Many Problems.....

[elrey123]

Hello all!

 

Im new to this forum, but not new to owning Citroens.

I have an 05 reg C4 HDi VTR Coupe. I have to say, looks aside, I am totally unimpressed with the car. If anyone can help with the following problems, please feel free!.........

 

1. Knocking noise when turning engine on/off and when changing gear. Only happens when engine is hot!?

 

2. Steering is loose and wobbly. No resistance to bumps and imperfections. ATS fixed it once by adjusting tracking etc, but problem returned after 250 miles. Dealer unable to fix.

 

3. Flat spot in 1st Gear if car is brought to a stop, then asked to pull away again within 1-2 seconds.

 

4. Juddering brakes. Already on 3rd set of front discs! Im convinced the braking and steering probs are related.

 

5. Creaking door seals. Only when windows are closed.

 

6. Front suspension is creaking. Dealer says they cannot hear it..typical.

 

7. "Electrical Circuit Fault" Only happens when outside temps are 3 degrees or below. Heater, wipers etc run on half power until engine is revved for a couple of mins.

 

OK, that's enough for now!

 

PS: Is it normal for oil to be getting into the intercooler and into the air inlet manifold, thus creating thick black sludge where it meets the EGR gases?

 

Thinking of changing for a VW Bora unless these probs get sorted, which is a shame coz I've always owned Citroens.

 

All help gratefully received!

[philstott1983]

Sounds some bad news that with the car, a trip to the service dept. of your Citroen dealer is recommended.

 

Don't know if all Citroen dealers work with the same policy, but with mine I had one of them hoax problems: a problem for me but disappears when the dealer had a look! Was with the gear box

 

This problem was on a C2 I had. I explained to my dealer that the problem was occuring, so it was them that recommended they have the car for a few days. THe service guys took my car and one of the mechanics drove it (for personal use as well, more miles he did more he got a feel for it) and was able to see what problems I was having.

 

Some people maybe a bit :( about passing on your car for 3-5 days, but it helped me no end and at least its in safe hands. And, I got a courtesy car which meant it wasnt an inconvenience.

[Z3M Roadster]

Wahey, finally I am not the only one with a sh1te C4. Mine has loads of problems too and Citroen are unable/unwilling to sort any of them

[C4VTS]

I only have two very minor issues with my C4.

 

1) A slight steering vibration at certain speeds but it's not always noticeable.

 

2) Slight knocking sound on nearside front suspension area.

 

I will wait untill the first 20,000 mile service to get these fixed.

 

Apart from that, it's a great car so far. :(

[hertsnminds]

Slight knocking sound on nearside front suspension area.

 

I had this until my dealer replaced the REAR suspension (under warranty). Don't ask me why replacing the rear suspension cured the knock at the front it just did.

 

 

Ian

Black 55 VTR+

[Welshguy]

1. Knocking noise when turning engine on/off and when changing gear. Only happens when engine is hot!?

 

Known problem - It is caused by the gear linkage knocking against the exhaust, although this happened to me when the enginge was both hot and cold. Solution is to fit spacers between the exhaust and linkage. The dealer also found the problem to be linked to degrading engine mounts. Ask your dealer to look at both these points and install the spacers and the problem should go away!

 

:(

[elrey123]

Thanks for all the advice!

 

Will definately get back to them about the knocking noise!

 

It has been to the dealer about 15 times, and twice it has been left with them for a week..each time it has been returned in the same condition. I have tried different dealers, and they all tell different stories....impossible!

 

I don't think rear suspension upgrade will help in my case. replacement of rear shock absorbers was the first thing I had done, and it made no difference.

 

It's not a knocking front the front suspension, more like a low creaking noise, only heard at low speeds..ie in heavy traffic etc.

So far........

 

3 x sets of front discs and pads

Replaced OSF suspension mount & bearings

Replaced exhaust system

Replaced rear shock absorbers

Tracking reset 4 times

Replaced turbo shield

Replaced air ducting leading away from intercooler (was leaking oil)

Removed dashboard to tighten loose nut and bolt which was squeaking

Grease ceased brake caliper

Replace OSF brake caliper

Tighten loose brake pedal

 

Plus...all the various recalls and tightening of various bolts and mountings.

