At breaking point - Know any good Citroen specialists

Carb

Hi all,

The only thing I'm doing more recently than starting threads on this forum, is visiting the mechanic, basically 1 or 2 times a week for the past two months.

After taking a huge hit on the golf lemon we bought last year, we bought my wife a corsa from a local dealer. Collected it on Tuesday, filled it with petrol, and hey presto, petrol on the forecourt. Not majorly concerned as its under warranty, the leak is very high up. Just another disruptive trip to that garage.

More concerning is the caluclated gamble I took two weeks ago on a very clean 2003 C5 2.2 Hdi. First two trips to mechanic were planned, timing belt done, and then DPF removed. I started having issues this week on the first real use of the car after the DPF removed although I don't think its connected.

Basically I'm getting a turbo overboost and subsequent limp mode when the car is under load. Generally it only happens when accelarating on two particular long inclines. Gives an ESP/ASR warning that goes off if the car is restarted. I've read about this at length on all the uk forums, and the ususal cause is one or a couple of the following; split pipes, vacuum issues, sticking actuator, leaks in the actuator diaphragm or problems with the various solenoids. These are prolems that a lot of enthusiasts have managed to replace themselves.

My car has been to the mechanic today and before even looking at it said he doesn't go by whats online (reasonable to an extent). However, as I suggested, my actuator is sticking. I asked him did he test for any vacuum issues and whilst I gather he did a short visual inspection, there was certainly no pipes removed or vac guages used. To check the diaphragm, he says he needs to remove the turbo and put it back in. This on its own is going to cost €250. Now bearing in mind that amateurs have done this themselves at home without removing the turbo, I'm reluctant. there is also a slight whistle (only noticed it this week too), which may result in the turbo needing to come out anyway, but again, there seems to be a number of other things that should be checked first. He's already talking turbo refurb. yet when searching online for this problem, I have not come across a time where the resolution involved removing or refurbishing the turbo.

Basically, I want a second opinion. I need an independed Citreon or Peugeot specialist familiar with the 2.2 HDI engine and ideally this sort of problem itself, and ideally access to a Lexia. I've spent thousands over the past two months trying to repair and then replacing cars and I really can't spend a fortune diagnosing a problem. If something needs to be fixed, so be it.

Sorry for the long post and thanks for any opinions/suggestions.

BTW, Dublin/NE is the preferred location if anybody can suggest where to go.

Saab Ed

Ken Fildes @ 01 8214477

http://www.eforecourt.com/php/main_dealers.php/VIEW_BY/IDX/IDX/88

richardsheil

Ken Fildes is the man. Absolutely agree.

Or Noel Dolphin in Clontarf.

colm_mcm

richardsheil wrote: »

Ken Fildes is the man. Absolutely agree.

Or Noel Dolphin in Clontarf.

Or George frayne in naas

Carb

Thanks for the suggestions.

Ken Fildes sounds ideal. I would need to see if I can get to him though as I live in Monaghan and work in the city centre. I gather he's a little out of the way so not sure how I could drop the car off.

Clontarf would be easier. Anyone else used Noel Dolphin. Does he specialise in any particular brand.

Nissan doctor

Did you get the car re-mapped to suit the DPF removal?

Carb

Nissan doctor wrote: »

Did you get the car re-mapped to suit the DPF removal?

Yes it was remapped. Don't really know whats involved in that part of it. Over in the UK a lot of people seem do use a standard remap that is doing the rounds "ECU..something", whereas I think my guy removed the DPF stuff off the software. Same idea but perhaps subtle differences. He did say there is a permanent CAT fault on the ECU as a result, and again I've seen this mentioned on the UK forums, but I don't know if it is a normal consequence of the remap.

Regardless, I've had no DPF or additive warnings in the 600 miles since. Unfortunately, I didn't have the car on my normal commute before the removal, so impossible to tell if the problem is a result of anything that was done. Hard to see a connection, especially when its visible that the actuator doesn't move as it should.

Don't know if it is relevant but now that I think about it, it has probably got more problematic as the week went on. Didn't happen on Monday (but I did drive very easy and traffic was heavy), happend once on Tuesday, twice on Wednesday, and three times on Thursday. I'm adding a new hill every day.

richardsheil

Carb wrote: »

Thanks for the suggestions.

Ken Fildes sounds ideal. I would need to see if I can get to him though as I live in Monaghan and work in the city centre. I gather he's a little out of the way so not sure how I could drop the car off.

Clontarf would be easier. Anyone else used Noel Dolphin. Does he specialise in any particular brand.

You asked for names of Citroen specialists. So surprisingly enough I think you will find out that Noel Dolphin specialises in Citroens. Hence the answer.

Lumen

Came across this thread after losing patience with the main Citroen dealer I've used for the last couple of years.

Ken Fildes is fantastic! Just got my C5 back from there and can't fault the service.

That's if you can find the damn place. The map I found is slightly off, the garage is on the R149 but it's further south round that L-bend, before the bridge over the railway line. There a small sign up high on the left as you're coming N-S.

godtabh

How much was the service?

Mycroft H

Kevin Hurst in Carbury (midlands, kildare). He had a DS in the back yard at one stage too so he knows his stuff. Has looked after our Citroen's for years when they gave funny troubles. Reasonably priced too.

McP2011

The slight whistle that you mention could be a boost leak, get someone to hold a small constant rev on it while you check for a split vacuum hose, pipe of, intercooler leak etc.