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Sunday 30/06/2024 was one of the sad and painful days I probably won't forget soon. It was the day my 505 V6 died on me while in motion. The saddest frustrating part was that I couldn't figure out what killed the car. It didn't matter how many times i cranked the engine, the car refused to start. First, it was only no fuel going through the injectors. Few minutes later, no spark as well anymore. The very first time in my motoring experience my car broke down on me in motion on the road without fixing the issue right there or at least, knowing the cause, even if the fix at that place would not be a better option or possible. It took weeks of troubleshooting to narrow the suspect to the injection and ignition ECUs wiring harnesses. They weren't found to be the culprits, but the last on the list to rule out, which I had to pull out the entire wires that had anything to do with cranking, starting and keeping the engine running till it's intentionally shuts down from the switch. Those wiring harnesses slept inside my house, actually (inside my room) for the remaining weeks till Sunday morning, 18th of August, 2024.

I stripped all the harnesses and painstakingly checked each of the wires, one after the other (hundreds of them, maybe). Fortunately, was seeing corroded wires on the joints and connectors, as the check was going on, and was cleaning, resurfacing, soldering and introducing additional connectors to the harnesses. In fact, I ended up modifying the harnesses off the stock, personalizing the car more to myself through those harnesses, making it very difficult for any other person to be able to use and diagnose the car electrically except me. On the Sunday morning 18/08/2024, I confirmed the the work I have done on the harnesses through continuity tests, and also confirmed the part of the harnesses I left stock using the factory 505 V6 wiring schematics. By 12.30pm, I was done with the taping of the wires, separating and grouping them into 3 harnesses this time. By 1.30pm, I started mounting the harnesses back on the vehicle. Even though it started raining as i was under the bonnet, i ignored it and kept on with the work until around 4pm, the car was ready for the first crank (I didn't even remember i have not eaten anything at all that day until that moment). I switched on ignition switch and all the expected tale lights on instrument panel came on, including the blower (first sign that I got the connections right again). Turning the key to start position, engine roared at the first spin of the starter.

I was so stupidly excited that I was laughing and saying stupid joyful words at the same time, as the engine ran and settled smoothly at the normal idle speed. Luckily, my camera was on to capture the first engine crank moment, but ended up capturing the boyish side of me unexpectedly digging himself out, after decades i thought that part was left behind. The first time I was this excited was actually when I resurrected my father's white 504 GL in late 1998 (or early 1999), after the car was dead and abandoned for about 5 years. The cause for that degree of excitement was not because the car has been resurrected, but because I DID IT . Nothing internally satisfies a man when he faces a big challenge, puts his brain to work, figures things out with the thought process while in the act, and solves the problem, especially with little or no aid. Don't get me wrong, 505 V6 was among the first complex electrically designed and assembled Peugeot vehicle (if not actually the first), but I was able to deal with that complexity with common sense understanding of EFI systems with no electronic aid other than DMM (Digital MultiMeter).

After about 4 hours, I was on the road in the car behind the wheel, and he reminded me what I had missed so much when he was dead. The Roar! By today's standard, he is no longer considered a quick V6 car among newer V6s. But one thing no other V6 car (especially the newer more powerful V6 cars) can beat 505 V6 is the engine sound. You don't need to visit Zoo to hear Lion's roar if you own a Peugeot 505 V6. Sure, I might be exaggerating, but he is that good. But it's not just about the PRV V6 engine in the 505, but the entire 505 himself. Some wise men would tell you they miss the '70s & '80s. I would tell you I am recreating the '70s & '80s experiences constantly in this era (thanks to my 505 V6). The car was made in the image of a man, in eras when men have different perspectives on life than what I observe today. Cars back then were made to be dependable, not reliable as the modern men now crave for. As weird as this may sound to you, reliability is boring, because it puts your critical and creative mind at sleep. No one figures things out anymore. Except to repeat, recite or rely solely on aids most of the time, which is not entirely a bad thing. Just makes life boring sometimes, if not most of the time. Peugeot 505 and 504 are the opposite. To own one today is not a necessity. You will have to want one to be able to have and keep him on the road or running. To do that, you have to be willing to understand the vehicle and put your mechanical side of you at work, since that's what they are.

In closing, the absence of Peugeot 504 GL and 505 V6 ownerships and driving experiences would have been an unfulfilled life for me in my last moments.

Ikenna Udeagwu


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b4rD-l5Q7A0?si=fjbMlockqcMCVeNN

Good to read from you again

Interesting! where have you been?

Nice work. I love the sound of the engine while you're driving and I see the car picks up speed quite nicely. I learnt how to drive when I was in JSS3 with a 505, this video brings back memories. Hopefully someday, I'll buy a 505 Evolution. Also, your car is really clean.

O never like this car one day, regular benz all the way,till it got to vboot,then c class,then my pops vex go buy toyota camry 2003. Men those days dey sweet,o miss that vboot padded.i drove the car like mad.auto too sweet.manual regular benz gave me problem as I felt challenged switching gears and looking up.as far back as 2004...

Weldone job

One dies

Another resurrects



Na so life be

2cribz:
O never like this car one day, regular benz all the way,till it got to vboot,then c class,then my pops vex go buy toyota camry 2003. Men those days dey sweet,o miss that vboot padded.i drove the car like mad.auto too sweet.manual regular benz gave me problem as I felt challenged switching gears and looking up.as far back as 2004...

Cos u cnt drive. Manual is still the best

Good job sir, your resilience and craftsmanship is highly respected. Thanks for sharing

Driving manual car I s naija is highly suicidal.wake up.dont get stock on decayed cars such as 505.to hell with all old model cars till year 2003.to hell with em.

revolt:
Cos u cnt drive. Manual is still the best

Bro there is nothing best about manual vehicles, when u drive a good auto vehicle , trust me manual cars will start to look like a stone age invention

Bullman:
Bro there is nothing best about manual vehicles, when u drive a good auto vehicle , trust me manual cars will start to look like a stone age invention

nonsense. Manual still has its qwerks esp if u can really drive. Braking and negotiating curves is betrer with manual. Nothing beats the feel of proper downshift. Ofcos u wont enjoy a manual snail moving car .. but with a V6 OR V8...THTS HEAVEN

revolt:
nonsense. Manual still has its qwerks esp if u can really drive. Braking and negotiating curves is betrer with manual. Nothing beats the feel of proper downshift. Ofcos u wont enjoy a manual snail moving car .. but with a V6 OR V8...THTS HEAVEN

Can't imagine the power on V8 manual transmission 😁