2002 Renault Clio Extreme from UK and Ireland - Comments

Unfortunate to see many bad comments from Renault owners. My family is on its second clio which has had no faults apart from the rattly sunroofs. We also have a laguna, a safrane and a Kangoo with no major probs on any. A friend of ours has a corsa however (year 2006) which has a really bad engine problem as it keeps cutting out/stalling. Vauxhall replaced the engine, but it still does it. Personally, I think these newer cars are getting more and more unreliable due to manufacturers testing complex electronics on the consumer rather than in their factories. Maybe one day they will get it right.

Well after no end of problems I have got rid of my 2001 clio, still owed 3000 pound on it and it was only worth 2000 so... here you go finance company here is a car and cancelled contract with them - they inspected the car no problems, goodbye clio. Now driving an Alfa Romeo 156 1.8 T-Spark. nice cars.

Following my last inclusion on 8/5/06, I had my Clio checked out on computer and it came out very well! But still the low rev tick-over is still there. But, the fuel consumption is better - I was told this might happen as the engine is 're-set'. Also, the s/r is still very noisy - but it appears to come from the black nylon sun shield fixings - its incessant, drives me nuts. Any ideas? Most of the problems other contributors are experiencing appear to be forming a pattern (same stories on other sites) - surely Renault must know about this and are able to offer advice?

I have a 51 plate 1.2 16v Clio, which has run without fault until yesterday.

While waiting at lights, the car became spluttery and the revs started to rise, engine management light came on, and when I pulled away the power was not there, 15 mph max.

Took the car to a local garage. While waiting to be checked,the light went out and car ran perfectly on testing. Their computer found 3 faults, 2 unspecified and one reading throttle angle sensor. The mechanic checked over the car, reset the unspecified faults, and said that if there were any more problems, the throttle sensor may need replacing.

After reading through previous posts, a common theme seems to be wiring damage on the loom. Checked this morning and what do you know, the (tamper proof box) which incidentally came off no problem, had worn away the wiring insulation underneath. This box is all metal by the way, ideal for shorting electrics out.

I have now covered this with mastic as advised by an engineer and fingers crossed, all seems fine. Will post again if any more developments, but please check the obvious first before shelling out pound notes on a difficult to diagnose problem.

I'm in Ireland, bought a Renault Clio Dynamique 16v 2002 at the start of last October, 55k miles, 1 previous owner from a non Renault dealer, 1 year's warranty, have had a few problems with it that seem to be mirrored by a lot of other people here:

Recently the airbag and serv lights have come on even though it is not due a service, as they came on at same time I figured the service light was only on because of the fault with the airbag, they don't always come on though, altogether in last 4 weeks about 75 percent of the time, sometimes they go off or on during journey, other times they come on at startup and stay on.

Rattling sunroof.

Fuel gauge is hopelessly unreliable, I don't usually like to wait for the light to come on, but I've had to as the fuel gauge often reads at almost empty for 50-100 miles before it is.

The coil light came on and I lost power a couple of times earlier this year, but it was never at a time I could get it to a garage and it hasn't happened again since so I thought it had sorted itself out.

Sunroof was tightened, but it hasn't really helped. Haven't been able to fix other problems yet as they don't appear serious and it'll take time during which we won't get a courtesy car and we live in an area with no public transport so need to find a good time to get it into the garage.

I was only on the Internet to find out exactly what the best speed is for fuel economy (would appreciate it if anyone knows or has a link where I could find out this info by the way) but came upon this site and am now wondering whether I would be better changing the car before the warranty runs out. It's due its NCT (Irish version of the MOT) in September and don't want to spend a fortune on it now or in the future, it seems the more electronics are in it the more can go wrong.

WEDNESDAY 5th JULY:

My daughter was thrilled to bits to be able to buy her new Clio Y Reg 16V only a few days ago - however, the reality set in when after only one day the problems have started. I wonder if that's why it was sold?

What concerns me most as her dad are two things:-

FIRST - SAFETY

The Renault Website makes much of the Safety aspect of the vehicles they produce. Her car has cut out several times in the past three days in places where an accident could so easily have occurred.

SECOND - THE HUGE COST OF POTENTIAL REPAIR -

I stress potential cost, as until today I had not looked at this forum and the large amount of similar problems from Clio owners. Had we looked at these first we would probably NOT bought a CLIO, or any Renault for that matter!

Manufacturers have a legal obligation to produce and sell products that are of "MERCHANTABLE QUALITY" I hope I'm wrong about this car and that my young daughter has not bought a HEAP OF TROUBLE!

I have taken the first steps of making contact with VOSA, and will most certainly contact Watchdog if in the near future we are presented with anything more than a small bill for work considered reasonable wear and tear!!!

Renault Clio RSI.

I have had several problems with this car since I got this in 2001. It has been a really good car, but there are just too many problems. I like everyone else posted have had several problems.

The first problem I got was the Airbag light, this is a known problem with Renault Clio’s made around this year and its something to do we a cable under the driver seat that becomes lose, this was fixed for around £250.

The faulty coils are a nightmare. I was driving along and all of a sudden the car losses power and has no acceleration at all. This means you have to drive along at about 20MPH if you are near home to have it booked into the Renault Garage. You then normally have to wait about a week before you can get an appointment and you are never offered a courtesy car.