[wozza]

lot of the suspenion noise issues have been sorted with changing the bushes. I had 1 of mine replaced due to a slight knocking over some bumps been fine since.

 

Its the brakes that seem very odd to me. Going through 3 sets is a bit wierd in such a short time. Are they warping? And if so do you brake hard or drive it fairly hard? When you have braked at lights leave your foot on the brake all the time? as that causes 1 area to heat up more than others resulting in possible warping of the discs. I know it sounds daft and most people dont drive the cars like nutters but some people do and they do certain things without even knowing about it.

 

And do you live in an area with a lot of speed bumps? As that can upset the tracking especially the ones that have gaps between them as most people try and straddle both sides which knocks the tracking out.

[elrey123]

Yes, lots of speed bumps where I live, and plenty with gaps between them. ATS fixed the steering for me once, all they did was reset the tracking, and the steering was crisp and "tight" for about 250 miles and it gradually loosened again..kinda like no resistance to bumps or uneven roads. Can't brake or accelerate in a straight line without the steering wheel snatching and wandering.

 

I don't drive the car hard, just normally really. I don't know if the discs are warping, I dont think they are coz going through 3 sets is extreme, I think there is another cause which is linked to the steering problem and possibly the creaking suspension at the front.

[wozza]

possible the speed bumps keep knocking the tracking out though best not to go over them with wheels on either side but 1 wheel on the bump and 1 off it in the gap.

[ham's c4vts]

i had problems on a zx years ago with juddering brakes, it was down to a bach of disks tha had big hard patches on them, not too sure if its happening to you but it i had about 2 sets of disks onit untill it was cured.

[Welshguy]

possible the speed bumps keep knocking the tracking out though best not to go over them with wheels on either side but 1 wheel on the bump and 1 off it in the gap.

 

Really? I always try and position the car so that the wheels take the impact of the speed bump at the same time?

[Rich_Eason]

My VTS had warped brakes when we test drove it at the dealers, it only had at the time 11500 miles on the clock. All discs were changed and all is fine.

 

I know it sounds daft, but are you sure the tyre pressures are all ok? Are you just relying on the tyre sensors reminding you to tell you that pressures are low? I wouldnt rely on the garage gauges being much cop as well. Might be worth a check. I drove up to Brum at the weekend and noticed some slight vibration under braking down a slip road and wandering/vaguness - turned out that the offside front was low only by a few PSI but enough to cure the vibration and sterring feeling.

[C4VTRhdi]

The C4 is a bad car full stop, duff build quality, poor to drive worst car ive had by miles and ive been through a few. Get rid while people might still buy it!

[Stuey]

The C4 is a bad car full stop, duff build quality, poor to drive worst car ive had by miles and ive been through a few. Get rid while people might still buy it!

very helpful....

 

The vast majority of us are perfectly happy with our cars, there are some issues but they really doesnt deserve the "worst car" title you have given it. The C4 is probably the best in the small family car range. Lets look at the main competition-

Ford Focus-Dull, boring to drive...

Golf-Dull, boring to drive...

 

both of these cars are more expensive, have shorter service intervals, lower MPG counts...

 

I seem to recall that you are an Alfa fan?? then you have no right to call the C4 anything given Alfa's record...or Italian cars in general

[wozza]

Worst car i mean what problems have you had, a sticky boot was all you really moaned about at the meet and a couple other things.

 

My mates new Golf GTI the spoiler fell off the back of it. Its also gone into limp hme mode before. Just because you got a car with a couple issues dont say there all bad.

 

Is it fair for my friend to say all new golfs are ***oops*** because his has been crap?

[Ciaran2903]

The C4 is a bad car full stop, duff build quality, poor to drive worst car ive had by miles and ive been through a few. Get rid while people might still buy it!

