C3 Sensodrive 'fault'!

[Amyp_18]

I had a Citroen C3 SX as my first car, and despite all the bad press I've read about them, I absolutely loved it! Genuinely couldn't have faulted it at all. When it neared the end of its life in Nov 2014 I bought a Mitsubishi Colt (boy, what a mistake THAT was). Now, just over a year later I have bought another C3 (YAY!) this time an Exclusive Sensodrive. It is 3rd hand, 57 reg. Still - I already love it.

The trouble I'm having is the steering wheel pulls to the right, meaning the car veers to the right, and by pulls I mean it kinda feels like it's on a spring, it will pull a few centimetres to the right then spring back to its normal position, all very quickly though, it's a split second type thing... I'm always struggling with it for control.

I thought it was just that the steering needed aligned so took it to halfords yesterday. They said its a fault with the gearbox or clutch and they don't have the equipment to deal with it.

1, I've read through a whole load of threads and never read this problem anywhere - is it familiar to anyone?
2, I've just spent £1650 buying this car (£1350 received part ex for the Colt). Does this sound this it's going to bleed me dry? Panic stations.

Thanks in advance for any advice!!

[Amyp_18]

Should have also mentioned the whole car pretty violently vibrates when at high speed too.

[myglaren]

Welcome to the forums Amy

That sounds to me to be a broken coil spring in the front suspension and could become a real problem if left unattended.
Have it checked at your earliest convenience.
If it is this the fix is not particularly difficult nor expensive.

My daughter has a similar C3 to you and it has been fine for the past four years she has had it, only problem has been the rear light cluster that goes wonky and stops lights and indicators working but hasn't done this for a couple of years now.

[Amyp_18]

Thanks Steve! the trouble is it passed its MOT on 15th Feb, I'm the first to say that I know a lot less about cars/servicing/MOT's than I should, but would that not pick up things like knackered cool springs?

I can always hope though, I'd rather than than someone has to go poking about inside the gearbox.

[myglaren]

It should but they have been known to slip through.
Was the problem evident at the MOT?
I had a Renault 14 with the same problem and it was the MOT man who spotted it. Only a very small break at the top and very difficult to see but he noted the symptoms and had a good dig around and found it.
I really hope it is that and not the gearbox as they do have the reputation to be a nightmare and expensive to fix.

My youngest daughter is about to buy a C4 and the first thing we checked was that it wasn't a Sensodrive or 1.6 HDi. (petrol manual so OK).

[Amyp_18]

No issues at all at MOT! I'll get a 2nd opinion before booking it into a specialist.

I knew myself that Sensodrive were an absolute nightmare but I was too excited about getting rid of the Colt and just bought it. I wish I'd have blacklisted them like you haha. That being said - I suppose it still can be something more minor.

Thanks for your help

[daviemck2006]

Sounds like a suspension issue to me also. I do hope it's not gearbox related. I had a c2 sensodrive which cost me, and lost me a future, but I won't bore you or depress you with the details! If you traded in your old car did you buy from a dealer? If so they will have to fix it for you. Hope you get it sorted out. Ps welcome to the funny farm lol.

[Amyp_18]

Oh no, that sounds terrible!! I didn't get it from a dealer but I did get a 3 month warranty with it, I'm
Hoping that covers whatever needs done but I'm preparing for the worst. 2 out of 2 think it's not gearbox related so far so that's a good sign! Halfords did seems sure that it was though

[myglaren]

I wouldn't be too convinced that Halfords have got it right - they are very variable in their quality between branches, some good, some bad and the rest best avoided.

Only possible to give more than an inspired opinion without the car being present for examination but start with the simple things first.

My previous C5 had really dramatic engine vibration - I say vibration but the engine was leaping around in the engine bay, about 2" of movement on it. The whole car shook when idling.

The mechanic I took it to was unsure of the cause so contacted the dealer here (TCC) who diagnosed a failed Dual-Mass Flywheel.
Had that and the clutch replaced and it was no different. Turned out to be a failed injector, a much cheaper fix.
Even the dealer can not be relied on implicitly.

