Trouble starting

[chur1996]

I have an '02 Clio 172 and in the last day or so it's developed a slightly puzzling problem when starting.

Yesterday after work I got in and turned the key....nothing. Tried again a couple of times and it started. When I say nothing I mean that the ignition didn't fire, there was no sound of it turning over at all, just completed silence.

Got in to come to work this morning and the same thing happened. However this time I held the key in the starting position and after a second or so of complete silence it fired up with no problem.

I changed the battery at the end of October so it shouldn't be that, there are no warning lights on the dash at all and I am just wondering what the cause may be.

Has anyone else had this?

 

[Nick_P]

It could be a dodgy earth, It could be the starter motor, or a dogdey connection on the starter. Next time it does it, have a wiggle of the cables around the starter motor. and see if it affects it

 

[NaGGz]

Sounds like the starter motor connection.

I had a smililar problem which was remedied by cleaning up the connections to the starter motor.

It does corrode over time (mine had) so just stick new spade connector on it

 

[chur1996]

Cheers. I'm a bit of a buffoon when it comes to mechanics though and would rather get someone else to do it, along with a few other minor niggles the car has. Would it be better at a Renault specialist or would any back street garage be able to sort it out?

 

[NaGGz]

Cheers. I'm a bit of a buffoon when it comes to mechanics though and would rather get someone else to do it, along with a few other minor niggles the car has. Would it be better at a Renault specialist or would any back street garage be able to sort it out?

Its easy enough to do it yourself, so any garage should be able to sort it without a problem.

As Nick P said though, make sure it is the starter motor thats causing a problem so you can tell them it needs a new connection rather than them saying its something else and charging you more. So if/when it happens again try giving the connection a wiggle and if it starts you know for definite thats whats causing the problem.

 

[chur1996]

In true Renault stylee the problem appears to have fixed itself and now have had no problems at all for the last week. One thing I have noticed though is the immobiliser light seems to stay on for slightly longer (about one second max.) than previously, just hope this isn't indicative of anything more serious!