Faults:

This 2006 Pluriel is stationed in Airlie Beach, Queensland.

The starter motor had to be replaced at about 50,000 kms (it was full of "clutch dust").

Carpet and some trim and mouldings fit is poor.

Plastics are very flimsy.

There are many rattles.

The seat back / recliner levers are tricky to use.

Car will not start first time if left for more than a couple of hours, and always requires a second attempt under these circumstances.

Gear change from 3 to 4 in Automatic mode has become slower in recent months.

Latest, serious issue from a reliability perspective is that the car has suddenly decided not to start, presumably because of a gearbox / gear selection issue.

The car was running fine until one evening last week, but next morning "nothing"...

Symptoms are as follows:

- Approach the car, unlock the door with the remote, and a "whirring" / "cycling" sound comes from under the bonnet (near gearbox?) and lasts for about ten seconds, then there is a soft "click", also from under bonnet area.

- If the passenger door is opened, the same sounds are heard.

- There is a "- - AUTO" display in the top RH corner of the dash display.

- There is no "click" / "click" of gear ratios engaging when the lever is moved between slots.

- The gearbox appears to be stuck in Auto and the car can be moved, even if the lever is shifted into a Manual gear.

- The handbook procedure for "re-initialising the sensodrive gearbox" after a "system malfunction" or battery replacement" does NOT work.

- The "SERV" indicator comes on at the end of about 60 seconds of trying.

- The Economy Mode has cut in so the diagnostics cannot be interrogated without re-starting the engine (nice one, Citroen!).

- Fuses have been checked and the battery taken out and fully charged in case it was low (unlikely given that the car was running well).

- The re-initialisation process has not worked when tried again.

- A borrowed, contemporary diagnostic unit was plugged into the diagnostic port and linked to Citroen C3 Pluriel Data, but showed "no faults".

- The car is effectively stranded.

The nearest Citroen Dealer is three hours away by Road in Townsville, North Queensland, so I have a real logistics problem.

Can anyone suggest what might be the cause, seemingly electrical it would seem?

General Comments:

A great idea, novel configuration, "funky" but flawed.

What a shame.

I also own a 2004 model Pluriel for use in South Australia, and this has cost a fortune to repair (two failed window regulators etc. just after the warranty expired, but with no help forthcoming from Citroen).

It is well known that the regulators were faulty.

Faults:

My Mother got a C3 Pluriel, in I think 2003.

It was such a good looking car, and she is not into cars, so she didn't look into the actual behavior of such a car.

We were the first to purchase this car in Victoria. Everyone raves about its appearance and its features. We love the car. But the car, is shocking.

Up to every time we stop (at lights, slow to turn), the engine cuts out, there is a loud beeping noise, and if you try to accelerate, the engine backfires. The car is semi-auto, but it switches to manual automatically, when this happens. The computer shuts itself down, and sometimes, won't restart for a few minutes, up to a day, or occasionally more. We've had the car for 5-6 years and this problem, has been re-occurring for two of those years.

The dealership in which we bought it, was hopeless. So moved to an independent Citroen mechanic, they have done nothing to fix this. Once they find something, they fix it. And "that will solve everything." 30 days, $2,000 later, again. And again. And again.

WE WANT THE CAR FIXED.

Does anyone know what has gone wrong with their Citroen C3 Pluriel, or just know, PLEASE share.

Or any further comments, thank you.

General Comments:

My advice is, it's a sure buy for a short-time. Over the warranty (ain't that the way), it's useless.