On 1.6 HDi, the rubber diesel engine fuel return pipes can expand and pop off.
End of plastic dipstick of 1.6 HDI engine can break and drop into sump requiring removal of sump to retrieve it.
Flexible flywheel and clutch problems on 2006 1.6 HDIs, unresolved at end of 2006 due to shortage of parts. DMFs continuing to fail in 2009.
Watch out for rejected disaster zone C4s coming back onto the market. Be particularly careful at auction.
Wiper blades can come off leaving the rest of the assembly to scratch the screen. 2006 MT cars have modified wiper blades with clips to prevent this from happening. Plastic paint wears off the stereo buttons.
One reader's list of complaints: "Glove box door disintegrated; door mirrors are happy to adjust up/down, but not laterally, some rattling trim and rear view mirror regularly falls off support. Power steering components replaced after C4 started to ' skip ' around corners. Computer often forgets date/time and the screen matrix can ' bleed ', causing a blurred display."
Another reader's problems: "Cruise control has come up Faulty (service) on the dash. Now the crusise has come up faulty again. I am having bag noises coming from the front wheels. Sounds like dry joints or something. There is also something loose in the boot lid. Maybe a screw or something worked loose. "
Yet another's problems: The paint came off the roof spoiler (common fault he was informed). Rear shock absorbers replaced (knocking). Water ingress in rear light & side repeater. Zone climate control blowing hot only drivers side.
Problem of diesels slipping into limp home mode put down to throttle butterflies sticking or their spindles wearing prematurely causing them to stick. The throttle position sensor identifies this and sends a message to the ECU to limit the engine to limp home mode.
Clutch life of EGS can be as short as 24k miles. This should be a warranty issue as Citroen cannot claim driver abuse for failure of an automated clutch over which the driver has no control.
Brake discs wear quickly.
Rear wiring looms can corrode, costing £480 to replace. One of the first signs is failure of the reversing lights.
Have been some total disaster zone cars. One reader's saga with an 05 Citroen C4 VTR+ Coupe (2 Ltr 138BHP) bought with 18,500 miles in February 2006 and at 35,500 miles in December 2007. (This car may have already been a 'lemon' rejected by the previous owner.)
10-10-2007: "I'd like to point out that the car has never boken down on me. It's never left me stranded, but so many things have had to be replaced, its unbelievable....
01-03-2006: "Doors Rattling and CD Changer Skipping. This required a return visit to rectify
16-05-2006: "CD Changer again, Suspension Knock on pull away, Sucking Noise when opening throttle. No faults found, nothing rectified (XYD Airbag ECU recall carried out)....
28-11-2006: "A/C Leaking into Footwell, AC Whining, Rear of car 'skipping' in corners, front suspension still knocking, exhaust knock on startup, clutch becomes stiff when used a lot (town traffic, traffic jams), Brake Judder, Rear Brakes make unusual noise when reversing. FIX: Blocked AC Drain cleared, Compressor drive pulley replaced, exhaust mount replaced, rear brake pads replaced (known issue). All other problems unrectified.....
22-12-2006: "Clutch heavy and 'gritty ' feeling when in traffic, Brake Judder, dulled performance and Sulphur smell, coolant leak. FIX: Clutch replaced (warranty), Radiator replaced (warranty, leaking from seam), Cat replaced (warranty, broken up), Front Brake disks replaced (not covered by warrenty) also XYT Vehicle Immobiliser Recall carried out.....
