New Owner - Is this a problem or totally normal?

[Linus27]

Hi everyone,

I have just bought a lovely Renault Clio 172 on an 02 plate. It drives pretty nicely and I am generally very happy with it. However, it does have a bit of an issue when starting from cold. For the first few minutes of driving, there is some resistance with the engine. When I try to accelerate, its pulling back or is resisting. I'm not accelerating hard and taking it slow and easy whilst the engine warms up but its noticable at low revs. It's a bit like when cars had manual chokes and you have left it out for to long and the power is being resisted. After a few minutes of driving it goes away and accelerates and pulls normally.

Is this normal or do I have a problem?

 

[clio_luke]

welcome.
sounds normal to be honest. a lot of the cars on here do it.
have a search on here for more answers, quite a few threads on it.

 

[Budgie]

They're all slightly hesitant when cold, mate.

 

[DrR]

Both of wine have been god awful when cold, go after 2-3mins though.

 

[James.f]

ye iv just realised this recently, but when it free's up you feel the car changing,

 

[Linus27]

Thanks for the quick replies everyone, really appreciate it and happy to read its not a problem.

 

[daddycool]

mine does this, new owner too, glad its not just mine.

 

[mowglimiller]

I've been told of someone before that its due to the engine recirculating the exhaust fumes in order to heat the engine up quicker.

Don't know how true it is but it makes sense to me.

 

[Craigus]

I doubt that is true.

 

[hughski]

i get this. it sorta stops accelerating. nowt to worry about, its probably about to fall apart.

 

[daddycool]

I've been told of someone before that its due to the engine recirculating the exhaust fumes in order to heat the engine up quicker.

Don't know how true it is but it makes sense to me.

'Tis true, I normally read about them failing in Vauxhalls, which funnily enough they share parts with Saab! The engine recirculates the exhaust gases to keep the engine cooler and the emissions down, and as you say it warms the engine up quicker. Exhaust Gas Recirculation (EGR) valve.

 

[mantis946]

Mine does it too, must be common among the clio's. I always thought it was the oil being cold, also read somewhere about a cold map that switches on the ECU.

 

[Short Norman]

mine does it too, usually stops doing it after the first 2 miles....

 

[James23]

May be worth changing your stat, if it's faulty and is stuck open or opening too soon it will prolong your rough running.

 

[Blue Mez]

Mine does it also, its horrible to drive and then suddenly it just turns normal, cant be doing the car much good tbh.

The best thing to do if you're not in a rush is let the car run till the revs drop to 1k, usually takes 2mins, then set off.

 

[AndyWilde]

I get exactly the same thing - had it on my previous 172 as well

 

[ScarySquirrel]

Same with my 182. Usually only lasts about 60 seconds.

 

[DMS]

They're all like it AFAIK.

 

[nicknick]

May be because of low grade petrol? They do recommend 98 ron IIRC

 

[crazycup_racer]

'Tis true, I normally read about them failing in Vauxhalls, which funnily enough they share parts with Saab! The engine recirculates the exhaust gases to keep the engine cooler and the emissions down, and as you say it warms the engine up quicker. Exhaust Gas Recirculation (EGR) valve.

Clio sports dont use EGR valves but in responce to the OP, it is normal, mine takes a good 4-5 mins to clear sometimes.

 

[Dunn]

Its the lamdba sensor before the cat that causes this.

 

[Dean.]

mine used to do it until i got an rs tuner remap. now its perfect cold starting

 

[Alex_X93]

My ph1 did this thought maybe imports had a slightly diffrent map, getting a remap will smooth it out. Or possible your brakes are binding prob the former.

 

[typan]

500 yards then I feel mine kick in.

 

[blambert]

My 2004 182 does this, lumpy idle (feels like its on the edge of stalling, but never does) and sometimes you can put your foot to the floor and it wont pass 1400rpm. After 30 seconds its fine and drives normally

 

[182.]

same here. i find it quite fun at times because when changed to second i can accelerate so far and then let of the pedal and then tap it slightly which makes it pop like an absolute b**ch.

 

[daddycool]

My 2004 182 does this, lumpy idle (feels like its on the edge of stalling, but never does) and sometimes you can put your foot to the floor and it wont pass 1400rpm. After 30 seconds its fine and drives normally

this sounds more severe than mine. i can rev to 3000rpm (dont wish go any higher at that temperature) and it doesnt feel like its about to stall.

someone mentioned its the lambda before the cat, i wonder if unplugging that lambda would make a difference?

 

[crazycup_racer]

this sounds more severe than mine. i can rev to 3000rpm (dont wish go any higher at that temperature) and it doesnt feel like its about to stall.

someone mentioned its the lambda before the cat, i wonder if unplugging that lambda would make a difference?

it would be far worse defaulting the ecu to standard setting

 

[JayD]

My ph2 172 runs lumpy to start with. If it's warmer than 15 degrees outside then it hardly does it, but when its say 10 degrees it's really hesitant and often leads to wheelspinning when pulling out of junctions when the power does decide to come back. I tend to let the engine rev slightly higher than normal pottering before changing up when it's cold just so that it warms up a little quicker.

 

[Linus27]

Just to say that I had the lambada sensor changed and it made no difference. What I did notice is with the engine running but not driving, I can slowly start to press the accelerator and the revs are really strugling to stay up, wanting to drop down all the time. It gets to the point where I can press the throttle about half way and the revs are dropping down to 1000rpm. After about 5 mins of running, it clears itself.

So if its not the lambada sensor, what else could it be? Might try changing the thermostat as suggested. Its just a real pain as you have to sit in the car for 5 mins whilst it warms up as you have no revs or power if you try and drive.

 

[SBV116]

It's 100%normal, worst one ever was my 200, nearly un drivable when stone cold!

 

[Dan@M.A.D]

Mine does it to, its only a 1.6 but does exactly the same thing, its dangerous really though, i can pull out of a junction and it just has no power and almost stalls!, 2 mins on and its perfect

 

[Linus27]

Its totally crazy. There must be a reason why it does it, it can't be right. Thanks for the replies guys.

 

[JMR]

Is this not the regulation of the acoustic valve upon starting?
I was under the impression that the valve letting [some] air into the engine remains closed at cold engine temps, then opens when the engine is warm?

Either way, I had poor starting on my 172 when I had it, not the end of the world, but a couple of minutes of hesitancy and burbling.

 

[leeds_182]

My 197 barely moved when cold. Piece of junk!

 

[Fletcher]

mine used to do it until i got an rs tuner remap. now its perfect cold starting

This.

My RS tuner has done wonders for it's cold start.