Peugeot Problem

[jac30]

I have just bought an L reg peugeot 306 and for �300 and unluckily am finding problems with it already. There seems to be a rattling noise coming from underneath on the drivers side. It seems to be worse when I drive on uneven surfaces or speed bumps.
Also, I seem to have a leak coming from where the water goes into the radiator. Water rises when I have been driving.
Have I been ripped off or is it common in a car of this age. Thanks in advance.

[coopergordon]

Not ripped off, just common for a car at �300, thats why guy sold it so cheap.

If rattle is serious it will be picked up by an MOT test, put it in for one and an "expert" will diagnose that for you.

Re water, it will rise when engine gets hot. Does any leak out? If is doesn't and it just goes up and down same amount there are no troubles, If leaking try pouring in a bottle of Holts Radweld.

[jababe]

It has just had an MOT before I bought it. People keep saying that MOTs don't mean a thing.The water has leaked out but maybe I overfilled it.

[coopergordon]

Ah,depends if garage who MOTed it also sold it, in which case it could easily be duff.

But if a private sale lets assume MOT is "straight", so car is safe. On mine I have just found loose spring from door lock rattling in door, so there are rattles that don't matter.

I also had a Pug 406 which had loose drive shaft UJs, so that rattled on uneven roads, deep clunky noise. I think it was quite safe, maybe a common Pug fault. I sold it rattly for �300 or so!

Re water loss, if you overfill it will blow out the excess, see if it stops leaking from now on. I rate Radweld for leaks, but don't use it if there is no leak as it can easily partially block heater.

[jg96]

There is a good chance the rattling you describe is from a worn droplink on the front suspension common problem on a 306 but would have thought it would have been picked up on mot plenty for sale online especially on E bay quite easy to change too.