02-10-2007: "Front Suspension still knocking, Airbag warning light on, Heater broken, cruise control failure, boot seal worn and paintwork damage on one side, rear suspension groaning. FIX: Both front Ball Joints excessively worn, replaced. Airbag connection remade under drivers seat, Heater mixer flap motor/gears replaced (known issue technical bulletin C4 8NO8), entire steering wheel hub switch pack replaced (cruise control), boot seal replaced and tailgate position adjusted, Rear shocks replaced, both leaking. Hidsons Rainham have been possibly the best dealership I've ever dealt with. Seemingly much more professional, they listened to what I had to say, always provided me with a free courtesy car (even on the last visit, when I was without my car for over 1 1/2 weeks, due to Citroen failing to implement a warehouse computer upgrade successfully. All work has been covered under warrenty (except front brakes, by this time the car had 27,000 miles on the clock). So far this car has had over £3k worth of new parts, plus all the labour costs, the car only cost me £10,500. Unfortunately, however, the clutch is still no better and the airbag light still intermittently shown itself when the drivers seat is moved. Out of curiosity, I have visited and joined several Citroen forums and on the whole, the C4 is considered a good, well built car. Mine is maybe an odd ball, its a fairly early model so this may explain many of my problems. Also, an ongoing problem which Kevin (Service Manager at Rainham) has raised with Citroen is, after allowing the suspension to settle, when pulling away and turning the steering wheel (pulling out of a parking space etc) the suspension seems to groan and the steering feels heavy. The car feels like its 'skating' or sliding across the road surface. Once this has happened, its ok until the suspension settles again (which can be when parked or on a long motorway stretch, its a bit disconcerting when you get to the first corner off of the motorway cause you never know what its going to do)."
5-2-2012: More reports of turbo oil starvation on 1.6HDI DV6TED4 leading to expensive catastrophes at around 100,000 miles due to carbon build up in the oil feed to the bearing . The cure is not just a new turbo, but new oil pipe, pump, pick-up, etc., etc. Failure to replace these paerts will usually result in another failed turbo within 10,000 miles. There was a Ford TSB45/2008 about this. Newer engines (2008+) have modified parts. Apparently you can get a new turbo for £350 plus £120 for a "kit" of modified pipes/pick-up unions etc. from Transitpartsuk (International Parts Ltd) to fit next week. eBay supplier TransitpartsUK
30-4-2012: Hatchback lock wiring of coupes highly prone to become faulty. May be the loom between the body of the car and the hatch.
31-5-2012: Power steering and front coil spring failure reported on 18,500 mile 2008 C4.
16-12-2013: Cost of replenishing Eolys fluid for DPF of 32k mile 2007 Citroen C4 1.6 HDi was £468, composed of £93.59 for the new pouch of fluid and £297 for labour, plus £78.12 VAT. ECU fault codes indicated need to check for regeneration fault, cooling fan fault, turbo pressure fault before finding low additive fault, not suspected because of the car's low mileage.
3-10-2017: Report of 2008 Citroen C4 with EGS automated manual stalling at junctions and electromechanical parking brake sticking on.
29-1-2018: 'Depollution system faulty' message appeared on 2005 Citroen C4 1.6 HDi 110 VTR Plus. Owner told to drive on motorway for 90 mins in 4th at 65 mph, which did not clear it. Garage is quoting £195 for a forced regen, but saying this may not sort it. No mention of mileage. If 80k + then DPF could be full of ash.
17-2-2019: Report of total electrical failure of 2006 Citroen C4 at 83,000 miles. Probable cause the ECU or the wiring loom.
25-4-05: recall Picasso, C4 and C5 built 1-7-04 to 10-10-05 because diesel fuel return pipe may leak. Unspecified date: recall to make sure rear brake pipes. July 2006 check air bag computer.
7-01-2008 R/2007/191 potential loss of abs and esp functions VF7######74102211 to VF7######74553249 build 02/06/2005to 26/09/2006; VF7######74100223VF7######74461623 build 25/05/2004 to 04/04/2006; VF7######74313674 to VF7######74552935 build 07/04/2006 to 26/09/2006
05-02-2008 R/2008/017 CITROENC4 & C5 possibility of reduced braking performance VF7******74299142 to VF7******74459012 build dates 01/07/2005 to 30/03/2006
14-5-2012: Citroen Recalls Website . Register to receive recall/TSB information direct from Citroen.
October 2003
New Citroen C4 launched
Radically styled new car replaced the boring looking Xsara in 2003. Very French, like contemporary Renault Meganes. Should please Citroen fans. 4,274mm long (14') x 1,810mm (5' 11") wide.
Shared floorpan and Euro IV engines with Peugeot 307. Petrol 90 - 180PS. Diesels 92 - 138PS. 5-door and 3-dr coupe. Both Cd 0.28. Launch September 2004 Paris Motor Show. Steering wheel turns around a fixed boss. In UK from November 2004. Nicer to drive than Xsara.
