Clio DCi Wont start

[arctic_ged]

This is so strange, I went to visit my mum and dad today, stayed there for half-hour or so then got back in my car turned the ignition key and nothing...

When I turn the key to the 'M' position where the electronic fault and preheating light is supposed to come on and off it simply wont come on at all.

If i quickly turn the key without stopping at the 'M' position the engine turns over about 4-6 times but still wont start.

The battery is definitely fine as everything else works lights, alarm, radio. So I thought maybe its the immobiliser chip inside the key, i went home got a spare key and still no luck

One thing that I did notice is that the immobiliser light remains on the and doesn't go off, so I checked out the car manual and this is what it says:


'if the warning light 1 illuminates or remains illuminated after the ignition has been switched on, there is a fault in the operation of the system'
where this refers to the ignition being switched on does that mean when the car is running or when the key in the ignitions is turned?


What do you all think is it an immobiliser or preheating/glow plug problem or completely something different???

 

[BrianR]

It sounds like the immobiliser isn't reading the chip in the key, have you tried going through a "get out, close doors Lock, open, get in" sequence as if you had parked and come back to the car.
The immobilser has a timer on it, and sometimes it can get out of sequence.

Does the red LED go from flashing to constant on when you insert the key and turn it ?

 

[arctic_ged]

Yes i tried that several times, when I take the key out the ignition the light starts flashing then when I turn the key it turns to constant.

Is this why the electronic fault and preheating earning light doesnt come on at all?

 

[edde]

Yes i tried that several times, when I take the key out the ignition the light starts flashing then when I turn the key it turns to constant.

Is this why the electronic fault and preheating earning light doesnt come on at all?

Its because the ECU is still locked there an imobiliser on the car as the ECU isn't recineving the code from the key to say its the right key.

Its a common problem change the transponder ring (the bit around the ignition barrel) that will fix it. £4o ro so they are fit in ain a few minutes.

 

[arctic_ged]

Thanks for that, would it be better to take it to a renault garange for this??

 

[Ulle]

This is so strange, I went to visit my mum and dad today, stayed there for half-hour or so then got back in my car turned the ignition key and nothing...

When I turn the key to the 'M' position where the electronic fault and preheating light is supposed to come on and off it simply wont come on at all.

If i quickly turn the key without stopping at the 'M' position the engine turns over about 4-6 times but still wont start.

The battery is definitely fine as everything else works lights, alarm, radio. So I thought maybe its the immobiliser chip inside the key, i went home got a spare key and still no luck

One thing that I did notice is that the immobiliser light remains on the and doesn't go off, so I checked out the car manual and this is what it says:


'if the warning light 1 illuminates or remains illuminated after the ignition has been switched on, there is a fault in the operation of the system'
where this refers to the ignition being switched on does that mean when the car is running or when the key in the ignitions is turned?


What do you all think is it an immobiliser or preheating/glow plug problem or completely something different???

Just because the light and so on works do not meen that it is not the battery. For a few months ago I experienced that my DCI would not start but the light, radio etc. was fine. This was because for a faulty battery! The starter uses a lot of power and the faulty battery could not deliever that - but the light and was still fine.

 

[arctic_ged]

Yea but the engine turns over 4-6 times if i turn the ignition key quickly, doesnt that mean that the starter motor is getting enought power??

When u say u had this problem for a few months, does that mean your car would start eventually or did u use jump cables?

I will try doing it just incase it could be the battery, only problem is that car is broken down outside my parents and its an hour to get there

 

[arctic_ged]

Called out RAC this morning to have a look and tow it into a renault garage, its definetley not the battery, he thinks that its immobiliser too.

Took it to renault they said they will have a look at it £75 is the minimum charge aparently i just hope they dont come back to me with a rediculous invoice.

 

[edde]

Thanks for that, would it be better to take it to a renault garange for this??

If your not aware what to do or look for yes.

 

[arctic_ged]

Oh s***,
Just got a call from Renault (West London - Acton/Park Royal)
they said its £1691.75 to fix it!

Should I be getting a second opinion coz i cant believe that i drove my car without any problems parked it, went in to see my parents came out 30 mins later and out of nowhere the car doesn't start and now its £1691 to fix it???

