What's causing my car problems when starting? :(

Vegeta · 13 Oct 2010 at 17:10

Renault Clio 1.2 2002 model.

Basically when I start my car sometimes the engine will start - go to slightly below idle revs then just stop. Then if I try to start it again I must turn the ignition for a while then accelerate my engine. Once the engine has been accelerated a bit or driven it no longer cuts out.

A couple of days ago I tried to start my car - it cut out right away because I forgot to rev the engine, I did the same exact thing again without revving and no start. Then I tried to start the car and the rev counter wouldn't move at all! I tried 15 minutes later and hey presto it works.

It's going for a MOT soon but i'd rather fix it myself so I don't get stiched by the mechanic.

ajstan · 13 Oct 2010 at 17:22

Vegeta said:
Then if I try to start it again I must turn the ignition for a while then accelerate my engine.

Well that just sounds like its flooded after its cut out the first time.

Not sure why it would cut out in the first place though, dodgy fuel pump maybe?

Maz · 13 Oct 2010 at 17:54

Bring it to me, I'll sort it.

Scania · 13 Oct 2010 at 18:11

Maz said:
Bring it to me, I'll sort it.

Any old fool could sort that, how hard can it be to set fire to a car????

mattyprice4004 · 14 Oct 2010 at 08:21

R420LA6X2/4MNA said:
Any old fool could sort that, how hard can it be to set fire to a car????

Yes, this!

I had to change a clutch on one of these, and I managed to slip next to the car... and smack my head on the wing. Luckily they're plastic, never seen that before!

iaind · 14 Oct 2010 at 08:32

rover416i said:
Yes, this!

I had to change a clutch on one of these, and I managed to slip next to the car... and smack my head on the wing. Luckily they're plastic, never seen that before!

Lol I'd love to see someone do that.

Anyway, idle control valve, surely?

Dan Dan · 14 Oct 2010 at 11:00

iaind said:
Lol I'd love to see someone do that.

Anyway, idle control valve, surely?

My thought exactly! See if you can increase the idle revs by about 100rpm and see if it happens again?

Liquidfox · 14 Oct 2010 at 11:27

Sounds similar to the problem a mate had with his Punto, start the car and it would stall unless you gave it a bit throttle for a couple of seconds, then it would idle without a problem. Not sure what the fix was though!

Coxyis · 14 Oct 2010 at 11:54

Had this problem with my 2004 Mégane. Would press the start button, revs would rise to around 2k and then drop to around 1k where she would start to struggle and eventually stall. Wait another 10 seconds and try again and she'd run smoothly. Only affected cold starts though?

Giving her plenty of throttle would sometimes keep her ticking over but it didn't sound nice.

Had some other problems just before I got rid of it, but I was told it was a fairly common problem with the Top Dead Centre sensor causing the cold start issues. Might not help you, but one of the other problems I had was the cam position sensor.

AmDaMan · 14 Oct 2010 at 13:07

Does it only happen from cold starts?

GinG · 14 Oct 2010 at 13:31

I think the cause of the problem is the french.

Overlag · 14 Oct 2010 at 16:33

that's weird, i was talking to someone in work about there clio doing this last night... So ill be interested too.

Maz · 14 Oct 2010 at 17:14

Hmmm just had a look at it, engine light not on, still plugged diagnostics in and there are no codes stored.

Car hasn't had a service for A LONG time - so cleaned Throttle Body and ICV.

Car came to me with no symptoms, looking on Autodata Crankshaft Position Sensor could be the cause of the problem so if this remedial work hasn't fixed it then that'll be next.

Car is getting serviced next week.