Clio 1.2 2002 not starting and other problems

molar · 16 Oct 2006 at 17:42

Hello

My 02 plate 1.2 is occasionally not starting in the mornings and when it happens it can take 5 or 6 attempts to get it started. This seems to happen once or twice a week (I use the car every weekday).

The starter is working fine and there are no other warning lights on the dashboard. Normally the car starts immediately. Its also fine if the engine is warm.

Is there anything I can check myself before I take it somewhere?

I also have/had the following problems if anyones got some tips to share?

Mega rattling sunroof.
Occasional dead rev counter.
Occasional random dashboard reboots in the wet.
Occasional dead rear wiper in the wet.
Stalling while stationary.

Thanks!

atomiser · 16 Oct 2006 at 17:45

im no mechanic but considering the weather is turning a bit naff, and everything else thats gone wrong seems to do so in the wet... perhaps thats whats wrong with it?! not been driving through rivers have you?!

Wicksta · 16 Oct 2006 at 17:47

If you've got a problem with the rev counter as well as the starting issue, perhaps you have a problem with your coil?

russ9898 · 16 Oct 2006 at 17:51

rattling sunroof cure -

cut a scouring sponge into 3rds, fold one 3rd in half, open sunroof, place sponge inbetween the glass and latch = serious reduction in rattles

not sure on the rest though matey.

molar · 16 Oct 2006 at 17:56

atomiser said:
im no mechanic but considering the weather is turning a bit naff, and everything else thats gone wrong seems to do so in the wet... perhaps thats whats wrong with it?! not been driving through rivers have you?!

The dashboard reboots and dead rear wiper only happen two or three times a year and only in very wet weather so they don't really worry me. The main problem at the moment is that its occasionally not starting at all no matter what the weather is.

The rattling sunroof seems to be a very common problem but i don't know what the fix is and my car is out of warranty.

The stalling while stationary problem started during the very hot period in July. I took it somewhere and they changed a 'crank position sensor'. They charged me £££ and ripped me off big time! It was stalling while stationary about 3 or 4 times a week. Since the sensor has been replaced it's still doing it but only about 3 or 4 times in the last 2 months.

cossey3 · 16 Oct 2006 at 17:57

the engines regularly go through coil packs iirc (mines been replaced atleast twice). most of the other problems are electrical so is there a leak behind the dash letting water in?

russ9898 · 16 Oct 2006 at 17:58

check out www.cliosport.net matey

i knwo you dont have a sport but there are a lot of 1.2 owners on there who will be willing to help you

molar · 16 Oct 2006 at 17:59

russ9898 said:
rattling sunroof cure -

cut a scouring sponge into 3rds, fold one 3rd in half, open sunroof, place sponge inbetween the glass and latch = serious reduction in rattles

not sure on the rest though matey.

Brilliant. I will give that a try. Thanks

molar · 16 Oct 2006 at 17:59

russ9898 said:
check out www.cliosport.net matey

i knwo you dont have a sport but there are a lot of 1.2 owners on there who will be willing to help you

I'm registered on there but have never posted and appear to be banned. I'm waiting for the mods to get back to me. Thanks.

danza · 16 Oct 2006 at 18:04

Right. You're problem possibly lies with the ECU.

One of my mates bought a 1.4 brand new in '03, and after a few K miles they began to have the same problems you're reporting. It would just not start sometimes, irrespective of weather. She took it into her main dealer and it started fine (this happened numerous times). The diagnostics they ran showed nothing. They even kept it in to see if they could get the problem to repeat but it wouldn't! This went on for a while with an awful lot of complaint. Eventually it got sorted about 4 months after it started happening, and under warrenty a new ECU was fitted.

Maybe aiming high there, but you never know.

molar · 16 Oct 2006 at 18:44

danza said:
Right. You're problem possibly lies with the ECU.

One of my mates bought a 1.4 brand new in '03, and after a few K miles they began to have the same problems you're reporting. It would just not start sometimes, irrespective of weather. She took it into her main dealer and it started fine (this happened numerous times). The diagnostics they ran showed nothing. They even kept it in to see if they could get the problem to repeat but it wouldn't! This went on for a while with an awful lot of complaint. Eventually it got sorted about 4 months after it started happening, and under warrenty a new ECU was fitted.

Maybe aiming high there, but you never know.

Thanks for the reply. I have thought that myself before now due to another problem - Not being able to lock the car! The keyfobs and button batteries are fine but they occasionally wouldn't lock the car. So the first thing I thought of is the ECU. I took it to Renault twice but like your mate I could never demonstrate it on demand. I havent persued it recently as the problem has mysteriously gone away!

steMS · 16 Oct 2006 at 21:23

I had this problem with my 52 plate clio, it was the TDS(?) sensor that was faulty - got it replaced twice under warranty. The first time I called the renault breakdown number and the guy who came out told me to push the accelerator pedal fully in then fully release it before starting the car to engage the choke. This worked until I got it sorted at the garage.

Rich1988 · 16 Oct 2006 at 22:09

A harrr i may have a solution for you there matey jim lad, my 214 wouldnt start sometimes hesitated and stalled occasionally whilst sitting still, this got worse and worse, turned out that it was a comination of things cause poor igniton, I replaced the leads the spark plugs the dizzy cap and rotor arm and now it starts first time doesnt stall or hesitate, could be similar to you?

pinkaardvark · 17 Oct 2006 at 10:55

A friend of ours had similar woes, in the end she had to park the car in front of renault dealer with big sign in it saying I bought this car from here and now it is totally fooked, before the dealer would sort it. She punted it shortly after as it was just one fault after another. Sadly she bough a peugot 1007 :eek:

some folks are just suckers for crap cars.

molar · 17 Oct 2006 at 12:05

pinkaardvark said:
A friend of ours had similar woes, in the end she had to park the car in front of renault dealer with big sign in it saying I bought this car from here and now it is totally ******.

lol no more French cars for me after this one!

Thanks for the other suggestions guys. I will check them all out and also consult cliosport.net.