I think you may want to take your "For Sale" post down.........now! :P

You the hell is going to buy your car, if it is SOOOOO bad!!!!! :huh:

 

Think that was a rather large mistake! :lol:

[GRUMPY]

The C4 is a bad car full stop, duff build quality, poor to drive worst car ive had by miles and ive been through a few. Get rid while people might still buy it!

So why did you buy it?????

 

15 months on and mine is still not right, mostly minor a couple of major problems the worst being the swimming pools in the front footwells.

 

Customer service is appalling the dealer is c**p and at times very economical with the truth. for example when the CD changer was jumping when the handbrake was applied "it's gone out of synch and we need to reinstall the software"

 

That said it a fantastic car good looking a great drive happy to cruise on on the motorway or great fun on the back roads. Despite trying very hard I have yet to have the ESP kick in.

[elrey123]

Had a long chat with the dealer yesterday, after I pushed him into consulting Citroen Technical Dept.

 

1. Knocking noise when turning engine on/off. All 1.6HDi's do it. It is caused by the flywheel housing, aparently a device which helps extend the life of the timing belt. However they make knocking noises after a while....no cure as yet.

 

2. As people have posted above, most front suspension noises are caused by bushes, according to Citroen mine is likely to be the bottom wishbone bush, as I don't have a knocking, but a creaking noise.

 

3. Brake juddering. Possibly a distorted hub. Run out on the discs has been checked, and although there is some runout, it's within manufacturers tolerances.

 

So...I've got a little bit further!

 

I will check the tyre pressures. Citroen have offered to pay for a new set of front tyres as a goodwill gesture due to all the problems I've had.

[ham's c4vts]

The C4 is a bad car full stop, duff build quality, poor to drive worst car ive had by miles and ive been through a few. Get rid while people might still buy it!

:huh: ? :lol:

[Stuey]

The C4 is a bad car full stop, duff build quality, poor to drive worst car ive had by miles and ive been through a few. Get rid while people might still buy it!

:huh: ? :lol:

my thoughts exactly...

[C4VTS]

The C4 is a great car, and far better to drive than a Golf or Focus in my opinion. I had to drive a Golf rental again today, and it was very boring to drive, as well as the sound system being total crap, and am very happy to be using my C4 again now.

 

It's a small minority that have major problems.

[Z3M Roadster]

It does appear to be a minority of us with problems however the problems seem to be recurring and they are not individual to my car yet Citroen don't have a remedy or the inclination to sort them. My main gripe is that the customer service is the worst I have ever experienced, and I have now visited 5 different main dealers. Citroen are doing nothing to change their poor reputation.

[Mike5483]

Id agree with this point. It does seem that Citroen UK dont give a stuff about their customers.

 

Even if the dealers do, it seems a lot of the time, their hands are tied by constrictions placed on them by Citroen UK.

 

I cant understand why car companies continually fail to satisfy their customers expectations in terms of service. If they want to grow and take large chnuks of the market, they need new and returning customers.

 

The likes of Lexus has got it absolutely right.

 

A bloke at work has an IS200 (old model) is had to go in for warrenty work. The dealership collected the car from his home, took it away, worked on it, brought it back fully valeted, all the work was done and there was a bottle of champagne on the drivers seat and a bunch of flowers on the passengers seat for his wife.

 

There was also a follow up call from the service manager to make sure the work and car were up to expected standards and an apology that the work was even required.

 

I found that amazing.

 

Now,. i know Citroen sell cheaper cars, but it would be nice that if you took your car to a dealership (the people who are meant to know about the vehicle) and asked them to fix a problem, they actually had the time and information available to them to fix it.

 

But Citroen do not give the dealerships this luxery and thus, it is the customers that suffer, along with the dealers when they have to deal with wound up dissapointed customers.

 

Citroen do themselves no favours and it is about time they understood this.

[Ciaran2903]

Just found out today that citroen have taken the glovebox off their warrenty scheme!! :o What a fucking joke!!

That is the 3rd glovebox now!

 

I think that it is ridiculous that they can just take something off their warrenty like that! :angry: