C4 Gearbox Slipping and Grinding

I've got a 2023 Citroen C4 with a gasoline engine and about 96k kilometers on it. Recently, the check engine light and transmission indicator light have both come on. I'm also experiencing some gearbox slipping, unclean shifts, and even grinding noises sometimes. An error is stored in the error memory, although I don't know the code. Could this be a defective automatic transmission torque converter lock-up clutch? Has anyone else had this issue?

4 comment(s)

Hey! I had similar issues with my C4, although mine's a bit older. Slipping gears and those awful grinding noises sound way too familiar. Was it more noticeable when the engine was cold? Did you notice any engine surging when it tried to lock up? What error codes did you get read?

Thanks for the quick response! Yes, it does seem worse when the engine is cold. I think I have noticed the engine surge you described. I don't have the error code yet. Is this definitely sounding like a converter fault?

Okay, engine surge and worse when cold points strongly to the torque converter lock-up clutch. Can't say for sure without the error code, but based on the symptoms, that's my educated guess. Honestly, you need to get it to a workshop ASAP. Driving it like this could cause more damage. It could also be low transmission fluid, but with the grinding, I doubt it. How much would a replacement cost? Probably a lot...

Thanks so much for the advice! I took it to the shop, and you were right – it's a defective torque converter. The repair is going to cost 2120€. Ouch! Hopefully, this will resolve all of the issues.

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