Installing an android color screen autoradio – Peugeot RCZ

Catapulting the RCZ into the 21st century

The RCZ is a well built and styling little GT car. The kind of style that has a real potential to become a classic collector’s item in a few years, just like the 504 Cabriolet and the 406 Coupé. However, when you look at the dashboard, there’s just one thing that makes it look quite dated today, even when it came out in 2010: The center control unit. Just look for yourself:

Peugeot RCZ 200 THP original dashboard control unit

Clearly, some cars are best kept original and some just need ‘a little help’. How about keeping the original style but adding some of the modern day gadgets like a color screen and android technology with all the apps you can have on a smartphone. Speaking of which, this opens a gate to whole new world! What world? Find out by watching the below video. 🙂

2017-06-23 1

Transmission oil change – Peugeot RCZ

Shifting gears smoothly again

Everyone willing to maintain their car will either have it serviced by a technician or maybe even service it themselves. A general service includes checking the overall functionalities and state of the car, as well as changing the engine oil, oil filter, spark plugs, air filter, maybe a fuel filter and occasionally and every four to five years, the coolant. But what about the gearbox / transmission? Most cars this days don’t even have a gearbox oil dipstick. Most manufacturers these days call them “sealed gearboxes with lifetime oil”… Right, the engine oil is supposed to be changed regularely but the gearbox oil will last forever? Nice fairy tale!

I changed the gearbox oil of my RCZ at around 90’000 km and trust me, it was worth it. I’ll probably do it again every 60’000 km. But how does it work? It’s actually quite simple. Watch the below video and see for yourself! 🙂

2017-06-16 2

Bleeding the brakes – Peugeot RCZ

Brake fluid 101

What makes good brakes? Sure, you have all the mechanical components like the master cylinder, the brake rotor, caliper, pads and so one. However, none of that would ever really run properly if it wasn’t for the brake fluid. The brake fluid is used to transfer the brake force you apply on the pedal into pressure on the brake pads that eventually push against the rotor and through friction slow the wheel down.

Even though the brake fluid circuit is closed, there are several occasions which require it to be changed or at least topped up. For example, when installing new brake pads or a complete new set of brakes or simply when the fluid has gone past its expiration date. As a matter of fact, brake fluids are hygroscopic (water absorbing), which means they absorb moisture from the atmosphere under normal humidity levels. The RCZ such as many other passenger cars uses DOT 4 brake fluid, which is supposed to be changed every two years.

Find out how to do it in the following video! 🙂

2017-06-07 0

Installing a FOX sports exhaust – Peugeot RCZ

The first really significant modification to my RCZ

Enough of the routine maintenance, let’s get some excitement into this ride. The K&N air filter was a good start, but why not upgrade the RCZ esthetically while also improving the sound note?! I decided to install a FOX dual exhaust for three reasons: It looks great – chrome, classy and bigger than the stock exhaust – hopefully sounds great and it’s road legal in Switzerland. Furthermore, I went all in and also acquired a matching sporty rear diffusor that allows the new right side exhaust to come out.

NOTICE: The installation is quite straightforward. As always, take some time to prepare yourself and don’t rush the whole disassembling an reassembling. The kit was complete. You don’t need to cut or weld anything to the chassis. However, you need to cut the stock exhaust pipe at the exact spot, in order for the new pipe to fit. More tips are given at the end of part 2.

Here’s how it’s done! 🙂

Part 1 – Removing the original exhaust and prefitting the FOX exhaust

Part 2 – Final assembly, sound check and feedback

2016-10-03 0

Resetting the service warning message – Peugeot RCZ

Keep your computer up to date!

So you’re one of those people who service and tune up your car yourself, right? But what about all the electronic little messages that come up periodically and want to remind you to look after your car? Of course, YOU wouldn’t need that because YOU keep track of your car’s maintenance history, right? Well guess what, you still need to tell you car when you changed the oil. My RCZ‘s onboard computer wants me to service my car every 30’000 km. It shows so buy putting up a little wrench next to the odometer, as well as in the central display between the rpm gauge and the speedometer.

Lucky you, you drive a Peugeot and hence don’t need any diagnostic computer to reset the service warning message!

Here’s how to do it! 🙂

2016-09-19 2

How to change the spark plugs – Peugeot RCZ

Let’s give my ride some fresh sparks

Okay, once you are done with the oil change, what the next thing to look after while servicing your RCZ? The spark plugs, of course! They have to be replaced every 30’000 km. I replaced the original NGK with the equivalent from Bosch (Ref.: 0 242 135 518). Not that I wasn’t satisfied with NGK or that I hoped that the Bosch ones would miraculously increase the engine’s performance, I just wanted to try something else from a well known brand – as long as it was compatible, of course. 🙂

Anyway, (1) pop the hood, (2) release the ignition coil, (2) pull it out, (3) unbold and remove the old spark plug, (4) insert a new one and proceed in the opposite order for the rest. Now repeat this for the remaining three spark plugs.

