Screen doesn't work in Peugeot 208. How to fix this issue?

It looks like a lot of Peugeot 208 owners have problems with SMEG modules – the touchscreens and the displays just don’t turn on when they start their cars. The issue is extremely common, especially in countries with hotter climates like Greece, Spain, and some islands. The 208 is a great vehicle and today I want to tell you about several possible reasons and solutions for this problem.

The screen in your Peugeot 208 may not be working because it’s overheated or has a glitch. You can temporarily fix it by pulling out a fuse and putting it back. Also, you can disconnect the battery and the system will reset. However, there may be a problem with the cooler fan in the SMEG module, so you may need some more time and effort to solve the issue.

Here’s what I will cover in this article:

The most common reasons why your screen in the Peugeot 208 isn’t working.
What are the best solutions for this problem (temporary and long-lasting)?

Will Peugeot dealers help you for free with this?
Why just pulling a fuse is actually a bad idea?

Why doesn’t your Peugeot 208 screen work?

This problem is most commonly observed in the first-gen 208 (2012-2018). But the second generation is also noticed to develop the issue after some time of driving. Given the problem is very common in countries with hot climates, I can presume that the primary reason is heat. But owners in the UK also report this issue, so it’s not only overheating because of the crazy sun.

Let’s see which reasons can cause the SMEG in your 208 to stop working:

1. Hot weather

Temperatures over 30 degrees Celsius in your car will obviously affect the screens and electronics. While the majority of units will survive this heat, some modules will not. The SMEG is one of the weakest ones. And it may just refuse to turn on after you leave your Peugeot under the sun for some time.

This is a function that prevents your infotainment screen from burning. Stop panicking – it doesn’t mean that you will need 700 euros for a new SMEG. Things will obviously get better soon.

2. Software glitch

Unfortunately, Peugeot software has never been perfect. It often develops problems and glitches that disturb you from the pleasure of using some needed functions. If the SMEG in your Peugeot 208 has developed a serious glitch, the system may freeze or just refuse to turn on.

There is only one way to deal with a software glitch – the hard reset. I will tell you about two ways to do it later in this article.

3. Wiring issues

This is a much less common problem but still, it has occurred several times in the 208. The clips that are used to connect the SMEG in your car may not be tough enough to handle driving on bad roads for many kilometers. If you are using your small Peugeot on rough roads, you may need to check the wiring.

Usually, if the problem is with the connectors, the issue is intermittent. One day your infotainment system works well, the other day it’s dead. Also, if ignored, this problem may kill the infotainment system and make you pay for the new one. Which is not cheap, as you already know.

4. Alternator or battery issues

If the alternator doesn’t provide the system with the needed voltage, the control modules may cut the power supply to some non-vital elements like the infotainment module. The low and dying battery will do the same – the alternator will put all its efforts into charging it and it will affect the power supply for other car units.

If you can’t locate and solve the problem with the easy methods described below, you should check the battery and then check the alternator’s voltage in different situations under load.

5. SMEG fan problems

The infotainment system in your Peugeot 208 has a fan that is aimed to cool the internal parts of the unit. It proves that Peugeot knew about the issue and installed a cooler to somehow deal with the problem.

As we now understand, Peugeot failed and one of the reasons is because this cooler easily loses contacts and stops working. The cooler fan is programmed to launch in those cases only when the system overheats. If it doesn’t launch, the system will heat up too much under direct sunbeams and will die, at least, temporarily.

How can you solve the dead screen problem in your 208?

I see three main ways to solve this problem on your own, apart from replacing the SMEG (too expensive) and replacing the battery if it’s dead or dying. Let’s concentrate on the SMEG itself and look at the possible fixes for the screen shut-off issue.

Here’s what you can try:

1. Pull out the fuse

The fuse number 18 in the interior fuse box powers your infotainment system. This fuse box is located under the front panel near your right leg if you are in the UK and have a left-hand vehicle. For right-hand vehicles, the fuse box is under the glove box.

So, the fuse number 18 should be pulled out. Then you need to wait for about a minute and install the fuse back. Make sure the fuse is OK. There have been situations when the broken fuse caused the issue with the dead infotainment, but they are rare, anyway.

So, this will reset the SMEG and it will most likely start working. What a quick and easy fix! But with a pinch of salt – will tell you later about it.

2. Disconnect the battery

It’s not enough to disconnect the negative terminal only – but you should obviously start with it. When both terminals are disconnected, press the honk to use all the remaining power in the system. After that, wait for a minute or two and connect the battery back – first the positive terminal then the negative one.

This will reset everything in your car including clocks and even preset radio stations. But most likely, the screen in the Peugeot 208 will turn on and function. This is just a version of resetting by pulling out the fuse. But for this method, you won’t need to locate the fuse.

3. Cleaning the contacts of the cooler fan

This is the most complicated method and you will most likely not want to do this. When taking the infotainment system off the front panel, you may damage some tender plastic elements and will have to pay to replace them.

So, this is what you will need to do:

take the infotainment screen off the front panel of your car;

disconnect the clips on the back side of the system;
take the white plastic cover on the backside of the SMEG module off;
in the corner of this plastic panel, you will see a cooler fan;

clean its electrical contacts and clean the contacts on the board that powers the fan;
you should also make sure the fan is working by powering it with an external battery;
after that, assemble everything back in the reverse order;

turn on the engine and see if this helped you get your infotainment functions back.

Please keep in mind that doing this is only possible if you have some experience with cars and electrical equipment. Otherwise, you may only make things worse. It’s important to remember that the SMEG will cost you about 700 pounds/euros if you buy it from the dealer.

Will Peugeot dealers solve this problem for free?

I know about several minor recalls for the Peugeot 208 software update. But none of them was connected with SMEG problems. So, the dealer will only help you solve the issue for free if your car is still under warranty.

Unfortunately, none of the first-gen 208 is under warranty now, so you will most likely get only paid help from a Peugeot dealer. Also, the price for their help will be quite high even if you just ask them to diagnose the problem.

Why is the pull-a-fuse trick not so good?

When Peugeot 208 owners learn about the pull-the-fuse trick to get their infotainment systems back to life, they usually think that the problem is solved forever. But no. The overheating problem won’t be solved by pulling the fuse and you will have to repeat that procedure time after time.

Also, there are several bad consequences:

the fuse may eventually die and its bed may get corroded because you use it too often;
the overheated SMEG will start working and may be eventually damaged or even burnt;

you will go crazy if the screen will die several times a day and you will need to kneel down to find that freaking fuse.

So, the fuse solution is only temporary and you may need to go to a good garage and have the fan in the infotainment system repaired. When the fan works well, there shouldn’t be any problems with the screen in your Peugeot 208.

To wrap up

I strongly recommend using the hard reset options purely as temporary solutions to the problem. If your Peugeot 208 infotainment screen is dead, it’s most likely because of the overheating. This may happen when the cooling fan inside it stops working. Since this common is very common, you can solve it in any good garage that repairs Peugeot cars.

Want to share your experience or ask a question? Welcome to the comments below!

Screen doesn’t work in Peugeot 208. How to fix this issue?