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Citroen c4 hdi - Faulty car on finance - Janine White

I have a car on finance that had a warrantee which ran out literally weeks ago within a week of it running out I have had to get the dpf filter cleared at a garage, the radiator fan blew a fuse link and now been told that it has an engine knock which requires a new timing belt and bearings, a new water pump while they are in there and possibly a new camshaft pulley.

To top this off I was driving the car on Friday and the radiator fan has fallen apart inside the radiator and snapped meaning I can not drive the car at all. All of these things have been confirmed by two garages and happened within three weeks.

The garages have told me that the knocking was probably sprayed with wd40 for selling to me and that these issues, other than potentially the dpf should not be happening on a 62 plate car with only 54000 miles on the clock. I have only done 800of these.

I have spoken to the finance company which says that I need a report to say the issues started before I brought the car before they will even consider asking the dealer to repair it and certainly won't take the car back.

The two garages that have seen the car say that they won't do a report because if it ends up in court it's too time consuming.

Any advice?

Edited by Janine White on 18/11/2019 at 11:06

Citroen c4 hdi - Faulty car on finance - Bromptonaut

How long have you had the car?

My first port of call would be citizens advice. There's quite a bit on their website about cars and you can get more tailored help from their consumer helpline. I wonder if the finance provider should be your focus, more tools to put pressure on them.

A 7 YO low mileage diesel is a sitter for DPF issues, particularly if you're not doing longer runs

Citroen c4 hdi - Faulty car on finance - Gibbo_Wirral

n potentially the dpf should not be happening on a 62 plate car with only 54000 miles on the clock. I have only done 800of these.

On paper, yes, it "shouldn't" be happening at 54,000 miles.

But it all depends how it was owned and driven by the previous owner. Diesels are not suited to town pootling.

I've seen cars that have managed 140,000 on their original DPF, and cars that have needed them replacing at 50,000 miles.

I once bought a one owner from new diesel with 35,000 miles on the clock. The EGR valve was crudded up far worse than on my previous car which had five times the mileage and a good ten years older.

Citroen c4 hdi - Faulty car on finance - galileo

Can't see how an engine knock could be temporarily quietened by a spray of WD40.

As they suggest new cambelt/bearings/pulley/water pump the 'knock' must have been in the camshaft system.

DPF clogged after 6 to 7 years of less than 9000 miles per year is no surprise, has the car any service history and does the MOT history confirm the mileage?

Citizens Advice is probably your first call for guidance on your legal rights, a vehicle inspection for the finance company will cost you, will they reimburse you if the results back up your complaint?