Dealer Diagnostics

[Kevin53]

Our 1.6LX showed a warning light on the dash and had noticable loss of power whilst driving. AA diagnosed faulty injector.The local dealer service centre (admitted) wrongly diagnosing coil, spark plugs, and then changed the injector. Still not cured they decided it was the ECU after trying a donor one on.This all took two days and cost me two hours diagnostics time £124 which was mildly disturbing but I guess someone has to pay. Worst was to come though, the ECU was to cost me £635 (less £124 diagnostics ) and would take three weeks to be delivered on back order. This is a two year seven month old car not even due for an MOT that we bought four months ago from an independent car trader with what we thought was under manufacturers warranty.Unfortunately the warranty was already invalid when we bought it due to mileage out of service limits.

The point of this post is three weeks wait for a major part £50+ per hour for them to make wrong diagnostics and the car being so new........ makes me rather bitter. your views please :angry:

[Smudger]

Did the supplying dealer give you any warranty? Most independant garages give a least 6mths warranty these days. Have you tried going back to them? If you have only had the car a few months if they are reasonable the very least they might offer is to contribute to the costs or repairing your car. You could also try contacting Trading Standards for advice, after all, the car should be fit for the purpose it was intended. You have got nothing to lose.

As for Waiting for parts from Citroen, What's new? They don't seem to stock anything, everything is always on back order in my experience. £50 an hour seems a bit steep as well, ours charge approx £30 an hour.

Also try writing to Citroen UK ( i know the car was ovewr mileage so warranty not valid) as long as the car has been serviced even if overdue complain how disappointed you are with the service you have received, incorrect diagnosis etc. They might refund you the labour & parts costs for parts not needed to fix the car.

[Guest mgrcar]

i have just payed for a diagnostics check at my local independant garage. it cost me £35 + vat so at £124 i would give your dealer avery wide berth indeed

[JoeBlunt]

Very hard to compare something almost 5 years ago surely?

 

As time has gone on technology has got cheaper, like Mobile Phones for example a phone that cost £200 / £300 5 years ago is now on sale in Woollies for peanuts............

 

I bought my first Picasso in 2001 (51) which I paid £11,000 in 2006 (06) I bought another Picasso £9,995 almost 5yrs on but £1,000+ cheaper, the newer one had much better spec to.........................

[Northern Monkey]

.....and since the last post Woolies has gone too......

 

God I miss pick 'n' mix

 

RIP <_<

Edited November 28, 2009 by Northern Monkey

[Lancelot]

I doubt that an ECU failure would be related to servicing or mileage.

[C4 PICASSO 2009]

<!--quoteo(post=22805:date=Nov 16 2003, 08:50 PM:name=Kevin53)--><div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Kevin53 @ Nov 16 2003, 08:50 PM) <a href="index.php?act=findpost&pid=22805"><{POST_SNAPBACK}></a></div><div class='quotemain'><!--quotec-->Our 1.6LX showed a warning light on the dash and had noticable loss of power whilst driving. AA diagnosed faulty injector.The local dealer service centre (admitted) wrongly diagnosing coil, spark plugs, and then changed the injector. Still not cured they decided it was the ECU after trying a donor one on.This all took two days and cost me two hours diagnostics time £124 which was mildly disturbing but I guess someone has to pay. Worst was to come though, the ECU was to cost me £635 (less £124 diagnostics ) and would take three weeks to be delivered on back order. This is a two year seven month old car not even due for an MOT that we bought four months ago from an independent car trader with what we thought was under manufacturers warranty.Unfortunately the warranty was already invalid when we bought it due to mileage out of service limits.

The point of this post is three weeks wait for a major part £50+ per hour for them to make wrong diagnostics and the car being so new........ makes me rather bitter. your views please <img src="http://www.citroenpicasso.org.uk/picasso/public/style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/mad.gif" style="vertical-align:middle" emoid=":angry:" border="0" alt="mad.gif" /><!--QuoteEnd--></div><!--QuoteEEnd-->

 

Your C4 Picasso should have a 3 year warranty.

[JoeBlunt]

Please note: The original post / thread was started in November 2003 :rolleyes:

[blondchaser]

Yes, 7 years on and their diagnostic computers still can't get it right in every case. Edited August 27, 2010 by JoeBlunt
Quote Removed - No need to Quote the Previous Post if you are replying immediately afterwards.

[fastbysuzuki]

In reality the computer diagnostics do not always pinpoint the fault it's up to the tech to take the information from the diagnostics and any information about the fault from the owner and work out the likely fault, and defiantly not to go around poking a stick at the car to see what may work.

[blondchaser]

You try telling arnold clark and citroen that!!!!

They look upon their DC as GOD.

[allthingsnice]

Just bought one of these.......http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/161127051129?ssPageName=STRK:MEWNX:IT&_trksid=p3984.m1439.l2649