Peugeot 208

Plug the car into a Type 2 AC charger and monitor for immediate charging initialization, checking the instrument cluster for any 'Charging Fault' warnings. The On-Board Charger (OBC) is a notorious weak point in early 2nd-gen e-208 models. Failure prevents AC charging entirely, leaving only DC rapid charging functional.

Cycle the climate control between maximum heat and maximum cooling, ensuring the cabin temperature changes rapidly within 60 seconds. The highly efficient heat pump system is prone to compressor and valve failures. If it fails to blow hot air, a costly climate loop component replacement is likely required.

Connect an OBD2 scanner running an EV diagnostic app (e.g., Car Scanner) to read the exact State of Health (SoH) of the traction battery. While Peugeot guarantees 70% capacity for 8 years/160,000 km, some early ZK01 packs show premature degradation or cell imbalance, which severely impacts real-world winter range in NZ.

Turn on all high-draw accessories (heated seats, rear demister, wipers, headlights) and check for any 'Electrical System Fault' errors on the central display. A weak or degrading 12V auxiliary battery is the root cause of many phantom drivetrain faults and can completely immobilise the vehicle, despite the main HV battery being fully charged.