NOTICE: If you need an extension for your 14 mm spark plug socket, make sure all of the elements of the wrench are taped together, as the spark plugs might be a bit stuck even when unbolt. Fishing out the socket can be quite tedious, trust me…! 😉 It’s a simple solution to a really annoying problem.

Here’s how to do it! 🙂

2016-09-19 0

Changing Oil & Oil Filter – Peugeot RCZ

Fresh oil on the dipstick

Doing an oil change on an internal combustion engine is probably the most commonly known and most frequently conducted service element in all car maintenance history. So guess what, even my RCZ needs it every 30’000 km or every two years. The procedure is quite simple: (1) Open up the oil cap on top of the engine block, (2) unscrew the drain plug and let the old oil flow out into an appropriate catch pan. (3) Put a new crush washer on the drain plug and screw it back on. (4) Now replace the oil filter before (5) filling in 4.25l of fresh synthetic SAE 5W30 engine oil.

NOTICE: Safety first, environment second! Make sure the car is safely positioned on a car lift or on ramps when you are working underneath a car, especially when your are applying force to unbolt / bolt parts! The engine, exhaust and the oil might be hot if you warmed the car up just before, hence protect your hands, skin in general and your eyes accordingly. Always dispose of used oil properly – bring it to your local waste disposal service station.

Here’s how to do it! 🙂

2016-09-01 2

Changing Air Cabin Filter & Air Filter – Peugeot RCZ

Let’s breath in fresh air

Changing an ai cabin filter doesn’t seem to be a big deal at first glance. After all, the filter itself is basically just a dry piece of foam. Getting to the air cabin filter compartment is a different story. On my 2012 Peugeot RCZ it’s basically a three-step process: (1) Remove the plastic admission tube that is connected to the cabin air filter housing, (2) unclip and pull out the insulating mat just behind the admission tube and finally, (3) open up the cover and pull out the used air cabin filter. Now simply replace it with a new filter and proceed in the reverse order.

NOTICE: As always with car plastics, be patient and careful not to handle them roughly as they can easily crack. I like to quote Amesie from Amesie’s Automotive Corner, “those plastic parts are as supple as uncooked pasta”. 🙂

Let’s give this car some clean air

Now that the cabin has clean air, let’s turn our attention to the engine. This filter is located behind the engine. You can directly access it by unbolting the cover, the air intake hose, as well as unclip the electronic sensor that is connected to it.

NOTICE: As always when you take any bolts out in and around the engine block, make sur to store them safely and not let them fall into the engine bay. You never know whether they will be stuck or lost somewhere in there. 😉

Happy wrench spinning! 😀

2016-08-15 2

Time to change the tires – Peugeot RCZ

Keep the rubber on the road

This time it’s time to change the tires of my RCZ. The summer tires are 19″ Continental Sport Contact 3 tires, which I am replacing with Continental Sport Contact 5. The old tires have lasted for about 60’000 km, which is pretty good, considering that they are sports tires and thus supposed to not only last but also be super sticky. 🙂

Anyway, when you look at the tread of the tires, you’ll see that they have almost come down to the tread wear indicators. These are at 1.6 mm, the legal minimum in Switzerland and many other countries as well. So, time go to the tire shop and have them all replaced with some new rubber! Yes, all four of them are down!!

If you can’t spot a tread wear indicator, one good tool to measure it is a one euro coin. The outer gold ring is exactly 1.6 mm. If you compare the old and the new tire you will instantly realize that the change was due!

2016-07-06 0

Removing the taillight on my Peugeot RCZ

Twist it till it snaps

Another day, another tutorial! This time we’re removing a taillight of the RCZ. If you want to order it before you read or watch through the process, here are the part numbers. Peugeot part number: YM40701280, Automotive Lighting part number: 2623 0102. Always make sure you’re ordering the correct side, since the left and the right units are symmetric, hence not identical.

In a nutshell, the entire process is quite simple. It can however be confusing when you’ve never done it before. Open up the cover on the side of the trunk and disconnect the cable. There is only one cable coming from the taillight. After that there are two big white nuts to unscrew. The first time I tried to loosen them they were so tightened up that I needed pliers.

Push the taillight out from the inside and twist the entire unit counter clockwise until the burl in the front of the light snaps out of its position. I sounds like something just broke but don’t worry, it’s really just the burl. You may want to cover the left edge of the taillight with some sort of cloth so you don’t scratch it while removing it. However, it’s not necessary if you’re careful.

No just press and pull the rubber plug, pull the cable out and the entire taillight is free. Check out the video for a more comprehensive demonstration:

2016-06-01 0