4th Nov 2008, 04:04

2004 Clio 1.4 16V Dynamique.

Sadly my car appears to be showing the initial symptoms of some of the problems shown here. Under acceleration there is a pronounced intermittent misfire. I took it to a local garage and sadly because there is no steady error shown, they are unable to diagnose it. The emissions light was on steadily for about a week (i.e. not flashing), but seems to have gone out.

I have had 3 of the coils replaced in the past so it may simply be the final one on its way out, but who knows. Any suggestions there? (My other thought is that it's the lambda sensor and it's running a bit rich... hmm)

Cheers!

P.

8th Nov 2008, 08:43

CAR PROBLEM FIXED!!!

Car: Clio 1.2 16v Billabong Edition.

Problem:

I would be going along a road randomly at any kind of speed and the car would suddenly loose most of its power. The coil light would appear in the center of the dash board and sometimes the engine management light would also appear.

This became very annoying and dangerous. The only way that I could solve this problem would be to pull over and restart the engine a couple of times.

I could not have this problem happening anymore so I took it to a garage explaining what had happened, this did a diagnostic test on it and the results where:

4 errors with the throttle body

1 error with the accelerator pedal.

I am glad I read this site before because I would have then just replaced the throttle body... But after reading this site I decided to ask one of the guys at the garage to take a look at the black box at the back of the engine...

The results were amazing, the wire protector "the black box" had rubbed through the wires creating a wire short in the engine thus making the car go into idle mode. All I have had to do it wrap the wires in black thick tape and make sure the box is no longer catching on the wires.

Very simple outcome to what could have been a extremely expensive outcome to the diagnostics.

If you have any more questions:

james_marsh100@hotmail.com

Good look with your Clios :)

10th Nov 2008, 15:22

Oh I wish I'd have seen this site before I bought my sorry excuse for a car!!

I've a 1.4 05 Clio Extreme and have had nothing but trouble with it. I've only had it just over a year and have had two engine coils replaced already - however... that was a sign of much worse to come...

It wouldn't start last week for no clear reason - it would turn over but not fire up. I took it to two very reliable mechanic's who tried every possible solution, but in the end they had to admit to defeat due to not having the Renault diagnostic computers. So very reluctantly... I took it to Renault.

Well firstly - the customer service was an absolute joke! They told me I couldn't have a courtesy car for ten days - even though my job as a nurse relies on me getting to peoples houses.. So basically I could lose my job! Then they said they'd phone me before 5pm that day to let me know what the problem was from the £85 pound diagnostic test I'd been already charged for... and guess what? I had to chase them with over ten phone calls until someone would FINALLY talk to me.

Then this is where the fun begins...

They informed me that they needed to do a "wiring loom test" at £226, and if that did not solve the problem, I'd need a new ECU, which I have learnt from tonight's fruitful readings will cost me well over £700. And even then - all these posts lead me to believe that the problem won't be solved.

Conclusion??

Renault should recall this model and fix the problem instead of making innocent customers foot the bill for THEIR bad workmanship.

My Clio is not VA VA VOOM... rather VA VA DOOMED FOR SCRAPPING!

KEEP WELL AWAY FROM THIS MODEL, unless you're a glutton for punishment.

12th Nov 2008, 18:03

Clio 1999 1.6 8v. When I turn my Clio on it starts shaking when stationary, and sometimes feels like it is going to cut out. When I drive the car like this, it lacks power and is very slow. What could this be? Also the service and airbag light are constantly on.

13th Nov 2008, 03:44

Having already been through the coil problems, and having constantly told Renault about problems involving oil usage since buying the car, I was told my car was built like this to ensure the engine parts would last well over 100k ha ha.

I got a phone call from Renault, who once again have my car, to tell me that at 4 years old and with 75k on the clock, my car need an entire engine replacement.

Thanks Renault, it has been well worth wasting my money on your services and diagnostics.

16th Nov 2008, 17:03

My partner owns a Renault Clio Expression 1.2 16v 52 plate, owned from new. In September we took it to Renault dealer with the infamous orange 'coil' warning light coming on sporadically and resulting drop in power, meaning the car was a potential death trap in fast traffic, as 20 mile per hour suddenly became its maximum speed!

A cost of £85 was quoted immediately just to attach to a diagnostic machine! No mention from them that this was a problem they had seen before! They kept the car 2 days to see if they could replicate problem, but the car was fine! And no error codes appeared! However as the car is nearly 5 years old and has done 35k miles, they recommend the timing belt and water pump replaced at a cost of £455!

Unfortunately I had left word with my partner to OK any repair, as a car a must for her as she is a Staff Nurse, as I was at work and unobtainable. I foolishly expected the work advised to be connected in some way to the cars problems! So work okayed much to my annoyance the following morning!

Anyway - 2 months down the line the orange light is now on permanently, having never gone away, and car is virtually undriveable; wish I had discovered this website before going anywhere near that Renault dealership.

I do though find it very strange, that after reading these threads, I discover the lid of the black box mentioned has actually been removed at some point, and wires have been insulated with black tape by an unknown third party? This can only have been done at dealer or by an AA man some time ago, as they are the only people to have had access other than I to the engine bay! And I am sure the AA man would have mentioned it!

The car is going back to dealer tomorrow, and I HAVE TOLD THEM that I will not pay for diagnostics again, and the original problem was not cured, and I now have information that this is a notoriously common fault with Clios.

It is my hope that I can get this car running again to trade it in ASAP! I am finished with Renault and for that matter the dealership as I feel very let down.

I am currently considering replacing my own car as well as my partners, and there will definitely be no French connection! Japanese or German from now on!

Complain to Watchdog by all means, but I doubt this will do any good given Renaults past history. The best thing to do is vote with feet and 'STEER CLEAR' of them! That will hurt them more in long run! If the fault is actually fixed by the dealer tomorrow, I now have major doubts, I will post again!