The COM2000 is an integrated communications hub which lives inside the steering column. A lot of people think it is just the indicator stalk, but it comprises of more things than that. It comprises of:
- Indicator & wiper stalks
- Sockets for cruise control & audio controls
- Receiver for the remote control
- Speaker for warning chimes & indicator 'tick tock'
It costs around $1000 new. The cost to the dealer is just over $300 less
COM2000s exist in various forms (there are several models, around 7 - depending if you have auto lights, trip computer, etc) amongst current PSA models - eg. 206, 307, 406, C3, Xsara, C5, Berlingo etc. I still remember receiving an email from someone in the UK who had a 406 and 307 and both of the cars were off the road due to the COM2000 issue and Peugeot UK's lack of customer service. So the COM2000 issue isn't limited in the 307, but because more 307s have been sold downunder than any other model and they received more stalks from the bad manufacturer, the problem is more associated with the 307 (eg. 406s aren't exactly rushing out of the door, and how many Aussie 406 owners do you see online?).
Now, in the olden days, there were two manufacturers. One seemed to make more problematic COM2000s than the other and more 307s received those stalks than other models. One of the problems was the forming of the, you guessed it, indicator stalk.
According a report I received from the UK, the manufacturer of the COM2000 used in the 307 went bust as they vac formed a part of the stalk. This part of the stalk could not stand up to the pressure of the steering wheel being returned to the center straight ahead position. From a right hand turn when centering the wheel, this meant that the stalk either
- <LI type=square>
Over corrects the self cancelling action & starts indicating left. OR
The stalk becomes jammed in the right indicating position and when the driver applies pressure to cancel the indicator, the stalk snaps off
So there was a delay during the first quarter last year as the new manufacturer had to retool & get approval. Yes, the old one went bankrupt early last year
I have not really received any reports about the stalks snapping off, rather the self cancelling mechanism going all "Citroen like" (being on Aussiefrogs, I'm sure you'll know what that means). Other problems include the indicators activating the headlights, overcorrection after certain right turns (eg. indicate right going around a roundabout, as you straighten the wheel, instead of returning to the neutral position, the indicator indicates left - basically anytime you straighten the wheel quickly after a significant RH turn), indicators fail to indicate, etc.
Only some of the above issues seem to come up here and then (the replacement rate of COM2000s has dropped significantly -although unlike most warranty parts, Peugeot no longer wants them back for auditing claims - they've had too many come back) - ie. the minor problems (haven't heard anything about indicators failing to indicate for ages, seems to be cancellation or accidental headlight activation problems now).
300 COM2000s were imported recently, so there should be better supply now.
I think the fact that the COM2000 has been used in cars for three years and the issue still is not quite 100% resolved shows that PSA needs to go to quality school. How many manufacturers would let a problem like this go on for such a long time?