1.6i SX Auto and a 2.0i Exclusive Auto from March 2005. 6 speed electro-hydraulic automated clutch transmission (EGS) available for 1.6HDI from July 2006. Gets under 120g/km, so Congestion Charge Free from Feb 2008. Very small price premium. SX 5-dr just £14,300 after cashback, VTR 3-dr coupe just £14,990 and VTR 5-dr £15,300.
Bioflex 1.6 launched February 2008. Runs on E85 bioethanol with CO2 cut from 169g/km on petrol to 160g/km on E85. Small power boost to 113bhp and torque increased to 153Nm.
July 2008
New 1.6-litre petrol versions added
Same 1.6 litre petrol engines as 207 and 308, co-developed with the BMW group – the VTi 120 hp (Variable valve lift and Timing Injection) and THP 150 hp (Turbo High Pressure). These new units will be replacing the 1.6i 16V and 2.0i 16V respectively and offer improved fuel economy and lower emissions, whilst new low-rolling-resistance Michelin Energy Saver® tyres also improve efficiency
March 2009
Citroën C4 ‘by Loeb launched
Citroen C4 Coupe given the WRC treatment for a new limited, special edition. The Citroën C4 ‘by Loeb’, named after the world’s most successful rally driver ever - Sebastien Loeb - features sporty new interior and exterior designing, dynamic body colours and a well specified equipment list. Each limited edition will also be tagged with a unique serial number plaque mounted in the cabin.
Available in either Sport Red or Black, the racy new C4 ‘by Loeb’ features Sébastien Loeb’s signature on the doors, a unique ‘by Loeb’ sticker on the tailgate and door mirrors finished in either red, or black with aluminium-effect. Completing the car’s sporty style, the C4 ‘by Loeb’ is fitted with a sleek spoiler and dynamic 17” alloy wheels coloured in either white or black depending on the body colour.
Inside, steel décor around the central air vents and aluminium finishes on both the pedals and gear knob. Leather steering wheel and gear lever are complemented by smart red stitching and the sports seats are finished in black and red ‘3D X-ray’ mesh cloth. There are also floor mats with red surrounds detailed with a unique ‘by Loeb’ design. Also has air conditioning, automatic rain-sensitive windscreen wipers, automatic headlights, electrochrome rear view mirror, MP3 compatible CD player and Citroën’s innovative fixed-centred controls steering wheel. The C4 is one of the safest vehicles on the road today with six airbags, ABS with Electronic Brakeforce Distribution (EBD), cruise control with speed limiter and ESP with traction control1. Combining punchy performance with fuel economy and low CO2 emissions, the C4 ‘by Loeb’ can offer a frugal combined 62.8mpg with the 1.6HDi 16V 110hp, or an impressive 0-62mph in just 8.4 seconds with the 1.6i 16V THP 150hp.
- 1.6 16V VTi 120hp ‘by Loeb’ £14,395.00 OTR
- 1.6i 16V THP 150hp ‘by Loeb’ £15,395.00 OTR
- 1.6HDi 16V 110hp ‘by Loeb’ £15,895.01 OTR
April 2009
Citroen C4's power unit wins International Engine of The Year award
The 2009 International Engine of the Year award in the ‘1.4-litre to 1.8-litre category’ has again been won by the 1.6-litre, four-cylinder direct injection turbo petrol engine designed by PSA Peugeot Citroën in cooperation with BMW Group. Introduced in 2007 in the Peugeot 207, the 175bhp version of the engine also equips the Peugeot 308 GT THP 175. The 1.4 to 1.6-litre engine range delivers between 95 to 175bhp and is capable of producing over 200bhp for future product developments.
October 2009
Facelifted, with PSA/BMW VVTi chain cam 1.6 engines adopted
C4 1.6 16V VTi 120hp (Variable valve lift and Timing Injection). The VTi 120hp petrol engine, with a manual or automatic gearbox, replaces the 1.6i 16V 110hp unit, offering an economical and responsive driving experience, with fuel efficiency of 42.2mpg and CO2 emissions of 159g/km on the combined cycle (down 6% on the former unit).
