Citroen C4 Cactus Transmission Pump

Listen for a whine that rises with engine speed, then watch for hesitation going into Drive or Reverse and gear changes that land harshly. Underneath, a red or brown ATF puddle and a scorched smell tell the same story. Move quickly on this one — a pump that fails usually takes the converter down with it.

The part itself is the small half of the bill: Maktrans SA lists the 4-speed automatic/DP0 oil pump at around $105. Everything else is labour, since the gearbox has to come out to fit it. Send your gearbox code through the form for a realistic installed price in SA.

Common sources are the pump seal, pan gasket, cooler lines or the torque converter seal. ATF is usually red — check the fluid colour on the dipstick. Any ATF leak warrants immediate attention; running low destroys pumps, converters and clutches fast.

Red, when it is new. Pinkish-red means it is still healthy, brown means it has aged or been overheated, and dark brown to black with a scorched smell means it is finished. Anything brown or black on the dipstick calls for a drain, filter and refresh at minimum, and often points to a rebuild.

To a workshop, yes. As a habit, no. The gearbox runs on the pressure that pump generates, so a leak steadily drops the level until the pump pulls air and the clutches cook themselves. We see perfectly rebuildable boxes killed by owners putting this off. Get it seen now.