I think I'm getting screwed by Citroen

Lynnzer

Had a problem with the suspension. A small link rod snapped on the rear height correction unit last week which resulted in the back end running on the rubber stops until it got home. Anyway that was fixed but since then a leak in the suspension system has developed at the front.
I guess it was due to the result of excessive shock through no dampening at the rear abd probably blown a leak in a seal.

My local garage can't do it as they can't do a hot spray wash to completely clean the underneath of all the oils, so can't see where the leak is coming from.

So, off up to the main dealers.......
yeah, I know.
They want £75 to do a diagnostic check, then the usual parts and labour (£60 P.H.)
I don't mind the usual main dealer costs for labour but whet the hell.....
£75 for a diagnostic check?
Why. What do they need to carry out a check for anyway.
I objected in the strongest possible terms but the wife was with me and I got earache from her for being rude.
The service rep just couldn't tell me why I needed a diagnostic check, and as I know it's a leak from either a seal in the pump unit, or a leaking pipe at the front of the car I can't see how they could even benefit from such a check themselves.

I would love someone to explain this to me. I got booked in for Thu 20th Dec so if someone can tell me I have a good case for further addressing this when I take the car in, I'd just love it.

red_eye

Lynnzer wrote: »

Had a problem with the suspension. A small link rod snapped on the rear height correction unit last week which resulted in the back end running on the rubber stops until it got home. Anyway that was fixed but since then a leak in the suspension system has developed at the front.
I guess it was due to the result of excessive shock through no dampening at the rear abd probably blown a leak in a seal.

My local garage can't do it as they can't do a hot spray wash to completely clean the underneath of all the oils, so can't see where the leak is coming from.

So, off up to the main dealers.......
yeah, I know.
They want £75 to do a diagnostic check, then the usual parts and labour (£60 P.H.)
I don't mind the usual main dealer costs for labour but whet the hell.....
£75 for a diagnostic check?
Why. What do they need to carry out a check for anyway.
I objected in the strongest possible terms but the wife was with me and I got earache from her for being rude.
The service rep just couldn't tell me why I needed a diagnostic check, and as I know it's a leak from either a seal in the pump unit, or a leaking pipe at the front of the car I can't see how they could even benefit from such a check themselves.

I would love someone to explain this to me. I got booked in for Thu 20th Dec so if someone can tell me I have a good case for further addressing this when I take the car in, I'd just love it.

my god.
brake cleaner in paint gun or cleaner in a bottle slowly poured on the jet of air out of a blower, nice clean under body job done

kerby_crawler

Lynnzer wrote: »

My local garage can't do it as they can't do a hot spray wash to completely clean the underneath of all the oils, so can't see where the leak is coming from

That's why local garages are cheap - they don't have the kit!

If you want the car fixed, then find someone who can fix it - it doesn't necessarily have to be the franchised dealer.

red_eye

kerby_crawler wrote: »

That's why local garages are cheap - they don't have the kit!

If you want the car fixed, then find someone who can fix it - it doesn't necessarily have to be the franchised dealer.

not a case of not having kit this particular garage dont have the imagination to come up with an alternative to a hot wash like I have posted or it is a polite way of telling the op that they dont want there nice clean overalls covered in green gunk

kerby_crawler

red_eye wrote: »

not a case of not having kit this particular garage dont have the imagination to come up with an alternative to a hot wash like I have posted or it is a polite way of telling the op that they dont want there nice clean overalls covered in green gunk

In my experience, the local garage guys are more likely to get their overalls dirty than the franchise guys. They also show much more imagination, usually...

The OP has been unlucky.

Tiddlywinks

Main dealer will want to perform diagnostic check because they will want to identify the problem themselves... after all, how can they trust that the OP knows what he is talking about.

If they trusted his direction, went ahead with a 'fix' and then the problem persisted because the owner had misled them then there would be a problem about the bill.

Besides, I don't actually think £75 is too bad for a main dealer...

colino

Instead of paying for diagnostics from the garage, tell them exactly which part you would like changed. They'll do it, but don't be surprised when you have no comeback because the obvious fault was just a symptom of another failure in the system.

atrixblue.-MFR-.

negotiate on the dignostics, ask them to do a deal on it, they diagnose the fault, if you walk away from the garage after the fault is diganosed but no work you pay it if they carry out the work they waive it.

Joe_Horner

Possible reasons for diagnostics:

Why did the leak develop?

You assume it's related to the broken link at the back but that doesn't mean it is. There could be a problem witgh over-pressure from some other cause. If they fix the leak without checking everything's ok, when it happens again in a couple of months you get upset with them.

Has the leak caused other problems?

The pumps in these really do not like swallowing air. A leak out might mean that air has got into the system and caused damage elsewhere. If it has and they just fix the leak, when the whole system fails in a couple of months you get upset with them.

Other faults causes at the same time / by the same reason

regardless of the root cause of the problem, if something's caused one leak it may well have over-stressed sonething else which is now on the edge of letting go. If they just fix the leak, when soomething else starts leaking a couple of months from now you get upset with them.


Sadly, you chose to own a car with very comfortable but very complex suspension. It's usually reliable but, when it does go wrong, you're going to get big bills to make sure it's right again. Why do you think most other makers still use springs?

As for the indie finding reasons not to do it, there's a very good chance that they just don't want to work on it because, without all the test kit for diagnostics, it's far more trouble than it's worth.