Why are the gods picking on me?

[Kestevan]

The gods definately seem to have it in for me these days.
Latest bit of bad news comes via Satans disciples at the Citroen garage.

My 2007, 32000 mile C4 Picasso has died. The water pump has seized, causing cam-belt failure and pretty much trashing the engine. We bought it 2nd hand last year, and the warranty has expired.

An independant mechanic has said there's no way this should have failed like this after so few miles, and I should contact Citroen as it's likely to be a manufacturing problem.

Citroen have offered a £400 "good will" contribution.... Big Fat Hairy Deal, I'm not exactly stunned by their generosity, and looking at a bill for the wrong side of £2200 means any chance of a new bike has just gone up in smoke.

 

[tyred]

A water pumpr definitely should not have failed at 32,000 miles. I have never owned a car that was anywhere close to being new but surely there must be some action you can take. I would describe that as not fit for purpose.

 

[Globalti]

Argue for more money then take it and buy a second-hand engine from a scrappie.

 

[asterix]

£2,200! That's twice what my van is valued at!!

 

[biggs682]

that is an expensive repair , it might be worth asking Citroen if they recomend changing pump at same time as belt and i bet the answer is no .

 

[gbb]

that is an expensive repair , it might be worth asking Citroen if they recomend changing pump at same time as belt and i bet the answer is no .

Ironic, you'd think that would work in their favour. They used to just replace a cambelt, then they recommend (insist) you replace the tension rollers etc, which makes sense. I suppose we all moan about the extra cost that incurs so to add on the pump would only inflame people more...even though it makes sense.
When i did my Vectra, i did belt, rollers and pump. No point in going so far and not doing the pump, a pump's only circa £50.
My sympathies Kestevan, i can't imagine how gutted i'd feel.

 

[Night Train]

Get an older car with a timing chain, problem solved.

Modern cars have good engines but weakened by silly design to save money. Not that long ago a failed water pump would mean no more then a replacement pump and a V belt.

 

[Archie_tect]

Kestevan, email 'Honest John' in the Motoring Section of The Saturday Telegragh... [google Honest John]. 'He' keeps track of known motor manufacturer's defects and may be able to help. 'He' sends replies back via email [so it's possibly a team] but it's worth a shot. It may also be worth emailing BBC Watchdog for similar support for known faults.

 

[YahudaMoon]

I love it when car drivers tell me their horrors on cost being a car driver, nothing personal to yourself. I won't drive through choice and tell people why don't you use a bicycle and ditch your car/cars ?

Usual answer is 'I need my car for XXXXX' . The thing is some people do need a car though most don't.

Ditch the car and you'll have a bike of your dreams in weeks. No tax, petrol, insurance, maintenance. You could have lots of bikes !

Though you need your car don't you ?

 

[Mad Doug Biker]

Kestevan, I'll give you a bit of excellent advice, get a bike instead!













Oh, wait.

 

[ASC1951]

Citroen have offered a £400 "good will" contribution.... Big Fat Hairy Deal, I'm not exactly stunned by their generosity....

I think that's a bit harsh. Think of any other consumer product where you could pole up after four to five years and complain that part of it had broken, when they didn't even sell it to you in the first place and they have no idea how the previous owner or owners treated it.

And do water pumps seize without any warning at all? Not even that little squeal from the dry bearing over the last few days.....?

 

[tyred]

And do water pumps seize without any warning at all? Not even that little squeal from the dry bearing over the last few days.....?

Actually they can. It happened to a TD Astra belonging to my dad. Like me, my dad is pretty mechanically sympathetic and good at picking up on any unusual noises so when he says it failed without any kind of warning, I would believe him. We get away with that one as he was very quick to stop the engine and the timing belt had only jumped a few teeth rather than break completely so it was a reasonably straightforward repair.

 

[fossyant]

Push them for more.

My FIL burnt out a clutch on a fairly new Almera (over £1k to replace) - eventually got it replaced FOC - to be honest it was probably his driving as he has gone automatic now.

Crazy that the pump seized - my wife's Yaris pump started to fail, but you could hear the bearing knocking - took it in and it was replaced for about £120 by a dealer. That said, it's a chain cam, like my car.

I assume it's bent the valves ?

Nightmare.

 

[Globalti]

When we got our Land Rover we changed the timing belt as a precaution and discovered that it was two teeth out. The engine was running fine though! It did run a bit smoother with the belt correctly fitted.

 

[Fnaar]

When we got our Land Rover we changed the timing belt as a precaution and discovered that it was two teeth out. The engine was running fine though! It did run a bit smoother with the belt correctly fitted.

aka a Jerry Dammers