Help me avoid getting ripped off next week!

[evoke]

Guys, I may have got the drop-link bit wrong! I can't recall exactly what he said. Whatever it was, he said the parts were around £30 each side so would that narrow it down?

The noise is a knocking noise with going round a corner and/or over a rough road coming from the rear of the car. Several months ago I though I had fixed it by pushing the rear seat bases down to clip them in firmly but it obviously wasn't that.

[citroenxm]

Have a good look at the back of the car from a few yards, are either of the rear wheels leaning in at all??

Put the car to op and back to normal and have a look - they useually lean in if the bearings are shot..

[bobins]

There are rear drop-links on at least some C5's ! P/N 517852 Bar-Link.

[myglaren]

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.

LHM? In a C5. Make sure they know the difference between LHM and LDS!

[Stempy]

Tell them not to use LHM to top up as LDS and LHM dont mix. Easy to spot the difference, LHM green, LDS orange.

[myglaren]

Well spotted Steve ... I missed that one!!

Have you ever heard of a split in LHM reservoir? They look like quite tough old things to me. Maybe a split pipe? Let's hope the quote for the work is 'reasonable' ....

I haven't heard of a split LHM reservoir but there was another member reported a split LDS reservoir in the recent past.

[evoke]

LOL. I might have got that wrong too. It is at a Citroen specialist so i'm assuming they would know the difference! It's been a long, hard day...

[myglaren]

Easy mistake but do make certain that they can differentiate - it has happened that the two have been used incorrectly before.

Incidentally, I have a suspicion that Dexron has been put in mine at some point

[Jabo]

I haven't heard of a split LHM reservoir but there was another member reported a split LDS reservoir in the recent past.

I cracked mine due to excess fluid pressure, I think it was due to lowering with a jack still underneath

[Stewart(oily)]

I haven't heard of a split LHM reservoir but there was another member reported a split LDS reservoir in the recent past.

I cracked mine due to excess fluid pressure, I think it was due to lowering with a jack still underneath

No way, these things are more robust than that, poor quality control ?
Unless you put your jack in a bad place ?

[evoke]

A final update hopefully: just got the car back. It drove well back from the workshop. The invoice shows:

1. Replaced split LDS reservoir

2. Replaced n/s and o/s rear anti-roll bar link rods

I needed 2 litres of LDS fluid and, including labour and VAT, the total came to £240. I have never been so happy handing money over given my experiences over the last six months. I think i've found a gem of a workshop in Cookham, Berkshire. Absolutely no-nonsense service, a free loan car, regular updates over the phone and no sucking in of teeth to suggest additional work is required.

Boy, am I relieved! I can now finally enjoy my C5. Thanks to all who offered moral support as I did get close to getting rid of the car as I had become so frustrated with the dodgy indie mechanic who was ripping me off on a monthly basis.

[evoke]

There are rear drop-links on at least some C5's ! P/N 517852 Bar-Link.

I guess it's these that were replaced. Invoice says "rear anti-roll bar link rods". Knocking noise from back has been virtually eliminated now.

[Stickyfinger]

" been virtually eliminated" ???

[myglaren]

Nice result - as you have found, an honest, reliable and knowledgeable indy is indeed a rare thing and well worth encouraging.
The price may still be a bit on the high side though.

[evoke]

^ Yes, but relative to the fleecing i've experienced from other places, this was okay for me. I think it worked out at around 2 hours labour which included the diagnosis too (tracing the oil leak). Itemised invoice was as follows:

1. LDS reservoir: £33.52
2. 2 litres of LDS fluid: £25.74
3. Rear anti-roll bar link rods: £47.08
4. Labour: £96

All plus VAT.