* method to solve it.

Episode 1 - Sept 3rd, 2011
Happened on my way back from Kelantan via Gerik. Just after Ipoh the car lost power. Set the car on autoCruise at 90kph for 20km. Power back again. Very powerful!. A week later the car was sent to an authorised SC to rectify the problem . A HPFP was replaced [foc]

Episode 2 - Nov 6th, 2011
Drove to Kelantan via KLipis. Happened again at the beginning of the trip but restored after Gombak Toll Plaza. Got all the power needed for Karak Highway

Episode 3 - Nov 8th, 2011
Loss power while driving from Kelantan towards Kuantan. It happened just after passing Jertih. Drove the car all the way to Kuantan at reduced power. Top speed on newly opened ECE2 was less than 180kph. Normally I did above 200kph there. The next day continued driving along coastal roads to JB. In JB the car was diagnosed for "mis-communication" between gearbox and the ECU hence fuel regulation fault detected - rich mixture at low load and lean mixture at high load.

Read more on the 1500-km misadventure HERE.

Episode 4 -Dec 12, 2011
Infamous "Intermittent power loss" happened again. This time more often than before. Sent the car to an authorised SC again. The mechanic suggested for top overhaul to change ignition and valve timing mechanisms including timing chain... sounded very scary. Spare parts not available. Got to wait. Drove the car back home. No more power loss after resetting the ECU but a couple of time the engine jerky briefly. Total count for ECU resetting done to date is FIVE...


Episode 5 - Feb 14th 2012
Spare Parts arrived. Sent the car again to get the work done.

*Note: I've heard they even offer engine replacement. Not in Malaya of course. Read HERE- but there are cases here in Malaya where cylinder heads had got to be replaced as a result of the "super knocking".

Better get it done during the warranty period. The time bomb is ticking. Yours could be next.

NORMAL KNOCKING FAQ
If you notice a metallic rattling noise coming out of your car engine and/or a sudden loss of power when the accelerator pedal is pressed down aggressively that means the engine is suffering from a condition known as "engine knock".

What you have to do is immediately back off the throttle and drive the car at low rpm to allow the ECU investigate and respond accordingly. There is a knock sensor that detects this as it happens and the ECU backs off the fuelling causing the engine to run lean and reduce/avoid knock. The knock sensor however, may not save an engine from the effects of a "super" knock.

What exactly is engine knock and how dangerous is it?
Engine knock is a condition where the fuel in the engine ignites prematurely and can cause serious damage to the engine. When the engine ignites prematurely where the piston has not arrived at its TDC position there is a tendency of forcing the crank to run in the opposite direction which puts a lot of stress on the crank and pistons hence causing damage in a long run.

What makes the fuel ignites prematurely?
When there is an excessively high pressure inside the combustion chamber the fuel can ignite prematurely before the spark timing. For instance, too much turbo boost setting (by remapping and chip tuning) will also increase the risk of compression based pre-ignition. Another cause of premature fuel ignition include hot spots inside the engine. The infamous carbon deposit around intake manifold in direct-injection engine will make it glowing red hot and igniting the fuel as it enters the combustion chamber.

How to avoid engine knock and pinging?
1. Back to old school-book advice... the octane rating of fuel describes the fuels resistance to engine knock. In a lot of cases simply switching to a higher octane fuel may solve the engine knocking problem. A lot of modern cars run on high compression ratios and require high octane fuel be used. If you want to save money on fuel and use RON95 back off the throttle and drive with low rpm speeds. 

2. Top-overhaul and de-carbon... there are also a number of effective engine cleaning methods that do not require top-overhaul such as by spraying "certain chemical" into the intake to clean and remove the carbon/tar-like deposits.

"Final Drive"

Being one of the first Peugeot 308 THP140 's driven on Malayan soil almost 3yrs ago, myPeugeot308 warranty expiry date is now just around the corner.

The car will be sent for the scheduled maintenance at the authorised SC (for the last time) - probably next week. Expecting all warranty claims could be done fully, after which "the Final Drive" before warranty expires will take place...

stay tuned....

Intermittent Power Loss - Your Turn Could be Next!

If you have a Peugeot powered by EP6-DT* engine, sooner or later there is a chance for you to experience "Intermittent Power Loss" as a result of any of the following combination of faults associated with but not limited to "Super Knocks", "Fuel Regulation Problem", "Rich Fuel Mixture", "Lean Fuel Mixture at full Load", etc...

Don't worry if you haven't come across it yet, please be patient your turn could be next, sooner or later.

Many ppl suspect (or accuse) there might be an issue with the RON # and quality of local fuel, but that could be incorrect and baseless. Biasalah tu..:)

When your turn comes, try to reset/update the ECU (you need an OBD2 diagnostic gadget. If you already have a laptop, all you need is a diagnostic software and a USB interface dongle for under RM100 from eBay, if you are willing to spend more you can buy a stand alone dedicated OBD2 gadget from less than RM500)

Note: Your old laptop running on Windows XP could be more suitable than the one running on Vista and Windows 7. Don't throw away the old laptop!

If the problems persist send the car to any authorised SC for through diagnosis and probably your Lion needs the following operation:

1. engine block disassembly
2. cleaning of the valves if there is excessive black soot in there
3. replacement of the engine cover with integrated valve heads
4. replacement of the Teflon layer between valve heads and valves
5. replacement the chain/tensioner*
6. etc... the list could be endless!

I was told by "somebody" this procedure was a suggestion from Peugeot France Technical Centre and was completely covered under warranty, since it was obviously a production fault. (*They even recommend timing chain/tensioner replacement as well, although it is not strictly necessary)

Question to ponder....

Did Peugeot discover something fishy with timing chain design/manufacturing? If so why not just recall all the effected cars? En. Nasarudin, be proactive la bro...

I hope this helps everybody with this issue, I know it could be frustrating .