This is what its on the quote states:


82 00 129 136 - Cover box £3.37
82 00 129 134 - Motor Housing £4.95
77 00 414 484 - RELAY PAS CL £14.17
77 00 844 682 - RELAY 60A SC £14.82
77 01 056 046 - LOOM £531.48
77 01 053 963 - LOOM £174.42

PARTS TOTAL INC VAT £923.98

LABOUR TOTAL INC VAT (£767.77)


Please can i get some opinions because i cant believe that it should be that expensive!!!

 

[Ulle]

Said Renault what was wrong with your car ?

But the price seems totally crazy!

 

[arctic_ged]

They said its the 'engine loom' it needs to be replaced i tried to get more information but this is all they would give me. I dont even know what an 'engine loom' is.

 

[Ulle]

I dont know it either. My Haynes manual do not say anything about it - sorry :dapprove:

 

[edde]

They said its the 'engine loom' it needs to be replaced i tried to get more information but this is all they would give me. I dont even know what an 'engine loom' is.

Its all the wiring in the engine bay.

Forget paying those prices see if you can get a Renault contribution.

Renault don't try fix the looms they just replace them it might only be a few damages wires.

If your up north ring Renault specilast breakers in Accrington ask for Matt he'll help you out.

 

[FincH]

A whole new wiring loom? Wtf?

Even if it was, you could pick up a second hand one for a lot less.

 

[arctic_ged]

Thanks for everyones input.

Just had to join the AA since RAC said they wont take my car to another garage since they took it to renault in the first place...

Taking my car to small garage ive used before, will see wehat they quote me..

 

[arctic_ged]

Ok.. you will not believe this!!

Ok.. you will not believe this!!

On Wednesday I went to the Renault to collect my car and have it towed to another garage, since i wasn’t prepared to pay 17 hundred.. So i paid the £75 for them looking into the problem got my keys, and the CAR STARTS!!! Renault have quoted me £1691 to fix this and the car is fine!

Just to be safe I look my car to another garage to get it serviced, i also told them that i had problem with it starting and asked them to check the wiring loom, they said everything is fine. Their only comment was that the engine mount is worn so i asked them to replace it.

I don’t think i will ever trust Renault garages again.

 

[Ulle]

Damn! Good for you! But still a wierd problem

 

[trailerparktrev]

Time to get shot I say.

 

[Hexlor]

Just sorted out this problem. See my post on http://www.cliosport.net/forum/showthread.php?554570-Renault-clio-1-5-DCi-Billabong-Starting-issues

Have had exactly the same problem with my 2003 1.5 dci Expression (65bhp). When I turn the key 2 clicks the lights on the dashboard go on, but immobiliser stops flashing and stays red and glow plugs light won't go on. I keep the key in there, most of the lights go out after a few seconds, but I wait until the 'oil ok' digits disappear and are replaced by the mileage counter before turning the key off again and then turning the key the 2 clicks again. It was having to do this 4/5 times before the glow light finally came on, and then I would turn it off again and do it one more time, wait for the glow plug light to go out and then turn it the 3rd click (all the way) and adding a bit of gas by pressing the accellerator before it would finally start, but the last couple of days it was taking much longer. I would have to go throught the key-on key-off process 15/20 times and sitting in the car for 10 minutes before I would get the glow plugs light coming on and being able to start the car.

Took the car to 3 garages and diesel specialists, who all had different opinions as to what the problem could be. Had the glow plugs replaced, but that didn't fix the problem. And was eventually told it was an immobiliser issue. So I had to go to Renault Enfield and they quoted me over £1000 saying that there must be a crack in the wiring loom and I would have to get that replaced! Well I'd just bought the car 3 weeks prior to that (and had been having the problem ever since I got it) and their estimate was over half of the value of the car! They still didn't seem to have much of a clue as to what was wrong but said that replacing the wiring loom would be the first place to start to diagnose the fault!

Thank Gd, I came across this thread, and switched the small relays (only mine were brown, not black) and the problem was solved!!! The car started straight away and I haven't been so happy with my car in forever!

Will now try and get a new set of relays in there, as I assume the defective one is now plugged into another (less vital) system.

Hope this helps anyone who encounters the same problem, and saves you the £1000 Renault would charge without even knowing what the problem is! It does make me wonder if they are just incompetent or actually trying to hike up the bill :quiet: The fix was so simple you would think they would know something about the electronics!​

 

[Stephenx77]

Nice 6 1/2 year bump there

 

[MiGomes]

Old post, but still a current problem... Heres mine:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7tpX51yWytQ

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=venEbsflpjY