Help me avoid getting ripped off next week!

[evoke]

As per my previous thread about whether I should sell or keep my C5, the general consensus was that i've been scammed by workshops. I have one small issue with my car that i'd like to get rectified.

The car leaks a drop or two of oil from around the middle of the engine compartment onto my driveway every day.

It's going in for investigation work on Monday evening to a new workshop. They've requested it on Monday evening so they can put something under the car overnight to check for leaks and then investigate further during the day on Tuesday.

Given that i've handed over thousands to workshops since February this year, how do I avoid getting ripped off? I need advice on how to respond and evaluate what the workshop will tell me on Tuesday about the leak. I need ways of identifying whether they're trying it on, etc. I really don't want to, and can't afford to, hand over another grand!

If it's a gearbox leak then I can take it back to the original indie who did the crank seal, clutch and flywheel. If it's power steering fluid then I can do the same. If it's something new then i'll need to get it fixed without being ripped off.

[Hell Razor5543]

Where are you based? If you haven't already looked at it, there is a list of recommended garages;

http://www.frenchcarforum.co.uk/forum/v ... m.php?f=15" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

With any luck one of these is near you.

[Skull]

Buy a large shallow drip tray to leave on your drive and park in the same place so it doesn't drip on the concrete

[evoke]

Where are you based? If you haven't already looked at it, there is a list of recommended garages;

http://www.frenchcarforum.co.uk/forum/v ... m.php?f=15" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

With any luck one of these is near you.

Forge Motor Company in Maidenhead would be about a 25 minute drive so reasonable distance for me. I've Goodle'd them and they seem to be highly recommended. I'll give them a call on Monday.

[evoke]

Buy a large shallow drip tray to leave on your drive and park in the same place so it doesn't drip on the concrete

I have got some shallow plant pot trays that I could use but it's been dripping for six months. I've parked in the same spot so i'll be replacing around 10 block paving bricks once the leak has finally been fixed.

[Stewart(oily)]

Why not catch a few drops and wipe them on a white rag, the colour and smell will probably tell you what you are leaking.

[citroenxm]

Oil leaking past the turbo oil seals and there fore gathering in an intercooler pipe at lowest point and seeping out of a pipe join or rocker gasket leak thats running down the back of the engine or front and dripping off...??? Would be my guesses without looking

[craig_s_b69]

in answer to your original question, if it has been happening for 6 month already lets assume its not an absolute urgency for it to be fixed tomorrow, so therefore if the garage come up with an estimate you are not entirely happy with then just tell them thanks for having a look and you will consider it but for now its too much money as you have already got enough in it to buy a new jag and don't want to keep dumping money on it. most garages wont charge much for a quick diagnosis and at least then you will know what the issue is and can report back on here for the next plan of action of how to continue if the dripping is frustrating then attach a drip tray to the car and make sure you clean it now and again, also have you checked all your fluids to see if you can tell what is leaking?

[evoke]

I've cancelled the booking with my local indie and rebooked with a recommended Citroen specialist (Forge Motor Company) for later on in the week. I've asked them to diagnose the slight oil leak and also give the car a healthcheck given all the work that's been done on it.

[evoke]

A quick update for everyone. The car is in with Forge Motor Company - a CItroen specialist. It's being diagnosed at the moment and the mechanic has found a split LHM fluid reservoir as the main leak. There might also be a very slight leak related to the gearbox but he'll fix the first leak and then clean things up and check if there is a second leak.

I've also had a bit of a knocking noise from the rear and he suspects drop-links which are apparently fairly straightforward to replace. The price estimate is extremely reasonable and i've got a courtesy car from them. So for service so far, they've far exceeded my expectations.

So far i've got 100% confidence in this garage. I only wish I had found them 6 months and £4,000 ago! Hopefully the work will be done by tomorrow afternoon and I won't be taking my car anywhere else in the future for servicing or repairs.

[VertVega]

Good news Thanks for the update.

[VertVega]

Drop links at rear? I'm no C5 expert ... do they have them?

There are no drop links at rear. I think it might be the same old problem of rear suspension arm bearings failure, as in Xantia.

[citroenxm]

Rear arm bearing failiurs are known by a "Cracking" noise when bouncing the rear, also sometimes a knock over bumps.

Ive just done one, the actual arm rebuild was not that bad, but the REAL head ache was removing the R clip from the arm..

they WILL have a job, I sugest you start NOW soaking the rear R clip with Plus Gas... I didn't and I had to split the strut push rod from the Cup, and after removing the arm still couldn't get the cup out, so used an XM rear strut push rod to rebuild the car back up..

The other massive headache was trying to locate the ABS connector plug, which is over above the fuel tank. As the replacment arm had a sensor in it, I had to resort to cutting the cable and joining the other sensor to the wiring on the car..

[VertVega]

If the symptoms are as citroenxm described then it's caused by those bearings (# 7) seen in pic.
Notice that there are two of them and there is a repair kit for that.

[citroenxm]

I went to the dealer for the Plastic protector, the two bush's and two seals... for 28 quid.

The bearings I got from GSF also for about 25 quid..