Starting Issues - URGENT HELP NEEDED!

[brownyboy]

Sold my 172 last night to my brother, nothing wrong with it at all, its been sat on the drive for about 2 weeks but started last night fine. He goes out to go to work in it this morning and the poxy thing wont start.

Have not tried bumping it yet but hopefully its just the battery, but the battery is pretty new so now i'm a bit concerned!

It could be immobiliser issues though as something was wierd about unlocking/ locking the car from the fob, occasionally it would sort of half respond when pressing the button on the fob

All a bit wied - either way i'm not in the best of moods now, I always get bad luck with motors!

Rant over, help needed!

 

[Mister_G]

First thing I'd try is the battery... I used to work in a VW dealer, and even the brand new cars would go flat after being in the show room for a couple of weeks without being started.

Does it turn over at all?

 

[brownyboy]

No, nothing at all, lights wipers radio etc all work fine. Theres a another wire coming off the batery which i'm guessing is alarm and immobiliser so i might try taking that off the power and then trying it, I cant see it being a flat battery as like I say its quite new and everything electrical still works so it could be immobiliser

 

[JackJack]

there should be a red immobiliser light on the dash inbetween the two gauges if its solid red and doesnt go out then the immobiliser has tripped iirc

 

[brownyboy]

Thanks JackJack, cant remember now, but will be sure to check it later on, would it be solid red when the key is taken out the barrel?

 

[JackJack]

pass mate mine flashes when the cars locked to tell people its immobilised and when i put the ignition on it goes solid then turns off

 

[brownyboy]

bump

 

[Mister_G]

IIRC when you put the key in, if the dash light goes a solid red and does not go out then as JackJack says it will be immobiliser. As all your electrics are working, and there is nothing at all when you turn the key I'd say it's that as well.

My key fob battery was running out and wouldn't turn immobiliser off, you can get a battery for the fob for a couple of quid so might be worth a try to see if that solves it!? That's where I'd start, especially if your central locking is being a bit weird too!

 

[brownyboy]

mmmmmmmmm cheers for your advice but I have tried the spare key too and does exactly the same thing so very doubtful that both batterys in the fobs have gone but could be a cheap fix so will see if the local supermarket has any batterys later on

 

[brownyboy]

I have just spoken to my local stealers about this issue and they dont reckon its the immobiliser.

They suggested I try jump starting it tonight and also putting it in gear and rocking it back and forward. If that doesnt work then he said its most likely my starter motor

 

[brownyboy]

Update

Battery off last night, stuck on charge for a few hours as it said it needing charging, but it back on the car and still nothing.

Immobiliser light is now flashing when the key is turned 1 click off starting, when you go to turn the key to start - nothing. Not even the click noise anymore!

I am beyond annoyed now and if anyone has got any good pointers let me know. If going to try bumping the car tonight and giving the starter motor a tap (if i can locate it!)

 

[Jonny1*2]

If it's flashing mate then it's going to be either the decoder ring or the key. You could try a second hand decoder, but make sure you get the right one. There are 4 different ones apparently which are coded differently for clios, so you need to make sure you get the correct one if you are going to try it. (all ph2 sports will have the same though)

 

[brownyboy]

cheers mate

what part is the decoder? Where is it located and where can I buy one from second hand?

 

[Jonny1*2]

it's a plastic ring that goes around the key barrel. You need to remove the steering column covers to remove it, but it slides off and unplugs easily.

 

[Glos182]

I had this issue in my old mk2 ph1, and it was some sort of sensor. They cleaned it and then it started. Happened again a few months later so they replaced the sensor. What you are describing was exactly the same issue i had. I'm not at all technical in this area this was just what the garage that fixed it told me.

 

[brownyboy]

no idea what sensor then pal? cheers tho

 

[Glos182]

ok, i think the people above are correct.

I couldn't remember so i called them up, my issue was obviously slightly different because i needed a new flywheel sensor.

But if your immobiliser is still flashing after turning the key they said it could be the ignition ring. They said it could be the key but i said you had tried another key and was the same issue (so like you said very doubt full you have two faulty keys).

