Problem with Clio

thecremeegg · 1 May 2009 at 00:17

Basically today I started up the car and the whole thing was shaking wildly, and no amount of revving did anything. I put it into first and drove it for about 200m then it gradually stopped.

I then stopped at the shops and when I started it again it was fine. Parked it at work for 8 hours or so then when I started it this evening the same thing happened.

Any ideas?

M0T · 1 May 2009 at 00:19

This might sound odd but my car did exactly that when the battery was low, have you checked it?

stokecity_m · 1 May 2009 at 00:21

any dash lights come on?

thecremeegg · 1 May 2009 at 00:25

Nope no dash lights that I can see. I did let the battery go flat a month or 2 ago, so I suppose thats a possibility, though I'm in no way mechanically minded so I havent the foggiest

stokecity_m · 1 May 2009 at 00:26

personally i'd change the oil and spark plugs first - see if that helps.

thecremeegg · 1 May 2009 at 00:38

Yea i've had the suggestions of spark plugs and coil pack, i thought it was maybe the plugs. Had them replaced a year ago though, this their average lifespan?

Tee Hee Johnson · 1 May 2009 at 00:39

My car done similar the other day when i ran out of petrol (in the forecourt) was sitting behind someone and it started dying and shaking... then died. I tried revving and first gear, but wasnt up for moving.

Finally got it started when the guy in front got out the way, and it shook and shuddered all the way to the pump lol

Has been fine since

stokecity_m · 1 May 2009 at 00:40

thecremeegg said:
Yea i've had the suggestions of spark plugs and coil pack, i thought it was maybe the plugs. Had them replaced a year ago though, this their average lifespan?

spark plugs should last for years - however sometimes they don't.

not sure on clio's but a lot of cars will get a dash light if the coil pack, packs in.

Ampeg · 1 May 2009 at 01:37

A mate with a Clio had the exact syptoms you originally described, in his case it was the coil pack and didnt cost much to put right.

russ9898 · 1 May 2009 at 07:19

Id hazard a guess at a coil pack. Could it be a lambda sensor as well?

thecremeegg · 1 May 2009 at 11:57

Right ok well it would seem that the general concensus is a coil pack, so I'll get it booked in, better not be too expensive, feeling poor at the moment

Defcon5 · 1 May 2009 at 12:59

No experience of Clios, but on the smaller VW engines the pack is £80 and takes 15min to fit if you are an amateur like me

teulk · 3 May 2009 at 17:32

Id say coil pack, about £50 to replace at a garage

russ9898 · 3 May 2009 at 18:49

Easy to replace yourself tbh. Not something id go to a garage for.