The VTi unit is fitted with an aluminium block and cylinder head and features continuously variable valve timing. The intake valves also benefit from a system that allows their maximum travel to be adjusted gradually depending on the force applied to the accelerator pedal. These two features boost engine efficiency and increase responsiveness with some 90% of maximum torque available all the way through the rev range from under 2,000 through to 6,000rpm.
The new THP 150hp (Turbo High Pressure) engine provides the perfect blend of higher performance, driving pleasure and economy with significantly lower fuel consumption and CO2 emissions. With its six-speed manual gearbox, the THP 150hp’s fuel consumption is 40.9mpg on the combined cycle with CO2 emissions of 164g/km.
The THP 150hp features engine technology that is new to the C4 range with the introduction of direct sequential injection and a twin-scroll turbocharger as well as continuously variable inlet valve timing. This gives the engine excellent low-down pulling power with maximum torque of 177lb.ft almost all the way from just 1,400 through to 3,500rpm and continues strongly through the rev range.
Citroën’s HDi diesel engine line-up is widely recognised for its frugal, clean and dynamic qualities, and in keeping with the model’s upgrade, the C4’s diesel engine range has also been improved.
The 2.0HDi unit with six-speed manual gearbox and particulate filter fitted as standard, boasts fuel efficiency of 53.3mpg on the combined cycle and CO2 emissions of just 140g/km. The other diesel powered models – the 1.6HDi 92hp and 1.6HDi 16V 110hp DPFS EGS – are just as dynamic as before and now even greener thanks to a switch to low rolling resistance Michelin Energy Saver® tyres, available on 16-inch wheels, which reduce the fuel consumption and lower the CO2 emissions. Now 120g/km.
March 2010
Citroën announces new Airdream+ range
Thanks to the introduction of two environmentally sensitive and economically rewarding Airdream+ versions of C3 Picasso and C4 Hatchback. These two new models make up the range alongside the existing 99g/km New C3 Airdream+, which was launched at the start of the year.
With combined cycle fuel economy of between 62.8mpg and 74.3mpg, and CO2emissions from just 99g to 119g/km, the Airdream+ range delivers low running costs and free first year VED.
Showcasing Citroën’s smart, ‘green’ technologies, Airdream+ models feature fuel-efficient HDi engines, ‘optimised’ gearbox technology and a focus on environmentally considerate engineering. They also come with an array of complimentary equipment, on top of the VTR+ specification on which they are based.
The Airdream+ range is powered by Citroën’s lauded HDi diesel technology - with New C3 and C4 models featuring the Company’s renowned Diesel Particulate Filter System (DPFS). An ‘optimised’ manual gearbox with a Gear Efficiency Indicator is specified on the New C3 Airdream+, and a fuel-saving Auto EGS gearbox features on the C4 Airdream+. A part-by-part focus on reducing overall weight, the use of 85% re-cyclable components and a number of ‘green’ materials during manufacture, also support the range’s ecological credentials.
Environmentally sensitive and economical to run, the Airdream+ range is also exceptionally well equipped, with all three Airdream+ models boasting additional equipment over and above the VTR+ specification - at no extra cost.
- The New C3 Airdream+ gains rear parking sensors and a Connecting Box, which features Bluetooth® and a USB socket for portable music players.
- The C3 Picasso Airdream+ also benefits from the Connecting Box, plus rear parking sensors, electric rear windows and electrically adjustable, heated and folding door mirrors.
- The C4 Hatchback Airdream+ gains the Connecting Box and rear parking sensors, as well as automatic digital air conditioning (manual air conditioning is specified on the equivalent VTR+ model).
| Model |
Fuel Economy* |
CO 2 Emissions |
‘On The Road’ R.R.P |
1 st Year
|
BIK
|
C4 1.6HDi 110hp
DPFS EGS Airdream+ |
64.2mpg |
115 g/km |
£18,345.00 |
£0 |
13 |
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Brave styling, decent quality interior and excellent crash test ratings. 1.6 HDi EGS qualifies for £30pa tax. Good compromise between ride and handling
Narrow front footwell awkward for people with big feet. Other drivers you pass can read the speedo.
What is your car like to live with?
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