Oliver Posted September 18, 2005 Posted September 18, 2005 Taking my car to the garage once more tomorrow for 'investigation' for a day. I've had some strange noises from the steering recently, a 'graunching' noise when turning the steering when parking. It's like a creaking and grinding noise and you can also hear the power steering straining at the same time. This only happens imtermittently but fortunately occured very noisily when I took it along for advice a couple of weeks ago so the mechanics were able to hear it for themselves. Has anybody else had similar problems ? Perhaps its a faulty suspension leg and shock absorber. I've allready had a new steering rack fitted due to wear and still have 'clunking' when going over certain surfaces such as speed camera marker stripes. Since Ive had this car (2 and a half years now) I don't think I've had what I would class as a smooth riding vehicle. The first year the bumping and banging due to a faulty or wrongly specified engine mounting and since that was replaced,this 'clunking' (this may have been there anyway but was masked by the engine mounting problem). I'll see what the ride is like in the courtesy car tomorrow as that is usually a C3 as well. Keep you informed. Oliver Quote
Oliver Posted September 19, 2005 Author Posted September 19, 2005 Well, the garage had a look and guess what!! the noises didn't happen this time while they had the car. However, the next plan is to replace the power steering again and then see what happens. Seems to me that if the original was changed because it had worn and the second is being changed because it can be heard to be labouring against some resistance then there must be something that's causing overloading of the power steering. When the noise was witnessed by the mechanics there was also a grinding and creaking noise not only the sound of the steering struggling. I can't see that changing the power steering will rectify anything. Have to wait 2 weeks now to find out if this is the solution. Oliver Quote
Oliver Posted October 16, 2005 Author Posted October 16, 2005 The garage changed my power steering last week and while the car was stripped down under warranty I asked them to change the front pads as these had been noted as needing changing soon at the 20k service (now on 27k). Over £70 (inc VAT) just for the 4 pads!!! Had the car back now for 3 days and haven't yet heard the steering noises, although these were intermittent anyway. One bonus seems to be that I no longer have the clonking noise when going over slight bumps such as speed camera grid lines or rough abraded tarmac. The noises I had thought may be from the shock absorber may have been down to loose pads. Fingers crossed that the first more or less rattle free ride that this car has given in 2 1/2 years is not a fluke and continues. Oliver Quote
wozza Posted October 16, 2005 Posted October 16, 2005 Makes a change nice to see posts where people are happy with there cars for once. Quote
iShock Posted October 20, 2005 Posted October 20, 2005 [quote]Makes a change nice to see posts where people are happy with there cars for once. [/quote] There does seem to be more problems than fixes on these pages. And it looks like the posters problems were fixed not through skill and knowhow but by a fluke. I'm happy for him. 2½ years is a very long time to drive with rattles and noises and when you spend your hard earned cash, it's very disappointing to put it mildly. Should have got the new brakes for free though :D Quote
Oliver Posted October 20, 2005 Author Posted October 20, 2005 iShock, unfortunately, you haven't been able to see all the problems that have occurred with C3's. Back last year there was a problem with the server that handled this site and a tremendous amount of posts were lost. I think that anyone who could see the full history on this forum would think more than twice about buying a C3. Hopefully the problems with the C3 design/ quality/ build have been gradually resolved by Citroen by now but the early models such as mine (03) seemed to have many common faults. Buzzing in the steering wheel - required a grommet on cables to the airbag Clunking / clattering from offside front - (I thought it may have been the petrol pipe rattling in the chassis channel as it felt very mobile)seems there was a faulty or wrongly specified batch of engine mountings ( this took many months to sort ) Creaking from nearside roof / B pillar - mastic joints breaking down - heat and body twist starting it off and additionally on mine - power steering joints slack and clicking - power steering replaced creaking / straining noise on steering (intermittent) - power steering replaced and the clunking that seems to have been related to the pads. Oliver Quote
organist Posted October 21, 2005 Posted October 21, 2005 Point taken, Oliver, but for every difficult situation there is a different one: I have an 03 Citroen C3 1.4Hdi 16valve with the exclusive trim, and apart from a software update to the child locking system I have had absolutely NO problems with the car at all. It is pretty quick, very economical, and one of the most characterful cars I have ever owned. They are not all bad, mate! Quote
Mike the Mechanic Posted October 21, 2005 Posted October 21, 2005 I've just had a phone call from Citroen about a suspension recall on my C3. Quote
iShock Posted October 24, 2005 Posted October 24, 2005 [quote]I've just had a phone call from Citroen about a suspension recall on my C3. [/quote] Can you give any more information please? I'd be very interested to know as much as possible. Do you have any relationship with Mike & the Mechanics - good group them! :D Quote
Mike the Mechanic Posted October 24, 2005 Posted October 24, 2005 They've done it today, but I haven't looked yet! Something to do with cups to prevent the coils (if they break) from going through the tyre. Quote
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