August 2009
Hi there,
I have an L Reg Renault Clio Oasis, which has recently developed a problem starting from cold.
The engine turns over fine, but it just won't start. In order to get it to eventually start, I have to keep the key turned and put my foot flat on the accelerator. When it eventually starts, it coughs and splutters (and is generally lumpy) for about 2 minutes and then runs fine.
Once the engine has warmed up, it runs perfectly, although there may be a slight increase in fuel consumption.
Following advice on this site, I have changed the CTS, but this has had no effect. The main problem is, that I can only test the fault when the car is stone cold, as even up to 4 hours after it has been running it will still start ok.
Any further suggestions greatly appreciated and as I'm a bit of a luddite, can you also advise of the location of any other sensors you may mention.
Thanks in advance. Read more
I'm sure most contributors on here will have some idea of what I mean by the 'spirit' of motoring, you know - the freedom of the open road, man and machine in perfect harmony, the spirit of adventure etc etc.
My question is; which developments in the world of motoring have eroded these values over the years?
I'll start with a few suggestions.
The Motorway.
-I think they're great, a very efficient way of moving large quantities of people over great distances but they are frightfully dull. When driving on a motorway you are simply transporting yourself from A-B, there is no time to savour the journey and explore the sights. There is no challenge, no chance to enjoy a car's handling finesse.
Traffic calming measures.
-Including mini-roundabouts and such, they take away the motorists freedom to take the car where he pleases, they confine and restrict motorists like cogs in a communistic machine.
Auto-gearboxes.
-Again, I quite like them but they do take away some of the mechanical interaction from the driver.
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Was happy driving along when car conked out. Clutch not engaging and whines when fully depressed. Gear lever seems to have shifted sideways. Advice received varies from "new gear box required" to "centre clutch plate out of line". Sorry to say fairly new driver with limited mechanical skills. Am arranging a tow to garage but could someone help with ideas of cause please.Thanks in advance. Read more
Broken engine mounting perhaps?
Kevin...
Here's an easy one... I have just bought a 55 reg 2.0 TDI GT, incluing a CD multichanger, and some of the instruction booklets were missing. The one I need is for the radio - anyone got any ideas where I can get one from? Read more
Never mind the booklet, did you get the control code number? Came on a separate credit card sized card. You'll need it if the unit is disconnected at some time in the future. If not, try asking the original supplying dealer.
Is it the unit with the built-in 6dc changer (RCD500)? It's fairly easy to use, though there is one thing that I've never sorted out: like many VAG units, it has the excellent capability to replay Traffic info broadcasts. You can also set the unit to record these in advance, seemingly at 2 times so that eg you can check recent TAs before you set off in the morning and after work. The manual is not very clear how it works and I'm not sure I understand it either - however I've got it working ready for the morning departure!
Hi
Just bought a cheap Polo for our son to learn to drive in. He was out with his mum over the weekend and drove through a deepish puddle, causing the engine to cut out. It started up again not long after, no harm done we thought.
Well last night it cut out again and refused to start, it had to be towed home. A friend who knows a fair bit came to have a look before I towed it and seems to think it's the immobiliser or key transponder. I'm not convinced, especially after googling around, because of the symptoms, such as the engine turns and turns but won't start at all (not the "classic" firing up, then cutting out). He checked the HT leads and said there's no spark from the coil but didn't think the fault was with the coil itself as there would still be a weak spark?
Well I've had a better look in daylight and taken some pictures, the coil looks knackered to me (cracked/charred plastic, light corrosion within). Here's some (big) pictures...
img156.imageshack.us/img156/3875/dsc00177w.jpg
img401.imageshack.us/img401/9902/dsc00180ghl.jpg
I've also checked the connections to the immobiliser box under the steering wheel and they seem good. Does that coil look knackered and should I start by replacing that, or should I check anything else?
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Looks pretty sad. Time for a new one. Regards Peter
I bought the car 8 month ago and haven't had any problems with it. Saturday morning I started the car and was concerned with a sort of rattling noise it was making but, and something I regret doing with hindsight, I set off regardless. About 5 mile later the car began to stuter and some black smoke was coming from the exhaust then the engine stopped with a burning smell and smoke coming from under the engine.
After pushing the car onto the verge I opened the bonnet and found the battery had leaked and checking the cooling fluid bottle found it was empty.
The engine won't start as the electrics are all off. After leaving the car for a good few hours I went back to collect my things from it and took a bottle of water to fill the cooling reservoir. I left it and returned the next day and the resevoir was still full.
I know it will need a new battery but have no expierience other than changing tyres as to fixing cars. Any ideas what may be wrong just to give me an idea of the possibilities I may be looking at would be appreciated.
Thank you
Matt
PS: It's diesel if that has any relevance.
{tried to make the subject header less vague. I think I failed!} Read more
I'd say the pump most likely, would explain the noise coming from the bonnet and the rapid loss of cooling fluid although what damage other than the battery it's done to the engine remains to be discovered, hopefully not much.
Hi, (and help) My 54 3.0 v6 initial GE with 67k on, is boiling water better than a kettle! It is not showing fault lights tho and i only know because you can see where its spitting out from the water filler cap on the expansion box. the dashboard shows normal heat of 5 bars. Its getting rid of it fast under load (ie MWay driving) but not from anywhere else, just the filler cap. its on tight and im assured its not faulty. Renault garage (and im in cz rep on hols so its all going through the wife as translator.....) cannot find a fault yet as its not actually leaking from anywhere when cold but they seem rather keen to change the cylinder head etc. why would they want to do that?
could it be something simple like a dirty radiater from motorway mileage? unlikely i think. normal daily routine back in uk is pootling about to the rellys who only live up the road + we only do abou 7000 miles a year. HELP!!!! got to get back to uk on tuesday next week.
and also, does anyone want a great second hand car............only joking. Read more
thanks again men, not good news but i appreciate the input.
In the current Best Deals list are a number of VW Golfs with amazing discounts. Yet at the dealer/broker's website the prices are much, much higher. I've noticed several times that prices advertised on this and other car sites are completely unrealistic. Has anyone ever managed to achieve such an 'unbeilevable' advertised deal? Read more
Diesel engined 75 engine strats, runs fine but no response from engine when throttle pedal pressed Any ideas ? Jeff Read more
Ah so its actually a Rover 75...
This 2.0 diesel engine is the BMW M47 engine. It has an electronic drive by wire throttle, so no cable.
End of next month, my younger daughter starts a nine month contract teaching in Opole southern Poland. She'd like to drive there in her 2002 106. Any advice on insurance, breakdown cover, other important things would be very welcome.
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Insurers that will cover you for upto 6months continual time in Europe are:
CIS
LV
Frizzell
and that's it; MoreThan do do recovery cover, but most of them don't like it if you don't have a definite return date (ie a ferry booking)
Hope that helps
Browse
That's a bit like the Jasper Carrott routine where he says that everyone he meets say that their kids are "above average", and of course this is statistically impossible.
I'm quite happy to admit that I am a below average driver, but I am saved from being amongst the 10% worse drivers by the fact that I concentrate on safety and try to anticipate as much as possible. In other words, I take care because I know my limitations.
The absolute worst drivers are the ones who think that they are good, even though they are poor in reality. They overreach themselves and cause problems for everyone.