11th Feb 2010, 14:04
We have a Renault Clio 1.2 16v Extreme (52 plate).
We had problems until recently with the toxic emissions warning light coming on, resulting in the car engine cutting out.
The black metal box behind the engine (the ECU) had come loose and had chafed some wires leading out of the left of the box. Whenever this metal box touched the wires, it created a short circuit and cut power to the engine.
The problem was really easy to fix - we put some high-temperature silicon sealant over the wires, which also stopped the box wobbling about, and we have had no problems since.
15th Feb 2010, 12:47
Hi all, my wife is also having trouble with her 99 V reg Clio.
Stalling, not starting, idling erratically, lacking power. Like Kevin above, I also have found a creamy coloured grease in the air flow pipe, going into the engine case, cleaned with a screwdriver and some white spirit, which has sorted the idling problem, then I also found oil on plug and lead number 2, so I have also changed the rocker cover gasket £8 gsf, and the inlet manifold O-rings £7 gsf.
I've replaced the spark plugs £13 euro car parts, and also the ht leads £16 gsf. I'm am hoping this will get the car back running normally again, but I have made an error, and also need someones help who owns a V reg Clio. I marked the old leads to plugs 1,2,3,4 as you're looking at the engine, but I forgot to mark the coil pack, so I do not know what order around the coil pack to the spark plugs in sequence the leads go, doh! So if someone could help me out, by telling me, eg, top left coil goes to plug 2, bottom left coil goes to plug 4 ext, that would be excellent, and hopefully the car will be good again, and hopefully help a few other Clio owners out, who all seem to be having the same symptoms,
Thanks, Gregg.
16th Feb 2010, 09:06
Hi. I brought my 04 plate Clio in December, and everything's been fine with it until recently.
On Thursday I thought it had stalled at traffic lights, but then wouldn't restart.
Friday the engine management light came on and was juddering every so often; started to lose power. Didn't use it all over the weekend LOL.
Took to the mechanic that all my family use, and he said it was the coil and my leads (ain't really got a clue with cars LOL)
Picked it up, and I'd got 5 minutes down the road and it cut out on me, so I took it back for another diagnosis test, and he just rang me and said there are lots of faults coming up; main one is the petrol's not running through properly; something to do with the petrol pump.
And the coils are being picked up again, even though a new one was fitted yesterday.
Fed up with this car. I know lots of people with Clios who have had no trouble with them, but mine's a different story.
22nd Feb 2010, 13:28
Sorry, but can't help on the poor running of all your Renault Clios, but for those of you who are having problems with starting and the immobiliser not disengaging. My wife has had this problem for months, and this week it has got worse. So much so, I have had to get my hands dirty.
Bloke from the AA said it could probably be the timing sensor, so grudgingly I purchased one and changed it (39.99). No difference! So back to getting another key and having it reprogrammed by Renault £160. No thanks.
Right fellow sufferers, here's how we now start it every time. Unlock the car as normal. Put the key in the ignition and switch on; if the red light in the middle is flashing switch off, it won't start. Now switch on then off repeatedly 3 or 4 times quickly, not giving the light a chance to start flashing, then on final switch on, continue turning the ignition as if to start the car. Best of luck, and hope this works for you also.
Graham.
23rd Feb 2010, 07:16
I am so happy I found this thread!
I have owned an 04 Clio since July 2005. Had no problems until last year in August. I was driving down from Scotland to Merseyside on the motorway when the car suddenly lost power and went down to 30mph, the engine light came on. I pulled over and let the car sit for a few minutes to 'cool down', then started up and got going again. After about 15 minutes the same thing happened. It happened up to about 7 times until I made it home, I never went above 50mph after the first loss of power. At some point the emissions light came on too. I managed to make it home, although I've never been so scared in my life, stuck on a motorway hard shoulder at 11pm at night, 150 miles from home!!
Because the lights that came on indicated water in the fuel and then funny emissions, I put it down to dodgy petrol.
After a couple of days sat on my driveway, and then filling up with super unleaded (not the supermarket stuff I had used up in Scotland), both the lights went off and the car seemed fine. I have noticed a slight splutter when idling since, but nothing huge.
Last night my partner was driving the car down to London, and the same thing happened to him. Nightmare.
I am now arranging for my car to be brought back home, and then thanks to the messages on here, I am going to get the throttle body cleaned to see if that helps.
Thank you to all the people who posted here, I only wish I'd found this thread back in August last year!!
10th Feb 2010, 02:19
Hi. I would like to share with you how I solved the problem with the engine management light coming on my daughters Clio 2002.
Symptoms: Oil in air box, management light coming on after de-acceleration and small amount of white emulsified oil inside oil filler cap.
I took the car to an auto electrician and the fault code pointed to the map sensor. This was replaced free of charge as they broke it taking the old one off! This did nor cure the problem.
I decided to strip the top half of engine to inspect.
I took the air box/inlet manifold off, and also the rocker cover.
Inside there are 2 adjoined breather tubes from the crankcase these were both blocked. The smaller outlet runs directly to the inlet manifold chamber where the map sensor is located.
So the map sensor was working fine; it was the increased pressure in the inlet manifold triggering the sensor due to the blocked crankcase breather.
I cleaned all components, and used a small drill bit to remove small carbon deposits inside the smaller breather tube.
Also discovered where the oil was coming from. There are 4 or five rocker cover bolts that are inside the main rocker seal or wet joints. These needed to be resealed with silicon joint sealer.
Everything was put back together using new gaskets and seals. Added product called Kalimax to the water, which is an engine block and gasket sealer. Flushed the engine using an oil flush product, then replaced oil and filter.
The car is now cured and my daughter is happy.
Having read all previous posts I have found this very useful. The engine wiring loom seems to be the 1st culprit for diagnoses when the engine management light comes on, but this is not always the case.
Kevin.