longtomsilver Posted December 3, 2012 Share Posted December 3, 2012 I bought a new Renault Clio last September (61 plate) and within the first few months of ownership it was plagued with starting problems, renault were very unhelpful and failed to do much that time claiming their diagnostic machine showed no fault but eventually replaced an engine sensor as a speculative fix. It's happening again Car really struggled into life on Friday, would not start over the w/end and only started this morning by cough and spluttering on its 4 attempt (30mins after another 3 goes). I hate the car it is a lemon, what are my rights? I would have liked to have rejected the car units first few months of service but my wife gave Renault the benefit of the doubt. (If they fail a fix this time can I take it to a specialist and bill Renault?). Edit: I'm getting another (new) car anyway in a few weeks and was only planning on keeping this car ( until this issued reared its ugly head again) to September next year. I have a car slush fund of £800 and £7,800 is still owing. Is there a genius way I can eat an £800 loss and flip the car? (Without crashing it) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
longtomsilver Posted December 3, 2012 Author Share Posted December 3, 2012 I will post a video on you tube after I've dropped my daughter off at nursery. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cica Posted December 3, 2012 Share Posted December 3, 2012 Odd. You're gonna lose a lot if you sell it precisely because it could be and is a lemon. I'd stick with hassling Renault. Good luck and I hope it's something simple. Video would be good to show Renault. Write to Car Mechanics magazine and also try car forums. You'll get there and learn a lot. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
longtomsilver Posted December 3, 2012 Author Share Posted December 3, 2012 Odd. You're gonna lose a lot if you sell it precisely because it could be and is a lemon. I'd stick with hassling Renault. Good luck and I hope it's something simple. Video would be good to show Renault. Write to Car Mechanics magazine and also try car forums. You'll get there and learn a lot. Renault were really unpleasant the first time round. It cost me a lot on all four garage visits in fuel and insurance (courtesy car and to insure on my mums jazz). It's a 42 month contract which I am fifteen months into and I understand that my right to voluntary terminate is from month 32 anyway and less the £800 it'll be exactly twelve months before they get it back from me either way Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bruce Banner Posted December 3, 2012 Share Posted December 3, 2012 Probably not relevant as engines are so much more sophisticated these days, but I had similar symptoms on a Ford Cortina company car some thirty five years ago. After many visits to the main dealer, a small independent garage identified the problem, a cracked cylinder head. When the rest of the fleet was checked, they found another half dozen with the same problem. All cars were less than a year old. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
weebag Posted December 3, 2012 Share Posted December 3, 2012 Hi - give Renault Customer Services a call - 08000 72 33 72. Weebag Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Imp Posted December 3, 2012 Share Posted December 3, 2012 I've got a 53 plate Clio, the engine problems I have are 1) Ignition coils - rough running and eventually one cylinder stopped firing. I have a separte coil for each cylinder. They cost about £25 each and take anout 5 minutes to change. 2) Crank shaft sensor stops working. - Rough running and won't start. It is difficult to see it as it is low down on the engine, but held on by two screws. Removed the sensor, cleaned with a soft wire brush and the car was back to its normal self. 3) Immobiliser not de-arming. Go on Youtube/search the internet for this problem. There is a flashing light on the dashboard when you leave the car. The sequence of flashes from this light will indicate if your key has been registered properly by the car. If not, the car just turns over but makes no attempt at starting. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bosh Posted December 3, 2012 Share Posted December 3, 2012 We had starting issues with the wifes old Peugeot 307. Tried numerous garages and finally one of them detected we had a duff/weak car battery. Fitted a new one and problem solved. It always started in the end but took for ever to be able to drive off without coughing and spluttering and when we took it to a garage it had charged the battery enough to look like nothing was wrong. Took over a year and 3 garages to fix a simple problem. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DTMark Posted December 3, 2012 Share Posted December 3, 2012 I bought a new Renault Clio last September (61 plate) and within the first few months of ownership it was plagued with starting problems, renault were very unhelpful and failed to do much that time claiming their diagnostic machine showed no fault but eventually replaced an engine sensor as a speculative fix. It's happening again Car really struggled into life on Friday, would not start over the w/end and only started this morning by cough and spluttering on its 4 attempt (30mins after another 3 goes). Would this problem happen to be worse when the weather is coldest, but the car runs OK once it starts and warms a little? Far from a car expert, but makes me wonder if it isn't getting enough fuel to overcome cold starts possibly due to a faulty temperature sensor or ECU. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bloo Loo Posted December 3, 2012 Share Posted December 3, 2012 petrol in the tank often solves this issue. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
longtomsilver Posted December 3, 2012 Author Share Posted December 3, 2012 Thanks everybody, the battery is a good one as I've tested it on my trickle charger and the crank sensor has been replaced. I will push for the coils to be replaced when I get it booked in and prey everything's ok until I sell in September as my new car has only two seats and I have a need for three seats until my daughter starts her new school then. Actually owing less on finance than I thought so won't be costly when we part company (for good). Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
