24th Jun 2008, 14:30

Hi All... a possible solution (of sorts).

I have a 52 plate Renault Clio Dynamique (54,000 miles) 16v (bought 4 weeks ago), and pretty much as soon as I'd purchased it, the fumes light was on, which if I over revved the car (3000 RPM+) would cause the engine management light to come on, and the car to go into 'limp... get me home... mode'.

For the first 2 weeks, I had no idea what the hell was causing this, but I took it up to my friend's house, he opened the air intake valve and we gave it a quick spray. Lo and behold, the fumes light went off and it was okay for a couple of days. It did come back, which really pee'd me off, but again, I took it to my friends and gave it a more aggressive spray (actually managing to choke the engine into stalling), and it was fine for 2 weeks.

It's since done it again, and I've been to Halfords and bought my own spray, and I've gotten into the habit of giving it a spray every weekend... so far all seems fine.

I know nothing about cars, so don't treat this as gospel, but this solution might not help you guys; rather than shelling out loads of cash, it's worth a try to check this first. Basically, you have to unscrew the two nuts on your air intake valve, crack it open (with the engine on) and spray the air intake (while revving seems to do it better).

My friend said the problem probably lies with the 'lambda??' sensor inside the air intake, which is giving the engine false readings because it's clogged up, so it could probably do with replacing, but I'm gonna keep this up for a few weeks and see where I am then.

Like I say, give it a try, it may work...

Craig.

24th Jun 2008, 14:37

Hello! Having recently purchased a Clio I seem to be having similar problems to everyone else! It is a Y Reg 01-05 model.

Having bought the car about 3 or 4 months ago the ECU light (coil light) has started to come on randomly. When this happens the engine automatically revs at 2000 rpm. If I try and accelerate I get nothing and if I lift off I still get 2000 rpm. Also, the exhaust gas warning light has now come on with the ECU light.

At one point I was on the M1 and it happened. I was limited at 40mph with some traffic coming past at 80. I obviously pulled over. After restarting the engine it was fine again for another day.

Is there no simple fix to this problem? Has anyone ever managed to fix a problem like this. I think I will probably have to sell the car as being a student I cannot afford to try and fix it. I will probably lose more than £1000 from re-selling it. And I feel bad selling it to someone when I know it has a problem.

Thanks.

1st Jul 2008, 17:28

Hi all.

Well, here's another one. I got a chuggy and "couldn't pull the skin off a rice pudding" reaction from my 1999 1.4 Clio RT about 1 month ago, but thought I was perhaps just driving it in the wrong gear etc. (only been driving a year, and am a complete girl where it comes to cars and stuff).

Car decided to cut out a couple of times, did still think at this point that it was my rubbish driving, but then it started doing it more and more in first and second gear. One such "humorous" time was in my local multi storey car park, where she stalled going up one of the ramps. She went into "tractor mode" (power steering off, car dead) and I stuffed her into the wall as I couldn't react quick enough/get her round the turn properly. I was SO pleased as you can imagine. Fortunately I have only done cosmetic damage, a couple of scrapes and stuff on the front driver's side.

So home I came and internet searching I went, and found all these comments. That was SUCH a deep joy moment as all of you in the same (leaky, sinking) boat can appreciate. My first EVER car purchase is a lemon, I've had it a year and it's dangerous, and I've got two years left to pay on it, AND have recently lost my job. I am now realizing I'm, as an owner of this car, the definition of sod's law and murphy's law combined.

So this afternoon, I gaily set off in my "dangerous and doomed" car to go to an auto centre, armed with some ideas to try and fix her, and she helpfully stalled at the top of my road, which again, rather helpfully, happens to be a one way road. And guess what? At a time, unusually, when there was quite a bit of traffic. So there's me conked in the middle of the road, not a male in sight to help push, and she decides not to start for some reason, for the first time ever. You see my point now perhaps about Sod's Law/Murphy's Law?.

Finally get her started after 5 goes, with final time, me having to hoof the accelerator to pick the revs up. So, give it beans and take it to the auto centre with her stalling a few more times on the way, but thankfully starting fine. Wander in and ask for replacement spark plugs, air filter, oil filter and some Redex. Which provided a rather amused looking salesman, wondering how a girly girl knows what these things are. Got everything except spark plugs from here, so glugged in the Redex and off I went to another retailer.

Well I do suffer from murphy's law like I said, went round the block, to a set of traffic lights, got in the middle of the road, in between the lights to turn right and... well well, she conked out again. Except this time because I'm in the middle of the lights and I've not gone when the lights with sensors thought I had, I've missed the sensors to make them go green again, and I'm in no mans land with a car I'm about ready to drive off the nearest cliff, and traffic coming at me from all sides looking at me as if I'm a right twonk.

Take a leap of faith on a red light and get to the other retailers. Get the spark plugs - bloke was very confused as to why I'm so happy that he has them in stock. Set off on 12 mile drive to find Dad to fix car. Car fine!!! Ooooh Redex has worked methinks. So we fit everything else apart from the oil filter as we can't do an oil change. I know at this stage that battery is fine as I had an electrician check its voltage both off and on. On is 15V and off is 12V, so we're OK there. Air filter was the colour of creme brulee, so brown but not black. Spark plugs were worn but again not bad. Take it to nearest garage to see if he can check it over, but he's swamped with work, but the car is better... not chuggy, low revs, below 500, when idling. Me is pleased. Total spent at this point £44.75.

Thanks me dad and goes and sees me aunty round the corner. There for 4 hours. Comes out, starts car fine, gets to end of her road before corner, cuts out before speed bump. Get to end of road, cuts out. One way again, halfway down next road, cuts out. Decide to turn off lights and radio. Dusk so not exactly clever, sorry Mr officer kind of not clever, but no choice. Car OK for rest of way home at various stops, traffic lights etc. However, instead of the usual disco lights when stalled previous to today, I got battery light on first, then oil light on. And then I remembered I get a different oil reading every time I start the car; sometimes says half full, others completely full, others three quarters, but engine idling sounds rattly, like you can hear the tappets.

Right, now I'm furious. I did manage to get home okay, but I can't trust my little car anymore, which for a relatively new driver is not helpful. I'm going to try the oil change, throttle body clean etc. next (well my dad will when I call him to give him the good news) as well as have a go at bashing that black box off, because as you can tell, I'm JUST in the mood to do that. I have never had a serv, airbag, or coil light or the other one today, except when previously stalling and all lights came on at once (disco lights description).

VERY displeased with this carat present, particularly as I thought I had bought a little gem. I will keep you all posted with my progress, and I'm just hoping that the remedies you guys have found will prove fruitful for myself. If it does, I may have to think about selling her. At least I read this before I took her to a garage for them to play "guess the fault and pick a likely sum from thin air to charge for it". If nothing works, then I will get onto Renault/Watchdog myself, because this is intolerable and downright dangerous. If it's those bloody wires, then it's a design fault and they should know about this, which makes this whole problem, thread, and other owners' unresolved problems disgusting.