2005 Citroen C4 Coupe from UK and Ireland - Comments

I have just recently sold my Citroen C4 as it caused me no end of trouble. Having bought the car in July of this year, which by the way on test drive drove beautifully, I saw the dreaded "depollution warning" come on after 3 days, as it was already going in for a service I thought ah well they'll fix it.

How wrong I was, after a full service and with the problem allegedly cleared at a cost of over 600 pounds after various bits and bobs were fitted, only a day later the fault was back and a terrible smell of smoke filled the cabin. Back it went to Citroen.

This time Citroen had it almost 2 weeks trying to identify the fault, basically from what I could gather their fault finding process was try a part, then another part etc... until the fault stayed clear. By now my confidence had gone totally as they didn't seem to have a clue what to do. Anyway to cut a long story short I got the car back with no fault on it and traded it in asap just to get rid!!

The Citroen I had was a lovely car, but what use is that if the thing isn't reliable. It was far too complicated, with too much automation, wouldn't ever buy another after this experience. Keep it simple is my philosophy. I now drive a Suzuki Swift diesel, it is superb!

I have a 2006 Citroen C4 and it has only done 22000 miles. It has been fine apart from occasional "bucking bronco"shuddering when pulling away in first gear from cold, but this has not happened much. The other day, a coldish morning, the car almost failed to start and so I switched off and restarted no problems. 8 miles later the pollution fault light came on whilst driving. I could do nothing but go to work and drive home afterward. I rang a Citroen workshop who said it would need diagnostics at £90 an hour, but I could drive it for a short distance during the next few days. He said it could go into "limp mode" at worst and only go at 5mph!

Anyway I had an inspirational idea to go outside and open the fuel cap and a load of air came out {the car was cold at this time}. I started up and hey presto, the anti pollution fault light had gone. My husband's dad had confirmed that it could be the fuel cap sensor or exhaust pressure sensor, so I was pleased that I knew roughly where problem was. I continued to drive for a week, but always undoing the petrol cap after every sector and the light has stayed off.

The other day I forgot, and after 16 miles the light has come back and remains, so I guess it will have to be sorted at the garage, but at least I think it's one of the above problems so shouldn't go through weeks of mechanics shooting in the dark! I have an extended warranty and I don't know if it's covered.