Had my Citigo for a couple of months now and i love it!

However, i was looking around it the other day and i noticed that when you look through the radiator grille you can clearly see the alternator, and it only appears to me a short distance away from the grille.

I would think there's a fair chance of water (particularly on a yukky day like today!) coming through and into the alternator,

Not only that, but it looks like a pressure wash would soak it.

Any thoughts on this?

What version have you got?

On my 75PS Elegance Greentech you can see the following when you look through the front grille:

Driver side: Black plastic cover (which is in front of the altenator)

Passenger side: Coolant and Air-Con radiators.

Possibly you are missing the black plastic cover?

What version have you got?

On my 75PS Elegance Greentech you can see the following when you look through the front grille:

Driver side: Black plastic cover (which is in front of the altenator)

Passenger side: Coolant and Air-Con radiators.

Possibly you are missing the black plastic cover?

Thanks for the reply, i have the Greentech 60ps.

I don't see a plastic cover but i can see the (worryingly) exposed alternator.

Might I suggest looking for another example with the same engine, and asking the driver if you can have a look at the motor because you think there's a cover missing off yours?

Mike, here is the black plastic cover.

Sorry it's a bit dark in there, but with the cover no light gets in...

Interestingly I had a look at the close up pictures of my project Citygo (which is a 60PS SE non-Greentech) and that also has a black plastic cover inside the grille so you can't see the altenator.

Found it !!!

Here is the pic of the front radiator/grille assembly when it was removed from the car to trial fit the new engine.

This is the non-Greentec 60PS SE. (With the same cover as a 75PS Greentech, my other one)

As you can see, there is clearly a black plastic panel that runs down the driver side where the gap would be left by the offset radiators.

I hope this helps.

Richard.

Thanks for the photographs, much appreciated.

Just popped into the dealers. Every Citigo there was the same as mine, the alternator was exposed on all of them. With ONE exception. There was one Citigo with a plastic cover part that blocked the view of the alternator.

The service staff had no explanation as they should "all be the same" but they said they'll do some research and get back to me.

Thanks for the photographs, much appreciated.

Just popped into the dealers. Every Citigo there was the same as mine, the alternator was exposed on all of them. With ONE exception. There was one Citigo with a plastic cover part that blocked the view of the alternator.

The service staff had no explanation as they should "all be the same" but they said they'll do some research and get back to me.

That is strange, mines like Bossfox's with the black plastic cover, first thing I noticed, hope you get it sorted!

That is strange, mines like Bossfox's with the black plastic cover, first thing I noticed, hope you get it sorted!

How odd!

Like i said, i just popped into the dealer this morning to put my mind at rest. All of the Citigos there were like mine, with the alternator clealy showing when you look through the front grille.

I was about to go home content in the knowledge that all citigos were like that when i had a look at one on the way out of the forecourt, and that was like yours and bossfox's!

The dealer staff were very friendly and spent a lot of time checking computers and the like, and they said they thought they were all the same, but would look into it further.

I'm now wondering about possible water ingress into the starter motor, i'm 100% certain that a jetwash would go right into the alternator. A day like this would certainly mean it got damp. I guess if lots of them are like mine then VAG must be content that it wouldn't cause any problems. Or is the plastic cover a late addition to newer Citigos?

Or is the plastic cover a late addition to newer Citigos?

Personally I think that's unlikely as both mine have it.

One was registered in May 2012 and was the dealer's first demo car and one only arrived from the factory a few weeks ago.

The only time I ever had a problem with my Octavia was due to water in the alternator, I was going up the M6 in an absolute monsoon, just as I was overtaking a large lorry all the (electrical related) warning lights came on, fortunately the engine kept going and after easing off a bit and getting out of the spray - normal service was resumed.

After that I kept clear of lorries and spray in general for the remainder of the journey

It never happened again.

So I think that an exposed alternator in the manner described must pose a similar risk.

Personally I think that's unlikely as both mine have it.

One was registered in May 2012 and was the dealer's first demo car and one only arrived from the factory a few weeks ago.

Interesting. There was no pattern at the dealers. Lots of the brand new ones didn't have the plastic cover either. The dealer staff were as puzzled as me.