I see you are in Durham. I can't really recommend anywhere around there, Croxdale is your closest dealer but I wouldn't take wheelbarrow there.
I used George Fraser in Sunderland. He is a very good 'old school' mechanic but is not really set up for a Sensodrive problem.
Currently I use a similar 'old school' mechanic in Birtley, a brilliant Polish lad who has more knowledge of Citroen intricacy than could reasonably be expected of a non-specialist, just booked mine in with him last night for a bit of oily work that I am too lazy to get involved with.
If you know somewhere like that to take a look at the springs and suspension in general I'd start there.
I hate to say this but try and take a man with you if you are not familiar with them.
I have three daughters and although they no longer have problems of this nature they have been treated as 'silly girls who know nothing' in the past, second daughter once came away in tears from an MOT station after being very poorly treated by the arrogant son of the owner.
They all have their preferred mechanics now who do not have the dismissive attitude toward females that does still exist in some places.

[BenC5HDi]

My Berlingo pulled to the left just as you describe. It was a broken spring. A couple of years later , it started pulling to the right.. yep, broken spring..

Sent from my SM-N9005 using Tapatalk

[Amyp_18]

I'm in Chester le street actually so not far from Birtley! I used to use a great guy in Whitley but now living over here it's just too far to go. I've never really found another independent mechanic I trust, I've always just gone to halfords!!

Totally get you re taking a man along with me, shame is none of the men I know know anything about cars haha. I've never been a victim of being talked down to by a mechanic but I have seen that episode of watchdog where they send a woman to a garage with a perfectly fine car and after a check it apparently has everything under the sun wrong with it!!

Really appreciate your advice. I'm off work on Monday so will find somewhere who can hopefully take a look at it for me then!

Thanks for your comment Ben, I definitely have my fingers crossed for a broken coil spring!!

[GiveMeABreak]

It might be worth trying to get it repaired under your warranty - there is the new consumer Rights Act that came into being in October 2015 - I quote this part from the AA website and past a copy of the link. I think if still within the time frame you should pursue it with them as your car currently presents a potential danger.

"Fit for purpose
Fit for purpose means that you must be able to use the vehicle for the purposes that you would normally expect from a vehicle including any particular purpose that you tell the dealer about before you buy, or which the dealer has advertised or gleaned from your conversation. This would include towing or short journey use.

Faults, repairs and refunds
Under the new act, if a fault renders the product not of satisfactory quality, not fit for purpose or not as described, then the buyer is entitled to reject it within the first 30 days.

Between 30 days and 6 months
If a fault comes to light after 30 days but before 6 months have passed then you are entitled to a repair, replacement or refund. It is assumed in law that the fault was present at the time of purchase unless the seller can prove otherwise. During this period, unless you have agreed otherwise, the seller (dealer) has only one opportunity to repair (or replace) the faulty vehicle after which, if they fail to repair it, you are entitled to a refund.

http://www.theaa.com/motoring_advice/ca ... ights.html

[myglaren]

Excellent points Marc!

The guy I go to is Daniel, of Dancars. Very pleasant and accommodating and always first class work at reasonable prices.
His place is adjacent to the "Pulse" gym, formerly "Olivers" nightclub.
From Chester drive past the Komatsu factory. Dan's is visible from the traffic lights but not accessible from there.
You need to drive to the next lights and take the left option as though going to Morrison's but keep left, drive the length of the car park and Dan's is tucked into the corner to the left of Pulse.
Don't park in the Pulse car park. I know Mark who owns it but his staff are parking nazi's and will give you grief if you park there but there are a couple of hundred free parking spaces just before that.
I'd offer to accompany you there but unfortunately will be working and can't get away during the week. Daniel is fine though and won't be a problem if you should choose to go there.
Can't think of anyone in Chester, sorry.

Map Link

[Amyp_18]

No need to apologise Steve thanks so much for your help - I'll definitely give him a shout!

[wheeler]

Im really struggling to think how a gearbox or clutch fault can give you a steering pull ?????