C3 Front Spring Failure

[chrisa77]

My front offside spring broke at 140K, thankfully whilst stationary. Replaced both sides and fitted cups. Didn't expect Citroen to pay due to high mileage. Only 10K later the rear offside went the same way. A mechanic did say it wasn't unknown !

Is an 04 C3 1.4HDI 16v SX.

[paul.h]

Last December the offside front spring broke on our 03 SX 1.4 petrol, about 30k miles. Our dealer contacted Citroen (I did not even have to ask for this to be done) and they paid for both front springs to be replaced. The rubber in the right hand engine mounting was replaced at the same time and we paid for this part (or had the choice to fit the old one back) - I suspect to do the springs the engine/subframe was lowered.

[kiddydriver]

I just want to say a Big Thank you to all that have posted here. With your help and info I have been able to get Citroen to pay for the repair to my C3 XTR HDI 05reg. 60K, 2nd owner and out of warranty.

 

Like so many of you I went for a short run, about 22miles there and back, over 15 or so speed bumps there and back. I dont drive fast as I cherish my little car.

 

Parked the car up infront of the house and went in to charge up my newly purchased sat nav. and have tea.

 

We decided to go get the weekly shop after having tea and it was then I discovered my front off side spring had gone. It has to have happened while we were having tea because the terrible sound that we heard when I went to reverse it off the drive was in my opinion scary,and it certainly wasnt there when I pulled in.

 

My hubby tried to see what was wrong but the car was so low we couldnt get the jack under it to check properly.

 

Needless to say the shops was out of the question, and my hubby made it hot foot to the C3 forum, and after discoving this thread and finding that others had the problem with the C3 springs too, it made the shock easier to take.

 

That was until this morning............

 

I rang my local garage and he told me that Citroen were replacing these springs as a matter of course (without telling the owners in some case while the car was in for a service). He quoted me around £130 but to get back on to the main dealer as this was a known fault.

I did this asap.

Surprise they told me to arrange with my car breakdown to bring the car in, they would check it out and call me back. They couldnt give me a price until it was there.

Rescuemycar.com showed up just 30 mins after my call and took it to the garage. Approx 2 hours later I got a call from the dealer. Service Manager to be precise.

He informed me that it was a broken spring, broken suspension link and a cut brake pipe and tyre. He pointed out that they would need to replace both springs for safety and it would be £500+ without the tyre.

After a strong drink I remembered what I has seen on this forum and told him that Citroen knew all about this fault, and quoted certain vin numbers etc. I said excuse me but I was aware of this as I had seen it on line and would he please contact Citroen and ask then for an out of warranty claim.(I had already asked the receptionist to do this when I booked the car in)

He said looking at his chart the most they would deduct was halving the price of the parts, and so reducing the overall cost to around the £400 mark.

I stuck to my guns and said this is a known fault, that had not been corrected by that vin number recall, my car was not in use at the time so would he do as I asked and check with Citroen first. He said he would but it would mean a delay in them starting on the car.

About 4 hours later this chap rang me again and said " Well its most unusual but Citroen have decided to pick up the complete cost". He is now ordering the parts and the car will be ready on Friday.

OK so we know its not that unusual that Citroen were paying but let him think he has done me a favour I mean he has to defend the firm, they pay his wages.

 

What I dont understand is how can Citroen get away with what is obviously a design fault. That coil spring came down on top of my tyre and brake pipe (rubber). If this had happened while driving I shudder to think of the results. Why not put a strong cup there to catch the spring when it breaks, better still improve the quality of the springs.

 

Once again a BIG NO HUGE THANK YOU to EVERYONE on the forum. I will let you know on Friday when I get my baby back.

[paul.h]

On the early C3 (and Picasso) there was a recall that fit a strong cup at the bottom of the front springs so when mine broke it stopped the bits going down to the tyre and brake hose and the car could still be driven. These clamp on with 2 bolts and only take minutes to fit. If they are not expensive then as a damage limitation it may be worthwhile buying and fitting them yourself. If doing the job, the top connection of the anti roll bar link needs to be removed which needs a small torx bit in the end to stop it turning whilst undoing the nut.

[kiddydriver]

As promised I bring update of the repair of front springs on my C3.

 

Picked the car up yesterday, job done.

 

I did ask if they could fit the cups that some suggest and the guy said NO. Citroen had said that these cups should not be fitted with these springs.

 

I decided not to push my luck to far and will ask my local garage to fit for me.

 

Got to say car sits up better that I remember it doing so before so I am happy.

 

Once again Thanks to all.

