Gearbox Failure

[JennyW]

I have a 54 plate C3 1.4HDI 92bhp, which I have owned since new. I've been having problems getting out of 5th gear. 1-4 work fine, as does engaging 5th, but once in 5th you have to giggle the gear leaver/switch the engine off to get out of gear. The car has done 19,000 miles.

 

At first the local dealer thought it was something to do with the plastic gate between the chain linkage and the gear box. After replacing this, the fault was still present. They've now rung me to tell me the pin & fork spindle finger has failed. It's going to cost in the region of £908 to repair! Fortuantely, I extended my warranty through CMSA last year when the manufacturers warranty ran out. However, the insurance company are insisting on sending an engineer out to examine the car before agreeing the claim.

 

Has anyone else had this problem and is it a common fault.

[techbod]

I wouldn't say it was a common fault more a failed part with those low miles, let the insurance do their job and ask for a car to use while they sort it im sure its in your policy, it will be covered im sure so don't worry about it as that's the sort of thing where the extra warranty pays off

[JennyW]

I wouldn't say it was a common fault more a failed part with those low miles, let the insurance do their job and ask for a car to use while they sort it im sure its in your policy, it will be covered im sure so don't worry about it as that's the sort of thing where the extra warranty pays off

 

 

Well, the saga contines. The local dealer has replaced the pin and fork spindle finger, but the fault is still there. That's twice Citroen have misdiagnosed the fault on my C3. They now want to install a reconditioned gear box - guaranteed for one year only - at a cost of over £1500. The car has only done 19,040 miles - I could understand the gearbox failing if I'd hammered the thing into the ground every time I drove it, but I don't. In the last year, I've covered less than 2,300 miles. How can I be sure that a replacement gearbox will last any longer?

[techbod]

totally not acceptable new or trading standards they will sort it

[JennyW]

totally not acceptable new or trading standards they will sort it

 

 

Well, my C3 has now been in the local Citroen Garage for over 2 weeks. Despite promises that it would be ready on Monday, then Tuesday, the Wednesday, I still don't have the blessed thing back. Citroen UK customer services are less than useless - if and when they return your calls - they basically just repeat what the dealer has told them. I was assured by a customer services manager this afternoon that the dealer would ring me later today and I would get my car back. Why I am not surprised they haven't rung. Needless to say, I would NEVER, ever, buy another car from Citroen.

[raveydavey]

Well, my C3 has now been in the local Citroen Garage for over 2 weeks. Despite promises that it would be ready on Monday, then Tuesday, the Wednesday, I still don't have the blessed thing back. Citroen UK customer services are less than useless - if and when they return your calls - they basically just repeat what the dealer has told them. I was assured by a customer services manager this afternoon that the dealer would ring me later today and I would get my car back. Why I am not surprised they haven't rung. Needless to say, I would NEVER, ever, buy another car from Citroen.

 

Sadly your experience of the dealer and customer services is far from unique and much as I love my C3 is one of the main reasons I won't be buying another.

[JennyW]

Sadly your experience of the dealer and customer services is far from unique and much as I love my C3 is one of the main reasons I won't be buying another.

 

Finally got a call this am to say my C3 was ready. After half an hour of waiting because they couldn't remember where the mechanic had parked the darned thing, I drove it out of the garage only to find there was no power whatsoever. In fact I had to resort to going up hill in 1st gear. Back to the garage - 3 hours later they call me again to say it's ready. Apparently a vacuum (?) hose had come lose and so there was no power whatsoever to the engine. I'm begining to wonder if Citroen dealerships aren't staffed by a troup of untrained baboons!

[robbieh]

Finally got a call this am to say my C3 was ready. After half an hour of waiting because they couldn't remember where the mechanic had parked the darned thing, I drove it out of the garage only to find there was no power whatsoever. In fact I had to resort to going up hill in 1st gear. Back to the garage - 3 hours later they call me again to say it's ready. Apparently a vacuum (?) hose had come lose and so there was no power whatsoever to the engine. I'm begining to wonder if Citroen dealerships aren't staffed by a troup of untrained baboons!

