C3 HDi Alternator

[Igloo_Vindaloo]

Hi

Dunno about 67MPG. We'd driven ours about 67 miles in our "new" C3 - July 2003 HDi LX model with only 68000 miles on the clock - when the alternator packed in. This was accompanied by a strong burning smell, flashing warning lights, followed by the battery light. It's currently in our local independent Citroen specialists awaiting a new alternator. Unfortunately Citroen don't have any in the country!! So it's on "back order", and they can't even give a date for delivery :rolleyes:

Unbelievable they don't stock such a common part! And what's so special about the C3 one, anyway - unless it's a Stop and Start one - which its not - more like a Stop and Stop one.

At least it's burnt 0 litres of fuel in the last week!

Cheers

Tim

[hertsnminds]

You could try these people

[url="http://www.247spares.co.uk/citroen-parts/"]http://www.247spares.co.uk/citroen-parts/[/url]

or one of the other online parts search websites


Ian
Orange 03 Senso

[Igloo_Vindaloo]

Thanks for the suggestion, Ian. I have tried them (amongst many others) by email, but received no response.

:rolleyes:

Tim

[Igloo_Vindaloo]

Finally got the car back on the road.

Synopsis:
[list]
[*]Alternator failed on car <2yrs old.
[*]Independent garage ordered one from Main Dealer.
[*]Not available from stock, so placed on 'Back Order'.
[*]No estimate of expected time of delivery provided (until I harrassed them). And then it was 4 weeks from ordering. Just for a f***ing alternator!
[*]After much chasing, this reduced to 3 weeks.
[*]But was 3 days late!
[*]Citroen Customer Service were 'less than helpful' on the phone - suggesting I could only pursue it with the dealer - so what are they for? And very slow to respond by email - only answering after order resolved.
[*]No-one explained that a hire car could be made available until asked.
[*]And then it needed 48hrs notice for 'authorisation by Citroen'.
[*]And that never came through.
[*]No compensation was offered. (A free service would be nice.)
[/list]
Grrr... :(

[hertsnminds]

[quote]Unbelievable they don't stock such a common part! And what's so special about the C3 one, anyway[/quote]

That's nothing my Citroen dealer don't keep a stock of wiper blades :(
and so far it's been 3 weeks waiting for them to come in

I know just go to Halfords but I don't want to give them any excuse not to honour the warranty.

Ian
Orange 03 Senso

[pork_pie]

I have mentioned this in the past.

You were the victim of Citroens all or nothing policy on "coded" parts.

This term is used by Citroen dealers to describe a part thats characteristic for your car.

If Citroen places a "VOR" (Vehicle off Road) status on the coded part ie the car cannot function without this part then the waiting time is usually overnight.

However if it is not VOR its placed on back order meaning a wait of 4-6 weeks.

Quite why an alternator is classed a coded part beats me. If you ask me the term coded part is to disguise the fact the parts centre in Coventry is lacking in stock.

Its all bullmuck on the dealers part.

I had to wait 6 weeks for a coded part on my C3 and when it was installed it did not alleviate the problem!!!!!

Also I had to wait 4 months for a new key fob for my Xsara.

Citroen UK are useless. I am still in dispute over the free service I was promised nearly 2 years ago!!!!

If I was you Igloo, ask for a free service through your dealer.

[66595mirror]

I've also had problems sourcing a replacement alternator. My C3 is 2yrs 6mths old, but as it's up to 66k the alternator is now not under warrenty. I've tried sourcing the replacement from a couple of sources, with similar problems of initial, lengthly lead-times (for exchange units), followed by disappointment when 'guarenteed' dates for parts delivery, (both new & exchange units) have failed. My troubles are not yet resolved...

[pork_pie]

Hmmm

In Feb 2003 when I wanted to swap my horrible C3 for a Xsara Estate .

The only one available was 260 miles away.

So a 520 mile round trip for a test drive.

During this test drive the car ran but the charging warning light stayed on. I was told it would be rectified.

I put my deposit down andfor it to be ready in 2 weeks.

The morning of the delivery - I set off from the North East and was told everything was okay.

The moment I got off the M1 I got a call from the dealer saying that the alternator has gone and there were no spares.

I was livid.

I said that I had travelled 250 miles so far and will demand a refund and turn back if the car was not ready.

They sourced a unit from god knows where but it works.

They do somethign if its worth their while. B stards

1140 miles for a used Citroen!!!!!!!

[Igloo_Vindaloo]

Hi 66595mirror

Sorry to hear about your alternator woes.

I guess I was in a slightly different position, in that I had taken out an RAC extended warranty when buying the car, so I didn't care how much it cost to get back on the road. But still ended up waiting ~4 weeks for Citroen to get the part.

However, on the "CitroensForSale" Yahoo Group, kevinfulcher45 suggested:

[quote]but following up what
Andrew and Adrian have said there is a firm in Tunbridge Wells who
are very happy to rebuild starters/alternators from DS/GSA/Ami up to
the most modern stuff quite reasonably, eg £40 for a complete re-
build of a GSA alternator. They are:
Curd Bros 28 Colebrook Industrial Estate, Longfield Rd, North Farm,
Tunbridge Wells, Kent TN2 3DG Tel: 01892 542680[/quote]

There must be similar outfits up and down the country. Gotta be worth a try and probably quicker than waiting for Citroen to get their "back order" act together.

Tim