[dynamite40]

my wife just got a 2004 c3 very pleased with it had it 14 days bang front spring snapped

phoned the garage we bought the car off and told him he said i cant believe this its only done 30000 and has full citroen service history

any way he paid for recovery and i told him about the recall for the spring cups and that ours had none fitted even though it is in the recall got the vin numbers that were affected of the vosa website

he went over the road to citroen and told them about this guess what your car was not affected

he came back and said to me where did you get this info on the recall i told him the vosa website he said leave it with me

later on the afternoon he phoned and said i have spoken to the main dealer and they have said they are going to foot the bill

so a result if yours breaks just go and see them or phone the main people you may be suprised

[Guest flyrods1]

my wife just got a 2004 c3 very pleased with it had it 14 days bang front spring snapped

phoned the garage we bought the car off and told him he said i cant believe this its only done 30000 and has full citroen service history

any way he paid for recovery and i told him about the recall for the spring cups and that ours had none fitted even though it is in the recall got the vin numbers that were affected of the vosa website

he went over the road to citroen and told them about this guess what your car was not affected

he came back and said to me where did you get this info on the recall i told him the vosa website he said leave it with me

later on the afternoon he phoned and said i have spoken to the main dealer and they have said they are going to foot the bill

so a result if yours breaks just go and see them or phone the main people you may be suprised

HI ALL

I own a C3 1.4 xtr sensodrive 55 plate 2006 model 50k just on clock (panoramic sunroof). car was parked up for two weeks in the garage came home off holiday started her up and drove 10ft out of the garage BANG both front springs snapped WHY? been on VOZA web site and checked VIN # mine is VF7------27203922 could anybody tell me if i,m covered for the recalls or not????????? Thanks. reason i put panoramic sunroof is apperently front springs you can buy from local car spares are not correct for the P/S VERSION Please help.

Gary

[kfk]

My advice would be to go enquire of your local citroen dealer if they are able to make a goodwill claim on your behalf for the replacement of the springs.........i dont think you will be wasting your time and i expect you might be satisfied.

 

 

No your vehicle isnt subject to any recall.

[flitwick]

Mine went on my c3 hdi two years ago full service history etc citroen replaced parts free of charge they know there is an issue why didnt they recall all of them quiet shocking really :rolleyes:

[citroenc333]

Thought I'd post my story on here, since this thread was quite reassuring during my recent C3 (53 reg) saga.

 

Right front spring broke on Saturday evening, ten minutes away from home, the day after an MOT and service. I had three hours of being diagnosed, rescued and towed home by RAC, who were lovely, very helpful, and told me about the manufacturing fault.

 

Gave Citroen Customer Care a ring on Monday, and they told me my car wasn't included in the recall, but they gave me a case number. RAC towed me to the nearest Citroen garage (as part of their ongoing recovery service).

 

Just had a call from the garage to say Citroen will cover all the costs, and replace both springs. They've ordered the parts and I should be able to pick it up on Friday. Didn't have to kick up a fuss or anything.

 

Quite a relief!

[kfk]

Thanks for posting your experiences, glad it was a happy outcome

[BarryK]

I've just discovered that the offside front coil spring has also broken. (see my thread "C3 1.7 Hdi Steering Problem" in the C3 technical forum)

 

As the car has a bit under 20,000 on the clock - I'm gonna bend my local dealers ear a little..............

 

Thanks for all the information in this thread. if I hadn't found it I'd have had to paid a lot of dosh to get it fixed..

 

BTW - looking at the broken end of the spring, it appears that the it has not been proper;y tempered - very poor performance on Citroens part that they have left owners like me to find out the hard way.

[smokescreen]

I've just replied to your post in the 'steering problem' area but I see you've found this thread which has the useful info.

 

Mark aka smokescreen

[paul.h]

After having both my springs replaced, I later had to replace the top bearing on the off side strut since it was then noisy and once I had it apart found the balls in the bearing had come out of place, probably during the spring change but at the time did not realise this was the cause. So if it is noisy when turning the steering, take it straight back. The bearing was £52 in 2009 and took me a full day to do - longer than the dealer to do both springs but they have all the equipment/practise.

 

Spring failure is common these days on lots of car makes, maybe due to thinner metal/speed bumps etc. If you read Car Mechanics it is often featured.

[BarryK]

I've just discovered that the offside front coil spring has also broken. (see my thread "C3 1.7 Hdi Steering Problem" in the C3 technical forum)

 

As the car has a bit under 20,000 on the clock - I'm gonna bend my local dealers ear a little..............

 

Thanks for all the information in this thread. if I hadn't found it I'd have had to paid a lot of dosh to get it fixed..

 

BTW - looking at the broken end of the spring, it appears that the it has not been proper;y tempered - very poor performance on Citroens part that they have left owners like me to find out the hard way.

 

When I reported the fault to the local dealer they contacted Citroen who agreed to cover the cost for the full repair.

 

Just collected it this morning and they have Fitted New Springs, modified cups, both upper bearings (why both I don't know), the o/s steering rack track rod end, the o/s tyre and the o/s ABS sensor.

 

Thanks to all who advised in this case.

 

 

 

I would never have been able to fund that myself so many thanks to Citroen UK for taking the responsibility (and the expense......).