Tales from the workshop

CITROËN C5

DPF additive

We have a few painter and decorator customers who prefer using a car to a van. The versatility of the right car gives them the option to carry a few workers around to different jobs, that a van does not.

One particular customer normally buys a cheap old motor, and as he doesn’t need to look posh he has little regard for the state of the interior. His latest transport is a 2004 Citroën C5 diesel which has lots of boot space as well as being economical and comfortable. He has had it a couple of years now and even with the lack of attention it was getting it was still going strong.

The Citroëns days were nearly numbered when the ‘additive low’ message appeared on the dash and thinking it was going to be a simple AdBlue top-up he dropped into the local Citroën dealer. Being threatened with a bill of around £500 he was out of there pretty sharpish.

The additive system on the Citroën uses an Eloys fluid which is both more expensive than the AdBlue and more hazardous. Unlike the AdBlue systems, the computer also needs resetting with diagnostic equipment once the top-up has been completed. I was able to shave 2/3rds off the main dealer price – and the owner was quite happy to let me carry out the work. Now replenished the system should not need attention for a while.

FORD GRAND C-MAX

Worn dual mass flywheel

The problems with this 2011 Ford Grand C-MAX 1.6 TDCi had been present for the last twelve months.