Front Shock Absorbers C5

[Big_Dooley]

My 2003 C5 Estate failed the MOT today due to leaky front shock absorbers. Apparently the only replacements are from the main dealer at £260 each. Any ideas where cheaper ones can be found? Is this a common problem? :D

[Johndouglas]

Might be possible to find a workshop that can recondition yours.

[kfk]

Would also ask the question if they are leaking......not unussual for garages to fail for them being damp!

[iannez]

light misting of oil is allowed. fluid has to be running down them to fail. not many c5's have dry struts.

[Guest keffa]

light misting of oil is allowed. fluid has to be running down them to fail. not many c5's have dry struts.

 

yup, my 2001 C5 failed at Nationwide Auto Centres then went to Citroen who said nothing was wrong, no leak...so went back and they passed it (took a job form from Citroen to verify)

[72dudes]

I have to be careful what I say here. Nationwide Auto Centres are in the business to make a profit, and my belief is that individual branches are targeted on selling additional parts and services which in some cases may not be necessary....

 

Far better to use an independent MOT testing station who are not dependent on selling extra bits.

[Johndouglas]

Far better to use an independent MOT testing station who are not dependent on selling extra bits.

 

Here's a piece from the IAM mag:- "18% more failures occur at garages which repair cars as well as carrying out the MOT. It also found that a car was 12% more likely to fail when a woman took it for MOT. In total 32% of vehicles failed their MOT last year, with faulty brakes, exhausts and emissions the main culprits."

[iannez]

today we had a picasso in for mot but had to harvest it out as we were over booked. 04 hdi with 42k. came back with v30 faliure sheet saying it failed on emmisions so put it on our smoke tester and it fast passed (only needed to rev it once because it was so clean). bad enough doing it to a member of public but think its going a bit far to do it to a main dealer that they know fine well has testing equipment. any way we help them out with quite a few airbag faults so the next job they book in there getting charged time on. lazy arse tester that cant be botherd to give the car a quick run up the road.

[Randombloke]

Here's a piece from the IAM mag:- "18% more failures occur at garages which repair cars as well as carrying out the MOT. It also found that a car was 12% more likely to fail when a woman took it for MOT. In total 32% of vehicles failed their MOT last year, with faulty brakes, exhausts and emissions the main culprits."

 

In France you either run a vehicle repair service or an MOT testing garage.

 

If you test vehicles you are not allowed to participate in any sort of vehicle repair. Added to which French MOTs are every two years.

[Johndouglas]

In France you either run a vehicle repair service or an MOT testing garage.

 

If you test vehicles you are not allowed to participate in any sort of vehicle repair.

 

Spain have the ITV test centres - they also do not do repairs. Excellent idea!

[kfk]

Here's a piece from the IAM mag:- "18% more failures occur at garages which repair cars as well as carrying out the MOT. It also found that a car was 12% more likely to fail when a woman took it for MOT. In total 32% of vehicles failed their MOT last year, with faulty brakes, exhausts and emissions the main culprits."

Our technicians dont know who bought the car in, they dont meet the customer unless theres a problem they need to discuss.

As for failure items, its suprising how many people dont check lights or tyres before they take the car for the MOT or argue that there exhaust isnt noisy and the multicoloured flashing LED side lights are legal, not to mention that fitting a reflector to the rear of the vehicle would ruin the style of there passion wagon!.........they also book it in for an MOT appointment and turn up late....they then complain that you didnt stand around waiting for them and spit there dummies out that they will have to wait till the one on the ramp is finished.