Dear All,
I have a Clio 02 Quickshift, which seems to have developed a peculiar problem. I live in London and only use the car to go shopping in the weekend. When I take the car to go to the shops it has no problem starting - starts first time. But when I try to start it to go home from the shops it refuses. The engine turns but nothing happens. I have discovered that if I wait till the engine is cold again it will start (first time). I have kept an eye on the engine temp when I drive to the shops but it never exceeds 'normal.'. However, it still only seems to want to start if the engine temp is cold???
I had it serviced recently and asked the independent mechanic. He could find no fault with it and muttered that the quickshift gearbox migh have something to do with it ?!?
I have been advised to take it to a Renault dealer. Called up and found that they charge £104 for a diagnostic alone.
Any advise? Have anybody else had this problem? Although the car is from 2002 it had only done 15.000 miles when I bought it from Cargiant a couple of years ago - and by now, due to very limited use, it has only done 18.000.
Best,
a frustrated Clio owner.
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Heat-soak into the crank position sensor on top of the flywheel, [Renault call it a TDC sensor] is very common on all Renaults and gives exactly this symptom.
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Thank you.
What can I do about it?
Also, it seems to have gotten a lot worse. A few months ago this fault only happened once in a while. Now it appears to happen evey time (and it is a p.i.t.a. that I cannot just go to the shop without being able to go home straight afterwards)
Cheers,
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IF that is your problem; a new one isn't too dear and far less than the cost of a diagnostic. Not too hard to change either.
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sorry, what isn't expensive - a TDC sensor? where would be a good place to buy it and do you know roughly the cost of one?
I have just been told that Renaults with starting problems often have a defect Coolant Temperature Sensor [CTS]. Is that the same as the TDC sensor you are talking about?
Thanks,
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Frankly; it sounds as though getting a garage to look at it would be your best move. Yes; it could also be the CTS [or many other things] and that can be checked with suitable equipment.
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IME the TDC sensor issue is not specifically temp related though is worse when hot, when dirty it effects the engine's ability to idle smoothly, it usually simply requires cleaning for which alcohol or meths are best, if you have no meths then a splash of gin or vodka on some kitchen roll should do it.
The problem as described sound like CTS to me, a faulty CTS can, upon restarting, make the engine's ECU think that the engine is cold when it is actually hot thus too rich mixture will be provided etc, if not fixed it can damage the catalyst.
Probably bet to entrust to a Renault dealer though say that you have been advised that the CTS may be faulty and ask them to confirm the diagnosis so you are not paying them to check all and sundry.
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RE: Frankly; it sounds as though getting a garage to look at it would be your best move. Yes; it could also be the CTS [or many other things] and that can be checked with suitable equipment.
RE: The problem as described sound like CTS to me? Probably best to entrust to a Renault dealer
Haha, yes, as you might have detected then I am trying to avoid going to a Renault dealer (who will charge £104 to do a diagnostics).
Any ideas whether it is so probable that the starting problem is caused by a faulty CTS that it might make economical sense to simply have an independent mechanic change the CTS without going to Renault first?
The CTS is not very expensive, is it? (£30-£35)
And fairly easy to change for a mechanic? (10-15 min?)
Or should I just concede defeat and take it to Renault?
Thank you for the advise
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Why not just get the mechanic to check the CTS's function with his scanner? Plenty of garages have them now; you don't need a dealer.
The crank sensor would be more difficult to check; either live-data will show a lack of engine speed when cranked during the non-start period; or a deficient waveform signal from it would show on an oscilloscope.
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Ok look at it like this
Clio driver "may mate says its the CTS, please change it"
Mechanic "righto mate - thats 35 quid for the sensor and 35 quid labour" - 70 quid in till - kerching
Clio driver "that didnt fix it - my mate says its the crank sensor"
Mechanic - "rightoh mate that s 35 quid for the sensor and 35 quid labour" 70 quid in till - kerching
Clio driver "that didnt fix it either my mate says its the......
Mechanic "I like your mate - he is really good for business"
DO NOT POKE AND HOPE AND THROW PARTS AT IT. pay up and get the damn fault diagnosed. It will cost you less in the long run,.
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TourVanMan TM < Ex RF >
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Haha, ok. I get the message. I'll go and ask a mechanic who lives around the corner if he will check it on the cheap and, if not, go to Renault (sigh... £104... and with no guarantee that they will be able to provide an immediate solution either!)
thanks
The clio owner
(P.S. anybody wants to buy an almost reliable second-hand clio!!)
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Note:
I said above - entrust to a Renault dealer though say that you have been advised that the CTS may be faulty and ASK THEM TO CONFIRM the diagnosis so you are not paying them to check all and sundry.
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Here is a small update.
It turned out that there is a mechanic specialising in Renaults just around the corner from where I live (!). I spoke to him yesterday and he informed me that he had just fixed another Renault with the same problem by changing the crank position sensor (as Screwloose first suggested). He was willing to change my crank position sensor for less than £50 so I'll give it a go. True, if it turns out that it doesn't fix the problem I end up paying £50 more than I whould have if I had taken it straight to Renault. But if it fix the problem I save more than £60. Given that it is probable that it is the crank position sensor I'll take a chance. I'll keep you informed whether it turns out to be success or failure.
Thank you for your suggestions.
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Dear All - and everybody who reads this thread because they are having a similar problem,
I had the crankshaft sensor replaced and the problem has gone away. It starts like a treat whether the engine is hot or cold :-) It cost me £45 to get it changed, so I am quite happy that I did not go to Renault to get it diagnosed first.
Thank you Screwloose, you were spot on!
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Thanks for the feedback, good that you got it sorted though might have been worth simply cleaning the crank position sensor.
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cheddar
Trust me - it wouldn't.
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