The first time the coils went they replaced 1, another coil went 3 months later, then the final 2 were replaced another 3 months later. They said that they fixed the problem and it was something to do with water getting into the seal. However I think another one could be on its way out so it may not have been fixed. When I start the car if you seat init you can feel the car jump slightly and I believe another coil is faulty. If I take it to Renault do you think they will do the decent thing and replace it free of charge if I write them a letter?.

Over the last two weeks I have been having trouble starting the car and have needed to jump start it. I have replaced the battery and hoping this problem with go away, but I shall have to wait and see.

The other problem I had was with the electric windows. One day I pushed the up button and it just made a loud bang and I thought the window had broken. However this is another fault with the clios and the electronic motors needed replacing costing around £500.

I have kept the car serviced etc, first service cost me £250, the last service £580 and I am still experiencing problems. Renault Clio should admit a design flaw in the coils and replace these free of charge.

I have a Clio 1.6RXE, suddenly cut out. Oil light came on when ignition was off! Also the coil (Diesel warning) light comes on even though this is a petrol. Whats happening? TDC has been replaced - no joy.

I have a 1.4 Billabong dynamic Clio with an 03 plate.

I bought it in January and it has been running perfectly until a month ago. It wouldn't start after work one day, but after a few minutes it was fine. However my car now starts cutting out when I'm driving and I recently broke down in the middle of a junction which was scary. There is no warning as to when it is going to cut out and it happens at various times.

I had the AA out twice a couple of weeks ago and when he plugged his diagnostic thing in it read "No fault" No one seems to have any idea and my mechanic says I could just throw money at it. My car will now not start at all.

Can any help?If I can come up with any ideas for my mechanic it might save some time and money.

Dear all,

I have a Clio mark 2, 2000 year plate. 1.2 Grande. 47k miles on clock.

Recently whilst driving down the motorway the speedo needle dropped back to zero. After being parked for a while with the engine off the speedo needle works for a while then zeros again. This problem used to be intermittent, but now it happens without fail within 5 miles of starting a journey. I have done the dashboard self test recommended in the Hayes manual. This showed that all the needles work. Can anyone offer me advice as to solving my problems?

On my last drive I noticed that whilst the speedo needle is at zero the mileage counter also does not work. Are these problems connected?Any advice welcome? Is it a main dealer job?

I am also thinking of selling the car soon as a part exchange? Should I solve the problem before part exchanging? what tack would you use?

If you need more information let me know.

Thanks in advance.

Groggy.

This comment is for the last rewiever. I used to own a Renault 5, the first generation (it was a 1978 car) and I experienced the same problem as yours. The minute I passed 105 km per hour, the speedometer's needle used to drop at zero. I solved it by changing the instruments panel. You also might check the tachometer's cable that is coming for the gear box and is inserted into the instrument panel (it might be loose, and also affects the speedometer's needle). Good luck.

I've recently been experiencing similar problems with my 1999 T reg Renault Clio 1.2 Grande - juddering starts, really low revs when the car is at a standstill. Had the coil pack replaced about 3 weeks ago which cured the problem for a while, but there is clearly still something wrong and I suspect the coil pack will fail again shortly as the intermittent acceleration problems have returned.

Garage said that it's going to start to get expensive to investigate the problem - time for a new car.

Will not be looking to buy a Renault again.

Renault Clio Extreme 2 (53 Plate)

Have had this car for 6 months now. In that time it has refused to start on 7 occasions and cut out when I dipped the clutch on 2 occasions. Have had the AA out to it 3 times and they have got it running buy moving the wiring harnesses around and removing and replacing the 4 brown relays located near the battery. Have had it to main Renault dealer who have said that there is no readings showing up on the computer. They do not know what the problem could be. I need the car to get me back and forward to work. Would never buy a Renault again. Cannot wait until I have paid it to the half way mark to give it back.

Please can anyone help??

I recently bought a Clio 1.2 expression from an auction.

After a month of driving it, the electrical fault light appeared (The one with a kind of graph and squiggly line). I noticed that the light would disappear if I switched off the engine and restarted the car. However the car wasnt picking up any speed.

I took it to my usual garage, but unfortunately the machine was unable to read it so I had to take it to renault for a diagnostic reading.

I was told that two wires had been in contact and had been rubbing against each other. They said the fault could reoccur and if it did they would have to replace the computer at a cost of £800 + VAT.

They charged me £140 to have the computer wiped and to fix whatever wires that had been in contact.

I have been driving the car since and the electrical fault light has reappeared.

I'd just like to know if anyone else has experienced such problems and any possible solutions??

Any help/advice would be appreciated.

My wifes 14 16v clio sometimes won't start, its just dead, then it will start as normal, and when driving it starts to musfire and loses power and barely chugs along, we stop for a few minitues and it sometimes stars again, it happened today, wouldn't tick over, so called RAC and he tried it and it started 1st time, we drove for 20 miles fine then the misfiring started, any ideas???we have had new battery, new sensors, diag test found nothing, its getting costly now, i have a megane coupe that touch wood is OK,