Clio 1.6 16v Starting problems

[vanaaken]

Hi left my car for a 2 days came back and it failed to start off the key after about ten minutes of trying got it started by pumping the throttle a few times. It was as though there was no fuel in the car as it was just turning over yet the gauge said it was 1/4 full, once started it was fine with no misfires, went to start it again this morning, started first time but then it cut out it did this four times in the end had to hold the revs up for a minute before it would run on its own. It starts fine once its warmed up so I'm guessing its something to do with the cold weather! Is there a cold start valve or something that could be playing up? Its never had a problem starting until this week! Only thing is when its warm it idles around 700rpm is this normal?

Any ideas would be great

Mark

 

[vanaaken]

Hi had the same problems again this morning noticed that even though its freezing cold it trys to tickover at 700 rpm hence the stalling, surely when its cold it should be running at 1000rpm then dropping as it warms up?

Its obviously this cold snap were having so would that be spark plugs or a sensor?

Mark

 

[SBV116]

Need to get it on a disagnostic machine mate, could be coolant temp sensor, i had a corsa in a couple of weeks ago, similiar symptons, the sensor was telling the ecu it was 150 degreeees first thing in the morning, hence no fast idle!!

 

[CH33MA]

tdc sensor may need cleaning

 

[vanaaken]

If it was the coolant temp sensor wouldn't the tem pgauge be running high? Just its working normally gose to just over half when its fully warm.

Will take it somewhere and get a diagnostic! Anyone know anywhere good to take it in the north lincolnshire, humberside area?

Cheers

Mark

 

[vanaaken]

Right got a feeling its the coolant temp sensor, just want to check I've got the right sensor.

Its located on the end of the block (gearbox side) its a spring clip connector that when I take off causes the radiator fan to kick in.

If it is this, the sensor itself seems to be held in with a circlip as opposed to screwed in, and it turns freely in its housing. Tried starting the car from cold a few times and a couple of times it ticked over at 1000rpm then when I unplugged the sensor revs dropped to 750rpm and radiator fan kicked in.

If I replace this sensor do I have to drain all the coolant or can I just top it back up.

Cheers

Mark

 

[vanaaken]

Just want to double check does the car have one or two coolant sensors?

The reason I ask is, is there one that control's the temp gauge or does the one sensor do both and if so would it be the one near the thermostat housing?

Off to Renault tomorrow as they reckon its £20 for the part! Will take a picture of what I think is the right sensor and will post on here tonight.

Cheers

 

[Sean.]

ICV (idle control valve) or coolant temps sensor isnt functioning properly...will tell the ecu its warm when its not. thus preventing the ecu using its cold start map.

When its warm it will run fine as the reading on temp are correct.

If that doesnt solve it then clean ICv (assuming clio's have them).

if that fails then a quick diagnostic should show it up.

 

[vanaaken]

Cheers Sean, don't think mine has an ICV as its fly by wire.

Just need to double check that what I think is the coolant sensor is actually the coolant sensor all I know is when I disconnect it the rad fan kicks in!

 

[Sean.]

you say the fan kicks in?

Do this when the engine is 100% cold. start it up as normal and disconnect the sensor. if the fan kicks in then you know it shouldnt do that as coolant isnt hot enough!

Maybe a fail safe on the clio's (dont know clio's too well). if the temp sensor is disconnected the fan kicks in automatically to prevent and overheating issues.

Id replace it ither way, esp only for £20. cheaper than a diagnostic. if its not that then your only £20 down!

forgot about FBW throttle! used to TU lumps!

 

[vanaaken]

Yeah guessing it is a fail safe, as I mentioned earlier in my post the odd time from cold the car would tick over at 1000rpm and when I unplugged the sensor it dropped to 750rpm and the fan kicked in so like you say worth changing!

Cheers Sean

 

[vanaaken]

The image above is of the temp sensor (purple and green wire) good job I got the bloke from Renault to have alook otherwise I'd of got the wrong part! £16 plus vat which ain't to bad for Renault, dead easy to change as well as its only the circlip that holds it in. As i took that off give it a pull and out she came along with the coolant lol New one turns up on Friday so fingers crossed this solves the problem!

Mark

 

[Stuart182]

Had exactly the same problem with my 1.6.

I solved the problem with using high revs for the first five mins of driving

 

[vanaaken]

Finally got round to changing the coolant temp sensor and I thought it had sorted the problem as it was ticking over at over 1000rpm from cold. However th g/f went out in it about 6 hours later after I had started and said it was ticking over at 750rpm when she started it. Have also cleaned the tdc sensor. Is it possible the ambient temperature was warm enough that it didn't need to increase the revs?

Will try again tomorrow morning as its not going to be used tonight. If it still has problems am I resigned to taken it to Renault to put on there machine for £65 + VAT?

Cheers

Mark

 

[rachnicole]

I've just bout the 1.6 16v Dynamique and have the same problem. It starts fine, but that immediately stools. To get it started i need to rev quite a bit it then sits at just over 1000 revs, (someone said the choke is keeping it up there). But if a stoll it after driving for a while, it starts up and idles at only 200 revs and continues to stoll until I really rev and start driving it.

It hasn't been serviced since 13,000 miles, its now on 39,000 so i'm gonna put it through a service and see if i've still got the problem.

Have you managed to get yours fixed? £65 + VAT is such a rip off just to tell you what the problem could be. And i don't wanna resort to having to constantly rev it to get it going!!

 

[vanaaken]

Hi after fitting my new coolant sensor last week I've come to the conclusion its made b***er all difference .

Once fitted would I have to disconnect the battery to clear out any error codes and get it working correctly?

Also is there anyone who knows what the error codes are which don't switch the engine management light on(as my light isn't on)? Just so I can go through them and see if any of them could relate to the problem I have.

Cheers

Mark