The only time I ever had a problem with my Octavia was due to water in the alternator, I was going up the M6 in an absolute monsoon, just as I was overtaking a large lorry all the (electrical related) warning lights came on, fortunately the engine kept going and after easing off a bit and getting out of the spray - normal service was resumed.

After that I kept clear of lorries and spray in general for the remainder of the journey

It never happened again.

So I think that an exposed alternator in the manner described must pose a similar risk.

Yes, that is what is worrying me a bit as well. I honestly think the same would happen to me on motorway with lots of spray. Bit scared to get it washed as well.

Only picked mine up last thursday and just checked. It has the black plastic shields, can't see the alternator through the grill. That's the first time I've lifted the bonnet, nice lump under there.

Mick

Thanks for raising this Mick. I'll be looking out for this when we take delivery of ours in the next 7-10 days hopefully. I'll report back then.

How odd!

Like i said, i just popped into the dealer this morning to put my mind at rest. All of the Citigos there were like mine, with the alternator clealy showing when you look through the front grille.

I was about to go home content in the knowledge that all citigos were like that when i had a look at one on the way out of the forecourt, and that was like yours and bossfox's!

The dealer staff were very friendly and spent a lot of time checking computers and the like, and they said they thought they were all the same, but would look into it further.

I'm now wondering about possible water ingress into the starter motor, i'm 100% certain that a jetwash would go right into the alternator. A day like this would certainly mean it got damp. I guess if lots of them are like mine then VAG must be content that it wouldn't cause any problems. Or is the plastic cover a late addition to newer Citigos?

im pretty sure it's not a late addition, mine was one of the very first made for promotion purposes

And another odd thing, the only people who've commented on this are people who HAVE cars with the plastic cover - yet every car i checked today (apart from one) didn't have the cover!

It surely can't be a regional thing?

Doubtful, all the cars should be UK spec unless they are special builds like the Tiesto model.

The only regional differences are what the importers for each country want as the standard spec and options.

It is very odd.

And another odd thing, the only people who've commented on this are people who HAVE cars with the plastic cover - yet every car i checked today (apart from one) didn't have the cover!

It surely can't be a regional thing?

Hope your dealer can get it sorted for you!, bit strange for them to just miss a load of them out!

Well, i think if they repair it they are going to have to repair a lot of cars. Not only that but it's a part of the radiator so i expect it will be quite a big job.

Guess, if they won't do anything, i could always self-mod and just stick something over that part of the radiator...

On reflection Mike and thinking back to me looking at the front of a black Citigo at the dealers when I was negotiating my own purchase I do distinctly remember noticing that the left side of the grill (looking from the front of the car), looked blanked off. I thought that was odd looking and remember thinking I wished it wasn't that way. I now know why and hope that mine has the shield fitted. I'll check the other demo Citigo at the dealers, when I go to collect my own, or if I have good reason to call there beforehand.

Presumably your dealers will pursue this with the importers, and if necessary, through them to the factory, and get back to you.

Sounds strange, my understanding os they all come from the same place and then when they get in the uk they go to the same place eso question is why? :S

Sounds strange, my understanding is they all come from the same place and then when they get in the uk they go to the same place eso question is why? :S

I don't know.

But just for info they don't all come to the same place in the UK.

The North ones go to Grimsby and the South cars come into Sheerness I believe.

Not sure if Scottish ones go direct to a Scottish port or go to Grimsby first.

Good grief, I am becoming a Skoda annorack!

Mine does NOT have the plastic cover. The car has a build date of 13 June 2012 and came to South Wales via Grimsby.

Perhaps owners could check the build dates of their cars that do not have the cover? My date was on an A4 sheet given to me on delivery. It looks as if the item might have been dropped from the design spec - maybe because of overheating in hot climates ?(just like the UK!! :--/)

Mine does NOT have the plastic cover. The car has a build date of 13 June 2012 and came to South Wales via Grimsby.

Perhaps owners could check the build dates of their cars that do not have the cover? My date was on an A4 sheet given to me on delivery. It looks as if the item might have been dropped from the design spec - maybe because of overheating in hot climates ?(just like the UK!! :--/)

That sound about right lol