 

Hi. My wife has a C3 1.4HDI Sensodrive, 54 plate having covered just under 28,000 miles, very well looked after. I am now going through the same as you! The car just stopped last week and had to be recovered to the dealer who told me the gearbox actuator had gone and needed replacing at a cost of £700! They have now rung and said that that hasnt fixed the problem and it looks like the whole gearbox needs replacing aswell!! This all comes only a few months after one of the front suspension springs just broke suddenly and needed replacing for over £500!! Citroen customers services dont care because the car is out of warrent. Quoting the Citroen UK Regional Manager '..if we fixed ever Citroen that broke just out of warranty we would be bust by now..' Isn't that re-assuring!

 

I will definately never be buying a Citroen again and once fixed will be getting rid as soon as possible.

[CE08LDB]

I feel for guys as my Brothers 3 out of 4 Citroen's he has owned has had Gearbox Faults.

 

P 1997 Saxo 1.6i SX Auto. Not A Single Fault it was like a tank a well built car.

V 2000 Saxo 1.4i SX Auto in late 2001 it started to Mis Fire bad and the car would go one day. Dealer couldn't get the car in for a week so the RAC took it to a Citroen Specialist straight Away. They fixed the fault and it started running ok but then 2 months later it started doing it again so took it to the dealer this time and they said the Gearbox was on its way out and can't get a new one for 2 weeks. A Week went by the car finally gave up wouldn't go in Drive only Reverse. The Car was then off the road for 6 weeks waiting for the Gearbox. This was all sorted by March 2002. Reverse Gear was making a noise but wasn't affecting the car. It had its MOT in Dec 02 and among a list of things it failed on the Noise in Reverse Gear was one of them. Car went back to Motability in Feb 03.

 

52 2003 C3 1.4i SX Auto. Oct - Nov 2003 it was going into snow mode regular. They found there was an electrical fault. Nov 2004 this started happening again and the gearbox was selecting the wrong gears. Dealer was fully booked throughout December 04. Finally got the car booked in for January 2005 and the car was on its way out it just made it to the garage. Car was written off in Nov 2005.

 

55 2006 C3 1.6i 16v Exclusive SensoDrive, It has cut out since day one and can decided not to select gears when ever it wants but thats a computer or sensor fault I think. October 2007 Car was making a funny noise, Then December 2007 The Car was over reving so took it to the dealer they road tested it and said the clutch was on its way out. So a week later I took it to the dealer for my brother and I just made it up there the smoke from the clutch was making me feel sick. They had the car for 5 days and rang to say the gearbox has also had it as a bearing had gone so both the clutch and gearbox had gone. Luckily my Brother only got the car till January 2009 then he gets a new one.

 

Now myself my C3 had no Gearbox problems nor my C2 VTR so far so good.

[JennyW]

Well it seems that the replacement garbox I had fitted back in August 2008 has failed with less than 24,000 miles on the clock. It's exactly the same problem, unable to get ut of 5th gear! First to fourth and reverse are OK, but getting out of 5th is just about impossible.

 

Anyone else had this problem?

 

 

 

I have a 54 plate C3 1.4HDI 92bhp, which I have owned since new. I've been having problems getting out of 5th gear. 1-4 work fine, as does engaging 5th, but once in 5th you have to giggle the gear leaver/switch the engine off to get out of gear. The car has done 19,000 miles.

 

At first the local dealer thought it was something to do with the plastic gate between the chain linkage and the gear box. After replacing this, the fault was still present. They've now rung me to tell me the pin & fork spindle finger has failed. It's going to cost in the region of £908 to repair! Fortuantely, I extended my warranty through CMSA last year when the manufacturers warranty ran out. However, the insurance company are insisting on sending an engineer out to examine the car before agreeing the claim.

 

Has anyone else had this problem and is it a common fault.

[iannez]

you are pushing the gear lever to the right and down when coming out of 5th. all dv6 and dv4 diesel citroens do it. pull it straight back without any sideways preassure and it will work fine.

Then again i'mm an untrained baboon as you put it so probably have no idea what i'mm talking about.

[JennyW]

Can't move the gear lever at all once in 5th.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

you are pushing the gear lever to the right and down when coming out of 5th. all dv6 and dv4 diesel citroens do it. pull it straight back without any sideways preassure and it will work fine.

Then again i'mm an untrained baboon as you put it so probably have no idea what i'mm talking about.