Faults:

I have fixed a problem where my C3 SX loses power, caused by misfiring on 3 cylinders. The misfire only ever showed up on the day after driving in heavy rain, usually on the motorway. I investigated and found that the problem is caused by rainwater leaking through the bonnet (under the drivers side windscreen washer jet) and dripping straight onto the fuel injectors.

Fix the problem by sealing around the jet under the bonnet using silicon sealant.

Maybe Citroen have sorted this problem out since 2003 but I would advise all C3 owners to check if their car is affected by this problem. If left unchecked it may lead to problems with the coil pack and ECU.

General Comments:

C3 Ignition Misfire. Please read.

Faults:

Offside window switch ceased to function around 24,000 miles.

General Comments:

I have really enjoyed my C3 from the moment I took delivery.

The engine is very willing, the handling is very positive with hardly any body roll (French car - Wow!), the braking system is simply superb, the cd/radio and speakers are top flight, and the car itself is quiet (inside, at any rate!)

There can be some road noise over certain surfaces, but an adjustment to the radio volume takes care of it!

It is also larger than it looks, the height tends to make it look narrower, and the boot is deceptive, being deep rather than long. Take out the moduboard unless you use it as it wastes a lot of useful space.

Cabin interior is light and airy, but pale colours can stain and mark, and some of the trim seems flimsy...doesn't break, though.

Faults:

My driver's electric window switch needed replacing after only owning the car a month.

My power steering stopped working one day, and decided to work again on its own. The car was 3 months old.

My engine had cut out on a hill, and I couldn't stop the car because the brakes and the power steering shuts off. I had a narrow escape; the car was 6 months old.

My brakes had to be replaced at 15,000 miles.

At 20,000 miles service it needed a new third stop light bulb.

At 11 months old the fuse kept on blowing for my windscreen washers.

At 12 months old the electric window switch had broke again.

At 13 months old the gear box kept going into snow mode all the time.

At 16 months old it wouldn't go over 8mph.

At 16 months old it needed a new CD player.

At 18 months old the brakes was getting stuck.

At 21 months old the gears was slipping and was going into snow mode.

At 23 months old the electric window switch had broken again.

At 23 months old it had to have a new automatic gear box, because oil had leaked into the box and it needed two new shock absorbers.

General Comments:

For a good performance, you would have to use snow mode; for example, it's good when you want to overtake.

It's not really powerful on the hills; this is when sport mode comes in handy again.

There is a risk with this car when overtaken, because there is always a chance that it could go into snow mode on its own, and then you start losing power.

The brakes are really good.

The car is too low though, because when coming down certain hills it scrapes against the road.

The bodywork is not very strong, because if you pushed it with your hand you could easily make a dent.

The interior is lovely, and the seats are comfortable. The only problem is that the material on the door panels get really dirty. The front foot wells are not that strong; they keep coming off.