longtomsilver Posted December 3, 2012 Author Share Posted December 3, 2012 Would this problem happen to be worse when the weather is coldest, but the car runs OK once it starts and warms a little? Far from a car expert, but makes me wonder if it isn't getting enough fuel to overcome cold starts possibly due to a faulty temperature sensor or ECU. Thanks for this ^^^ I believe Renault assumed a fix for this on one of its garage visits as I noticed the car starts with ridiculously high revs after coming back with a new crank sensor. They must have played with the ECU as well. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
longtomsilver Posted December 3, 2012 Author Share Posted December 3, 2012 petrol in the tank often solves this issue. I've got this one sussed Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
libspero Posted December 3, 2012 Share Posted December 3, 2012 deleted.. we've already done battery Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
OnlyMe Posted December 3, 2012 Share Posted December 3, 2012 Honestjohn backroom probably your best bet - but reckon a video is what you need to really help people diagnose it. Any other issues/hints - uneven running at other times when hot, when cold, starting bad under particular conditions i.e when engine still hot, rough running at lights / standstill for a long time? This thread had a few ideas including checking the relays for corrosion (shouldn't be an issue with newish model though). http://www.howtomendit.com/answers.php?id=277974 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DTMark Posted December 3, 2012 Share Posted December 3, 2012 One place I think might be worth asking at: http://www.cliosport.net/ Used to host that site about a decade ago - nice to see it still going! If it's a known or common fault they'll know straight away and even if not, I reckon they might be able to help. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
surfcat Posted December 3, 2012 Share Posted December 3, 2012 I bought a new Renault Clio last September (61 plate) and within the first few months of ownership it was plagued with starting problems, renault were very unhelpful and failed to do much that time claiming their diagnostic machine showed no fault but eventually replaced an engine sensor as a speculative fix. It's happening again Car really struggled into life on Friday, would not start over the w/end and only started this morning by cough and spluttering on its 4 attempt (30mins after another 3 goes). I hate the car it is a lemon, what are my rights? I would have liked to have rejected the car units first few months of service but my wife gave Renault the benefit of the doubt. (If they fail a fix this time can I take it to a specialist and bill Renault?). Edit: I'm getting another (new) car anyway in a few weeks and was only planning on keeping this car ( until this issued reared its ugly head again) to September next year. I have a car slush fund of £800 and £7,800 is still owing. Is there a genius way I can eat an £800 loss and flip the car? (Without crashing it) I can thoroughly recommend renaultforums.co.uk Don't know about modern Clios (3) but on a Clio 2 many starting problems relate to coils or the TDC (which you've already has replace it seems). Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bloo Loo Posted December 3, 2012 Share Posted December 3, 2012 I had a citroen BX. Worked fine till it received a plugs change service. poor starting and occasional judder. the mechanic had somehow damaged one of the HT leads....mate of mine at fords suggest change these first...and it worked. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Harry Sacks Posted December 3, 2012 Share Posted December 3, 2012 I bought a new Renault Clio last September (61 plate) and within the first few months of ownership it was plagued with starting problems, renault were very unhelpful and failed to do much that time claiming their diagnostic machine showed no fault but eventually replaced an engine sensor as a speculative fix. It's happening again Car really struggled into life on Friday, would not start over the w/end and only started this morning by cough and spluttering on its 4 attempt (30mins after another 3 goes). I hate the car it is a lemon, what are my rights? I would have liked to have rejected the car units first few months of service but my wife gave Renault the benefit of the doubt. (If they fail a fix this time can I take it to a specialist and bill Renault?). Edit: I'm getting another (new) car anyway in a few weeks and was only planning on keeping this car ( until this issued reared its ugly head again) to September next year. I have a car slush fund of £800 and £7,800 is still owing. Is there a genius way I can eat an £800 loss and flip the car? (Without crashing it) I was an AA patrol man up until 2009. Is it petrol or diesel? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
longtomsilver Posted December 3, 2012 Author Share Posted December 3, 2012 I was an AA patrol man up until 2009. Is it petrol or diesel? Ooh! Petrol 1.2 basic not TCE Thank you Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Harry Sacks Posted December 3, 2012 Share Posted December 3, 2012 Ooh! Petrol 1.2 basic not TCE Thank you I know this might sound like a stupid question but where do you park it? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
longtomsilver Posted December 3, 2012 Author Share Posted December 3, 2012 I know this might sound like a stupid question but where do you park it? On the drive. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Harry Sacks Posted December 3, 2012 Share Posted December 3, 2012 On the drive. Have you ever started the engine from stone cold and run it for only a minute or so before switching off? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
longtomsilver Posted December 3, 2012 Author Share Posted December 3, 2012 Have you ever started the engine from stone cold and run it for only a minute or so before switching off? I never do that. If I need to move the car then I'll take the car for a quick (not very enjoyable) spin around the block until the t's and p's are all green. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Harry Sacks Posted December 3, 2012 Share Posted December 3, 2012 I never do that. If I need to move the car then I'll take the car for a quick (not very enjoyable) spin around the block until the t's and p's are all green. Does the problem happen anywhere or only on your drive? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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