2002 Clio 1.5 Diesel

[Murbal]

This car is a nightmare, first 3 years were grand but now it seems to break every 6 months. Latest problem has me stumped tho and wondering if anyone else has come across it. One of the fuel injectors was leaking diesel and ejecting hot air making a pretty terrible noise but the car would still turn on and drive. I took it to a mechanic who got the parts to repair the injector and completed the work on it on Monday. When he pieced the car back together it would not turn on just completely dead. He charged the battery over night and tried again and again no joy. Today some 3 days later still no further on with the car original fault repaired but cant get it to turn no. Even went to local renault dealer who were less than useful.

Potentially useful info. Had the main brain of the car replaced by Renault approx one year ago due to electrical problems. Recently started to see some of those again took it back still under warranty and they assured me it was ok. Short time after that the horn simply stopped working.

Was not sure which forum to post it as I have no idea whats wrong with it.

 

[Chris H]

if its an immobiliser issue then the light will be blinking.

Since you say its totally dead thats not much to go on. How dead is totaly dead? Nothing? al the lights work? ignition lifghts come on? will it crank?

If theres nothing at all then the batterys not connected right.

if the lights and doors unlock etc but it won't turn over he may have blown the fusable link on the battery cable or the starter solenoid wires been pulled off.

The solenoid wire, look at the starter and see if the wires loose or broke as its quite common.

If the solenoid is fien then the fusable link. These pop quite often especially after the battery is changed or has been moved due to work. The brown box thing on the positive battery lead is the fuseable link. This pops if the battery lead touches the batteyr box or it gets shorted by a spanner or similar. Break the plastic off and wrap wire over the join then seal it back up.

 

[Murbal]

Many thanks for the tips. The latter seems more likely as its is completely dead, been in over a week now and still no fix. I will post up and let everyone know what the issue was when finally resolved. Again tho many thanks

*EDIT*
Been reliably informed its not the immobiliser. All lights etc work fine there jst doesnt seem to be any signal going to the injectors.

 

[Murbal]

Looks likes its dead! Ok initial problem was the the cooper washer on one of the four fuel injectors had become mishappen and was leaking. The guy fixing it thought fk it I will replace all four washers while im there. He went to local Renault dealer and got the parts. However no one mentioned that the injectors all needed reconfigured by Renault after this repair. As a result this guy has tried to start the car until the battery has run flat. Now because this happened apparently the injectors have shut down and need replaced at a cost of approx £250 each.:wanker:

 

[Chris H]

thats a lot of crap trust me on that one.

They only need coded if he has taken injectors from another car, he could take the original ones out send them on a 5 year holiday get them back put them back in and it would start up.

Also they can be re-coded as well but tbh they more than likely don't need coded, often 2nd hand ones will work fine on another engine, I have rebuilt a few that have thrown rods out the block and swallowed their own turbos.

The washers are also standard diesel washers so not sure why he had to go to renault for them.

You may find the idiots tripped the inertia switch which is why its cranking until the battery is flat, its beside the battery, is round and can have either a red cap or a black cap on it, press it and make sure its down, it will click if its been tripped.

 

[Murbal]

ok many thanks will check that out 2nite many thanks

 

[Murbal]

Ok got more info which may help us finally solve this riddle. After speakin to Renault UK they confirmed what I was told was likely BS. The car is doing everything right to a point. The brain is sending the message and the pump is working but the injectors will not open to take the fuel.

Having spoke to the garage who have the car myself they have admitted that they are unsure why its not working and even suggested that the injectors sequence might have been mixed up. I have bitten the bullet and the car is on its way to an official renault dealer to get reconfigured and hopefully repaired

 

[markeyturbo]

surely the garage that did the work hold some sort of responsibility... if we ever had a car come in at work that didn't work after we touched it we'd have hell to pay!!

 

[Murbal]

Yea, when the saga comes to an end wether that be scrapped or extra work required I will sort out who owes me. I suppose from a legal POV the guy I left the car with initially owes me then if he feels the other garage did the damage then its up to him to pursue that as I never took it there. Its just a little complicated as the initial mechanic was a friend of my father in law. He advertises as does work as a mechanic but its more of a sideline as he works full time for the MOT centre

 

[Chris H]

if neccessary the discipline of the basebaw bat methinks :lol:

 

[Murbal]

Ok Finally got it sorted!!!!

The chump managed to break all four fuel injectors. I had these replaced with 2nd hand ones and re coded. Car started and I thought finally progress but no there was one more surprise. Somehow and god only knows how he managed to break the bracket which holds the gear box in place. Apparently there are 4 bolts and two were clean sheared off. The only explaination could be that he was towing it up and down to try and start it and the engine was kicking back on itself.

Final bill for all work £487 and a lesson learned.

 

[bidderman1969]

feck me, hope someone is gonna help pay that!

 

[Murbal]

Unfortunatley not, my girlfriends dad said his mate wud do the work at cost price as a favour the tosser then messed it up long story short shes stopping me from shoving the bill down his throat