Just bought and have noticed a problem with the clutch

My suggestion would be to write proper letters to Citroen reather than emails and send them recorded delivery, possibly with copies to HQ in France addressed to the big boss.

Even if you only get a contribution to the cost its more than worth it, although from what I've read here this sounds like there is something amiss.

My neighbour had something similar with a Vauxhall. Turns out the engine and gearbox weren't properly aligned, their car had three new auto boxes within two years and at less than 30,000 on the clock. Eventually after they commissioned an engineers report, Vauxhall bought the car back.

Update.... I Contacted Citroen UK today to check if there was something wrong with their site regarding the receipt of emails. I spoke to a very courteous and understanding lady, she advised that they had me email and it was being investigated. Due to the limited letters one can send via this means she asked that I provide her with the background in detail to my case. She asked if the repair was done under warranty, when I told he it wasn't she was quite surprised. Even more so when I told her that the dealership refused to send the components off to Citroen for examination and the fact that the dealership refused to even contact Citroen UK to seek an expanation of the premature wear. I went further and explained the issues I had with the dealership and the fact that I first noticed something was wrong with the clutch over a year ago and this was also reported to the dealership and nothing was done, total disbelief, so much so that she asked me to confirm this. I was provided with a case number for future reference and an assurance that I would be contacted further, lets hope things are moving in the right direction. £499 is a lot of money, just when I needed heating oil to. I'm afraid this will have to wait until next month and limit the use of the central heating.....put an extra jumper on......ah well fingers crossed.

Hi Folks this is a update on the problem I have had with my September 2010 C3 1.4 Hdi VTR+, premature failure of the clutch assembly. The MD of the dealership has now replied to my complaint and basically they are still not accepting a warranty claim and offered to provide me with Citroen UK’s address (I have already been in touch with Citroen). They have offered me the clutch assembly at a price for me to have it independently inspected for defects. Citroen UK, Alex Barrett Customer Support Manager 0844 463 3500, has responded with the following comments, “I’ve been in touch with the dealership who’ve advised me of the procedures and process of consultation they undertook at each stage of the work with you. We value all comments and feedback about both Citroën products and service, however in this case there is no manufacturing defect that can be found. “ The dealership advised it was down to wear & tear and used brakes as an example” I picked the car up on the 10th January and handed over my letter of complaint, I contacted Citroen UK the following Friday 11th, the following Tuesday morning I suffered a heart attack brought on by this whole debacle. Citroen UK don’t give a toss about customers, they take your money and in my view that’s where it ends. The dealership refused to send the clutch assembly to Citroen for inspection, Citroen UK have not requested it and are taking the word of the dealer, fortunately I was there when they removed the clutch, I took photos, measured the thickness of the plate and noted there was a difference in thickness across the plate ranging from 6.7mm’s to 7.6mm’s. The service to date has been atrocious, I will never buy another Citroen and would not recommend to anyone to buy one due to the shoddy service received and the fact that components do not last. I will now be off work for at least 2 months and on medication for the rest of my life thanks to Citroen.

Easy Driver wrote:thickness across the plate ranging from 6.7mm’s to 7.6mm’s.

That's a very wide range in wear, as if something was miss aligned. A new clutch plate will go the same way if the root of the problem is not fixed.

If the photos are clear, would you mind uploading some choice ones?

Well, I am disgusted, not surprised, but disgusted, how many years at 70mpg will it take to recoup that hit! similarly, I've got about £700 to "recoup" to cover the cost of my engine change at 65k, should've saved the difference and got a Toyota Yaris D4D. Shame, so nearly a good car.

Hi anyone and everyone. Re C3 2011 petrol 1.4. I am taking the car in to the dealer asap now that i have seen so many queries on these clutches wearing out prematurely. We lease this 2011 C3. I have been in the motor trade all my life and served my time as a mechanic. I have never worn a clutch out prematurely nor has my wife. I will be asking Citroen to comment on this as the accelerator, when lifting off for a gear change, isn't allowing for a sufficient quick enough drop in revs while the gear change is completed and therefore slips at around 2000 rpm instead of nearer 750. As usual manufacturers always deny it is a desgn fault to avoid a flood of claims. Our previous C3 didn't have a drive by wire accelerator nor a clutch in the 3 years we had it. We won't be leasing another Citroen whether Citroen admit anything but I'm not holding my breath. The old wear and tear nonsense is what you expect from a manufacturer who got the design wrong and can't admit it.

hi
just joined as today I took my 2011 c3 into dealership to investigate clutch slipping and they have booked me in to take teh clutch out and see if it needs replacing. I have 20k on the clock and I was amazed at such a young car needing a new clutch - after reading these posts above I think the dealers are preparing me for the £499 replacement. I asked them if my extended warranty I bought on purchase of the car would cover it and the girl hedged around this saying the mechanic would advise if it was a fault or wear and tear. I always have my cars for 10 plus years each time and I have never had a clutch replaced so I really don't think my driving is the cause.

The problem actually only started after the car had its first service - could they have done anything at the service to cause this ??
I'm not a mechanic so don't understand the terminology of clutches. I'm wondering if taking the car to another garage might be cheaper in the long run as judging by the complaints it doesn't look as if citroen uk will ever admit to this problem. Has anyone tried Which magazine?
thanks

Apologies to everyone I have no idea how that advertising email was attached to my post. I'll try to remove it.

carol333 wrote:Apologies to everyone I have no idea how that advertising email was attached to my post. I'll try to remove it.

Don't worry, only you see the ad attached to yours, everyone gets their own ad

I guess it help to pay for the running of the site so can't complain, plus one day I might even go to Halfords or change my broadband

carol333 wrote:The problem actually only started after the car had its first service - could they have done anything at the service to cause this ??

Apart from the obvious? - letting the apprentice take the car out and drive it like a loony?

The other choice could be contamination with oil or, for a diesel, fuel from something spilt during the service.

Getting the clutch out and inspecting it is going to give you more of a clue to what's happened.

It usually doesn't pay to refit a clutch that's been removed for inspection as most of the cost is labour, so you may as well have a new one put in in place of the old one. A clutch kit (here) costs about £100 or less for a Transmech clutch kit.