Not much help i know, but thought i'd let you know! I would just get the car to a specialist not the place you rang before if they said it ain’t the immobilizer and bump start it, when if the immobiliser light isn't going off, it clearly has something to do with it the issue!!!!!

 

[brownyboy]

Nice one mate u legend! I phpned the local dealers again and they said the immobiliser light is now flashing because i disconnected the battery for few hours and its now got itself "confused" (his words) they then said if i lock and unlock the car with the fob and allow it to arm a couple of time it should sort the light problem and it should go out when key is turned. Cant wait to get home and play around with it all in the rain and cold

 

[brownyboy]

tried bumping the car tonight 3 times and still nothing, just get a really faint sound of exhaust noise (prob just some fuel coming through from somewhere i guess)

Red light flashes inbetweener the 2 dials when key is fully turned in the ignition barrel

 

[Luke69]

Sounds similar to the trouble ive just had with my new 182, cant start it up, inmobiliser light wont go off, it will turn 1-2 times then stop... The only thing left was a new UCH, it should arrive tomorrow, hopefully that will solve it

 

[brownyboy]

is the UCH the fuseboard?

 

[Luke69]

is the UCH the fuseboard?

think so.- http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/renault-clio-2005-ecu-kit-ecu-uch-uch-n3-N3-1-2-16v-/260689317960?pt=UK_CarsParts_Vehicles_CarParts_SM&hash=item3cb24b5048#ht_500wt_1156
The black box

 

[brownyboy]

cheers dude, got a few garages waiting to call me back

Also cbetts has rstuner software and apparantly can read fault codes so hoping that will shed some light on the situation

 

[peterlee-sean]

this is happening to my mk2 ph1 1.6 si, i have heard that pressing the button on key while starting will get the car to start, myn will start after a couple of goes of taking key in and out to sort the flashing light out. I am yet to try pressing the button while turning.

 

[brownyboy]

i got a call from a local garage earlier whos has had this issue on a few clios before, he said the following solution has always worked so will be trying this when i get home from work

1. disconnect battery
2. put key in barrel and turn to ignition
3. leave door open (incase it locks the doors)
4. reconnect battery
5. start car

If this doesn twork he said i will need to go the the stealers.

Will keep you all updated

 

[brownyboy]

FFS! Nothing

 

[brownyboy]

given up now, its going into the local garage

 

[jinjur]

Did you not try replacing the decoder ring? It's an easy job to try first

J

 

[brownyboy]

at a proper renault specialist now, spent £87 at a local garage who fitted a decoder ring which did sweet f all so if anyone wants to buy one??

car needed a new UCH (fuseboard) and re-code ECU, total cost of £330 + VAT fitted

Will be sticking with jap for a while i think now after this palava :dapprove:

 

[pvsmark]

I had the same thing this morning and the immob light wouldn't go out, all i do is turn the ignition off fiddle with the cables under the steering column until the light goes out and it seems to do the trick.

 

[brownyboy]

oh dont tell me that now!!

 

[Stetec]

Fpmsl! Sorry dude, don't mean to laugh, but this all sounds too familier getting an easy fix after you've spent a bomb on it. I might have the same prob but suspect mine might be a dodgy battery as it clicks but wont turn over. Just recharged it so will stick it bak on later and see what happens.

 

[brownyboy]

its not exactly a long term fix is it though, not the best sell point when it comes to it "oh by the way, to start it you need to fiddle witht the wires untill the immobiliser light goes out", errr no thanks mate your alright ta

If you do have the same prob recharging battery does sweet FA

 

[Jonny1*2]

If the light was not flashing it's not a decoder or a key issue. Solid light is immobiliser problem due to something. I tried different UCH/ECU combo on mine and it did nothing. The only thing that worked was rewiring the engine bay, and changing the starter motor.

There is a back feed from the starter motor to the immobiliser on the f4r, so if the earth or and wiring on the started is dodgy/loose, then it will constantly immobilise, and there will be no spark.