C3 Injector Failure Common Problem Answered

[NakedFlame]

The C3 has a Citroen Technical Bulletin issued on 7 March 2006 regarding leaking washer jets which drip water on to the fuel injectors. You need to fit washer jets part number 6438V8 @ £2.98 each. Our petrol C3 has had the cylinder no 4 injector fail twice now as the technical bulletin hadn't been issued when the first injector failed. Citroen UK don't want to know about the cost of getting it repaired. It's a know design fault, Citroen dealer and HQ both know of the problems but expect C3 owners to pay for all the repairs if you are outside warranty period.

[beachlife]

I have just bought a C3 and have some questions about this. The used car I have bought is out of warrranty.

 

First how do I check if this replacement part has been put onto my car?

How much would it cost for the replacement part to be fitted?

Is this a simple DIY job?

[paul.h]

We have had 2 injectors replaced this week on our 2003 1.4SX petrol. Covered under the breakdown warranty which came with the car. One morning last week, when I started the car the engine management light came on and the car had a misfire. Heavy rain the day before but this may be a coincidence.

 

The washer jet with the part no. above is a normal one with a thin rubber disc under it which seals the hole in the bonnet. I bought one but then decided to use silicon sealant instead under the existing washer jets since I think this will give a better result - simply pushed the jet up out of the bonnet (need to squeeze together the front thin tabs whilst pushing) with the pipe connected, gave the jet and bonnet a clean, bit of black sealant and pushed it back in place. I will also check the pipe joints are not leaking since the pipe is hard plastic.

 

I read in a note from Iannez on these injectors that the new ones have white sealant in the 2 little holes at the top to keep out water and that he seals the existing ones also. The new ones on our car do not have this but I may do this anyway to prevent a future problem.

[NakedFlame]

For the 1.4 8v engine the injectors are £70.11 + VAT each, part number 1984.E0 and the washer jets are £2.98 inc VAT each. The new washers have a rubber washer on them which should stop the problem. I'll be pleased to see a cover somehow over the injectors to stop any water running off elsewhere. If you check your battery cover under the passenger side washer jet you'll probably find water marks too. I changed both washers for the sake of a few quid. The early cars didn't have the washers with the seal on them. Citroen issued the technical bulletin in March 2006 so check your car by pushing out the jet and having a look only takes a minute. Most dealers have them off the shelf due to common failure and they must be changed at time of injector replacement.

[paul.h]

We had a dry day on Saturday so I used the washers and checked the washer pipe joints and they were damp, it appears the plastic pipe joints could be prone to leaking and dripping onto the injectors. The pipes also had water stains on them.

 

I had some rubber pipe so I replaced the plastic sections to the washer jets with longer lengths of rubber and cut back the common supply so the T-piece was at the side of the bonnet. Hence the only remaining plastic joint should not drip on the injectors. I also put a bit of silicon sealant on the 2 small holes at the top of the injectors in case of any other water source.

 

So to prevent the problem recurring I have

- sealed the washer jet to bonnet joint with black sealant (saves 2 new jets to get the rubber seal at £2.98 each).

- replaced the plastic washer piping with rubber to give leak free connections and also moved the T-piece away from the injectors.

- sealed the small holes in the top of the injectors.

 

If Citroen had positioned the washer jets 1 inch forward or backward of the existing location this problem is unlikely to have happened.

[robertmdyer]

We had a dry day on Saturday so I used the washers and checked the washer pipe joints and they were damp, it appears the plastic pipe joints could be prone to leaking and dripping onto the injectors. The pipes also had water stains on them.

 

I had some rubber pipe so I replaced the plastic sections to the washer jets with longer lengths of rubber and cut back the common supply so the T-piece was at the side of the bonnet. Hence the only remaining plastic joint should not drip on the injectors. I also put a bit of silicon sealant on the 2 small holes at the top of the injectors in case of any other water source.

 

So to prevent the problem recurring I have

- sealed the washer jet to bonnet joint with black sealant (saves 2 new jets to get the rubber seal at £2.98 each).

