405 battery cable replacement (help)

Trygve D Oye (tryg@u.washington.edu)
Sat, 26 Jun 1999 03:02:13 -0700 (PDT)

Well, since the insurance company is closed for the weekend I can relax
and look to the starter problem I seem to now have. I've had a very
anemic starter for some time now, but it has always gotten the job done.
My car has become famous among my friends who all wait in anticipation for
the sound of the starter--sort of like a really slow tire shop lug wrench.
Lately, it has become apparent that the starting system always works when
the car is cold, or not had a chance to reach operating temp. It seems
that the hotter the car is allowed to become, the lower my chance of
getting it to start again becomes. I've concluded this by several tests.
If I try to start the car while it's hot I seem to have symptoms similar
to a dead battery (starter slows to an eventual halt), but if I let it
sit a while, it will start (although with different levels of performance
depending on the temp of the engine).

Here is what I wonder. Could the starter cable be corroded internally to
the point where they contract enough when cold to maintain their ability
to carry the current and as the temp increases, the cable expands and
separates inside? Far fetched? I thought that I heard postings of such a
problem previously. I really don't know what to do. I can hardly find
the starter on the 1.9 liter engine let alone get a good look at it, as it
is well covered by the intake manifold. Has anyone worked on the 405
starter before? Is it very difficult? I can't find my Haynes manual, so
I can't read up on it. I talked to a Peugeot specialty shop and was told
around $650 for the replacement of the starter--outrageous! This is why I
want to start with the wire theory.

I also wonder if the poor level of electricity available at the starter
may be connected to the apparently low level of electricity available in
the cabin--the cabin lights and clock that dim with the turn signal and
brake lights, the spastic power seat belts. If I press up on the power
window switch with the window already up, thus laboring the motor, the
SEAT BELT starts freaking out--threatening to hit you upside the head on
your way in, or out of the car.

Could it be that i just need to replace the main power leads from the
battery. If so, how do I do that with this starter location? HELP?

-Thanks!

-Trygve Oye
Seattle, WA

'89 405 S