C3 Engine Gravel Shield (I.e.undertray)

[johnboyc3]

I've just acquired a C3 VTR+ (1.4 petrol) registered June 2011 from a private dealer. The engine was covered in muddy dust and I now realise there isn't a plastic tray/shield under the engine. In other words you can see the ground when looking down through the engine from above! Can anyone tell me if a tray/shield was factory fitted? There appear to be black plastic rails either side of bottom of engine bay where tray(s) could have been attached. I am taking the car back to the dealer Wed 06 May 2015, and it would be good to know in advance of that if the car should come with one. I realise not everyone considers these important but it does give the engine a degree of protection from flying debris off the road. Advice from fellow owners would be much appreciated.

[Johndouglas]

I once did an oil change in the depths of winter on my Xantia and to cut down on time spent under the car, decided to leave the refitting of the undertray till better weather. When at last I did refit it I found the inner wing liners split and torn because they had been vibrating and thrashing about rather than being held firmly in place by the undertray. So Yes - if a tray was originally fitted, I would want it. Having said that - some models don't have them.

[paul.h]

Not all C3s have an engine undertray, our previous 2003 one did not and I vaguely remember not having to remove one when I changed the oil on our 2010 1.4 petrol vtr+ vti, but that was last August so I could be wrong. You could check the parts diagrams using your VIN (VIS) for your car to see if one is listed. You will need to register as another professional and a member of the Citroen Owners Club on the service.citroen site. This is a free service and your VIN is entered top left once logged onto the site. http://service.citroen.com/do/changerParametres

 

It is worth checking the rear coil springs are complete, one of ours broke the top coil off 2 months ago and was only noticed due to the bit on the floor. Both rear springs were replaced free of charge by our Citroen dealer despite there being no warranty remaining on the car. On our 2003 C3 both front springs were similarly replaced when one broke.

 

If you have the vti 95 hp engine keep an eye on the oil level, ours seems to use about 1 litre every 2000 miles - this is the first Citroen we have had that uses oil between services. It was only on about 20000 miles when I noticed this so could be due to the engine design. One of the camshaft sensors also failed on this car but a new one was only about £25. If you have this engine check for an oil leak down the back of it, our car needed the oil pump solenoid replacing when we got it since its seal in the engine block was leaking oil out.

[johnboyc3]

Not all C3s have an engine undertray, our previous 2003 one did not and I vaguely remember not having to remove one when I changed the oil on our 2010 1.4 petrol vtr+ vti, but that was last August so I could be wrong. You could check the parts diagrams using your VIN (VIS) for your car to see if one is listed. You will need to register as another professional and a member of the Citroen Owners Club on the service.citroen site. This is a free service and your VIN is entered top left once logged onto the site. http://service.citroen.com/do/changerParametres

 

It is worth checking the rear coil springs are complete, one of ours broke the top coil off 2 months ago and was only noticed due to the bit on the floor. Both rear springs were replaced free of charge by our Citroen dealer despite there being no warranty remaining on the car. On our 2003 C3 both front springs were similarly replaced when one broke.

 

If you have the vti 95 hp engine keep an eye on the oil level, ours seems to use about 1 litre every 2000 miles - this is the first Citroen we have had that uses oil between services. It was only on about 20000 miles when I noticed this so could be due to the engine design. One of the camshaft sensors also failed on this car but a new one was only about £25. If you have this engine check for an oil leak down the back of it, our car needed the oil pump solenoid replacing when we got it since its seal in the engine block was leaking oil out.

Great advice. Have already been on the Citroen service website and it looks like a under engine protector should be fitted. Will provide more feedback after visit to dealer. Thanks.

[zony]

I recently bought a new undertray and fixing kit from a company on ebay, it was a good fit and at £20 ish was a bargain. Quality not as good as original but the ABS plastic was as thick, just a few issues with the hole placements.

[johnboyc3]

 

Not all C3s have an engine undertray, our previous 2003 one did not and I vaguely remember not having to remove one when I changed the oil on our 2010 1.4 petrol vtr+ vti, but that was last August so I could be wrong. You could check the parts diagrams using your VIN (VIS) for your car to see if one is listed. You will need to register as another professional and a member of the Citroen Owners Club on the service.citroen site. This is a free service and your VIN is entered top left once logged onto the site. http://service.citroen.com/do/changerParametres

 

It is worth checking the rear coil springs are complete, one of ours broke the top coil off 2 months ago and was only noticed due to the bit on the floor. Both rear springs were replaced free of charge by our Citroen dealer despite there being no warranty remaining on the car. On our 2003 C3 both front springs were similarly replaced when one broke.

 

If you have the vti 95 hp engine keep an eye on the oil level, ours seems to use about 1 litre every 2000 miles - this is the first Citroen we have had that uses oil between services. It was only on about 20000 miles when I noticed this so could be due to the engine design. One of the camshaft sensors also failed on this car but a new one was only about £25. If you have this engine check for an oil leak down the back of it, our car needed the oil pump solenoid replacing when we got it since its seal in the engine block was leaking oil out.

Great advice. Have already been on the Citroen service website and it looks like a under engine protector should be fitted. Will provide more feedback after visit to dealer. Thanks.

 

Phoned several dealers who all looked up on their PCs and said my car didn't come with it factory fitted. Yet I would swear I can see the circular mark where a stud of some kind used to be on the side rail where an undertray would be fitted. Plus if I put my VIN into the Citroen service website it comes up with 2 options (one 2010, one 2013). But the dealers tell me that if the part nos are blacked out on their screens it means your car dosn't have it. Not going to pursue this any longer, I will assume the dealers are right (!?)

[ashtonw25]

I have a c3 2010 and my gran has one 2014.

Neither have undertrays so yes the dealers are telling you the truth :)