Faults:
I have a Renault Clio for the past few years now, and had no problems at all with it until recently.
When I was driving to work one morning, the orange coil light - indicating an electric fault - came on. The car immediately slowed down and seem to just roll. No power at all in it.
I had it towed to the main dealer (upon advice from my own mechanic as it was an electric fault). The main dealer had the car for 3 weeks. They said initially that it was the throttle (the fault showed up on some computer) and got a new one for me. They put in it, but it didn't work. They then got a second one, but that didn't work either.
Eventually they re-programed something and that apparently sorted it. I had the car back for 2 weeks and the exact same thing happened again. It was towed back to them. the main mechanic just informed me that it still appears that the throttle isn't functioning (according to the computer) but he cannot guarantee this.
If he tries it, it will cost me between €300 and €400. If this doesn't work, they will have to do a bigger job with reprogramming which will cost in the region of €700-800. He's telling me that it's just basically a chance they are taking with the throttle and cannot guarantee anything!!! I'm so annoyed now as I feel I'm left with no option but to go with this.
I'm surprised that main dealers treat people in this way. You rely and pay them for their expertise, and hope they can solve the problem, instead of paying out a fortune on something that they won't even guarantee will work. Has anyone else had this experience?? I love this car, but the whole thing is stressing me out at this point.
9th Aug 2007, 09:18
Hello, I am having the exact same problem!!! I have a 1.2 16v 2001 Clio. This coil light started coming on about a month ago now so I had a service, as it was due one, to see if this would help. Initially the light did stop coming on, but now it has returned. It seems to happen in low gears (1st sometimes 2nd) edging along in traffic or if I am idle in traffic or at the lights etc. Initially the coil light just came on and I lost power, but if I revved the engine the power would come back and the light went out. Now the coil light comes on and then it stalls completely. I restart it fine and then rev and the light goes out. I really cannot afford to get this fixed if it is as bigger problem as you have described. I'm wondering whether I should just cut my losses and get rid. I have seen loads of similar stories, but not as exact as you describe and loads of possibilities have been mentioned such as needing new leads to needing whole new ECUs. Please keep me updated on your progress, as will I.