- replaced the plastic washer piping with rubber to give leak free connections and also moved the T-piece away from the injectors.

- sealed the small holes in the top of the injectors.

 

If Citroen had positioned the washer jets 1 inch forward or backward of the existing location this problem is unlikely to have happened.

 

Ok having read the previous post, I went out and had a look at the jets on my brand new C3. The car is a few weeks old and guess what..

 

There are no rubber seals between the jets and the bonnet,and worse still there are signs of where the water has already leaked down into the engine..

 

Should these jets have been replaced and is there a document I can refer to when I take my car in for the 1500 mile service.

 

I also have a sticking accelerator pedal and understand that this was also a recall item. Im just at a bit of a loss as to why these faults should still be there on a new car. :huh:

 

If anyone can provide further advice I would be grateful..

[NakedFlame]

Citroen don't publish the Technical bulletins so that Joe Public can find them. I tried searching the net and found nothing. I was only told the date it was issued when I asked why the original washers were not replaced when the first injector was replaced? Because the bulletin hadn't been published at that time! Apparently it states that the washers MUST be replaced same time as the faulty injector.

I was told by a Citroen technician that once the washers with the rubber seals are fitted it stops the leaking. The new injectors are modified now and supposed to be waterproof. I'd still rather try to stop water dripping in the first place.

[robertmdyer]

Think I'm just going to take them out one weekend and put some silicone underneath to stop the water running back down, seems like the safest bet.

 

Cheers

[beachlife]

Got the replacement jet today. Not actually impressed with the washer under the jet can`t see it doing a great job so think I will use Wickes jointing compound and external leak sealer. This cures and does not crack with age but if I want to take it off its easier than sealant.

 

Have a couple of questions. Can get the nozzle out of top of bonnet but without cutting the pipe its impossible for me to get the jet off the pipe did others manage to get jet off the pipe without cuttting pipe? Or did they just cut and replace the bit of pipe? Worried about scratching bonnet as well.

 

Where did you get the rubber pipe that you used and how did you connect it to the main pipe leading back to the reservoir? Seems a good idea about moving the T junction to a safer place.

 

I will also put the external leak sealer around all the connections on the t junction ( belts and braces)

[NakedFlame]

Pipe should just pull off the jet and then push it out of the top of the bonnet. You shouldn't need to do anything on the outside that could damage your paint. Try fish (aquarium) shop for your tubing and T piece if not getting it from a main stealer.

 

Good luck.

[robertmdyer]

Got the replacement jet today. Not actually impressed with the washer under the jet can`t see it doing a great job so think I will use Wickes jointing compound and external leak sealer. This cures and does not crack with age but if I want to take it off its easier than sealant.

 

Have a couple of questions. Can get the nozzle out of top of bonnet but without cutting the pipe its impossible for me to get the jet off the pipe did others manage to get jet off the pipe without cuttting pipe? Or did they just cut and replace the bit of pipe? Worried about scratching bonnet as well.

 

Where did you get the rubber pipe that you used and how did you connect it to the main pipe leading back to the reservoir? Seems a good idea about moving the T junction to a safer place.

 

I will also put the external leak sealer around all the connections on the t junction ( belts and braces)

 

UPDATE

 

I just got my car back from the 1500 mile service and mentioned the waser jets to the garage. The engineer said that citroen did have this fault and that they now have a washer to prevent water leaking onto the injectors. I then showed him under my bonnet where there were obvious signs of water leaking through. He pulled out the washer jet and said showed me the 'replacement rubber washer' that Citroen supply. In his words it was 'Oh thats not going to stop much water'

 

Having seen how easy it was to pop out the washer jets, I got some sillicone sealer on the way home, then popped them out and put some sealer all the way around the bottom (careful not to use too much). For anyone who is planning to keep their car past the warranty period, I would suggest sealing these wholes up to prevent any water dripping onto those expensive injectors.

 

Dont rely on the washers provided by Citroen they are close to useless.

 

Just my two pence worth.