'new' C4 Auto - Gear Change Quality

[scimitargtc]

Just purchased ex-demo 1.6HDi auto - compared to my Auris hybrid CVT ie no steps in gear changes this still is awful - gear changes are rough: another forum suggested the box can/should be recalibrated - read somewhere I can do this myself as the egs box is 'adaptive'?? Dealer missed the manu recall 'MNX' = replace all aux belt pulleys and belts. DUH! I should have checked up on before I handed over my hard earned cash but believed a dealer would have made sure (hand book was also missing and they raided their new car yard to get 1 + the service book turns out to be for a totally different car - that's a week to get a new 1 promise).... as the car is going in for the pulleys/belts next week best option will be to tell them to recalibrate the box but wondered what other experiences there are out there :unsure:

[paul.h]

We have a 2011 1.6hdi VTR 110+ manual and that goes well and is comfier than our last C4 (2008 1.6hdi VTR+). Fuel economy is good, 60 to 70 mpg on motorways depending on wind direction.

 

Things that take getting used to are the tinted rear windows and the large front headrests and a designer door mirror shape - all combine to make side/rear visibility poor so be carefull when lane changing until you get used to it and when reversing move your head about to see round the blind spots. I have considered trying headrests from a different car but these seem to be the trend for current Citroens.

 

The front seats are not the easiest to get in/out of since they are well in from the doors.

 

The air doser valve above the alternator is a different design to our previous C4 so should not leak oil on to the alternator.

 

The rear hatch needs to be almost slammed shut to lock and we will be getting it looked at at its service - there does not appear to be any adjustment and with the latch closed by a screwdriver you can see a rubber block behind the latch which may be a designed in cause.

 

If you need a workshop manual, ETAI do a French one available from Amazon's French site.

[paul.h]

Forgot to mention, a spare wheel, jack and brace are extras, cost £200+ unless you are happy with the standard compressor and sealant. If you have alloys, as for any car, remove them and put a smear of copper grease on the hubs so the wheels/hubs do not corrode and stick making the wheels difficult to remove in the future.

[paul.h]

Scimitargtc,

at the service the fault with having to slam the hatch door to fully close it did not occur when tested, so none the wiser on this and they did not have another new C4 to see if they all do this. Also I think the problem was not explained that well before the service. Do you have this problem with your car ?

[Johndouglas]

the fault with having to slam the hatch door to fully close it did not occur when tested,

 

My C5 estate is the same. Rear door always needs a hard slam down - except when there's a window open. Then it closes easily. Must be air pressure within the car

[scimitargtc]

no prob with tailgate - heavy old beast as well - suggest opening air vents in the car and seeing if it then closes OK - if so it as others suggest internal air pressure if not there's an issue.... pulleys etc were replaced on Friday 1.5hrs instead of the 2.5 quoted so good, missing service book still not replaced and reception knew nowt about it MMMmmmm - so no ideas who to call if she breaks down (highly unlikely I know but...) or whether I need to register a tfr of warranty to myself - cheeely so and so's said front wipers starting to smear and we can replace for £29.90 and oil just off the max level and can top it up for £10.80 --- er I've had it 10 days, done less than 150 miles in her --- "I expect YOU to have checked/replaced the wipers AND top up the oil" - they did offer to wash and vac it (knowing I was on a tight schedule!) but feared getting a charge for it :rolleyes: Gearbox - is 'as it is' try lifting off slightly when you know it's going to upshift (does work but not what wifey was expecting in an auto [sorry a 'manual with auto/hydraulic actuator'] abs/esp etc 'as it is' ie no 'launch control' so whenever I get my hands on it I'll wear a flat cap and brouges... Oh and I noticed yesterday 2 chunks of metal out of the under edge of the windscreen end of the bonnet and matching scrapes on the wiper arm - managed to adjust ever so slightly to relieve but kicking myself that I didn't carry out a detailed check - assumed (ie made an ass out of myself) that a 6 month old demo from a main dealer would be as near as spot on as new

[paul.h]

Just tried closing the C4 rear hatch with another door open and not sure if it makes a difference but will try again when it is not raining. Oddly, on our C5 estate the rear door almost closes itself needing hardly any effort to close but I think the struts that hold it open are a bit weak and might need replacing.

 

There has been no mention of replacing pulleys on our C4 (June 2011). £29 for the 2 front wipers is the normal price at our dealer (inc vat) but if asked for in a service you would pay extra for a few minutes labour. A wash and vac is standard/included if paying for a service or other work (but not MOT).

 

The service book is one that covers all Citroen models (so should be easy to get) and all that happens is the VIN of your car is written in it and the warranty start date and then the service stamps are done at each service. The start date is also on the service citroen system under vehicle characteristics so the book can be filled in any time. Working out what should be done at each service is not straight forward since some depend on miles or time or model or engine but for the 1.6 hdi make sure you have an oil/filter change each year or the recommended miles if sooner since they have a reputation of turbo failures.

 

Something to watch for, the under bonnet fuse box lid is held on by flimsy catches, I found the back one had snapped almost completely off and the lid rattling now it is loose and could also let in water. Rather than buying a replacement which could go the same way I will look at alternative fastening methods if I can not get a warranty claim for a new one. May be a coincidence, but I found it a week after the service, but then why would the fuse box be accessed but then the catches are not up to the job.