1998 Renault Clio RL Biarritz from UK and Ireland - Comments

Yes you guessed it, Leaking sunroof causing floor space to fill up with rain water.Won't bother taking it to the garage sounds like problem cannot be repaired. Had this problem on a mini 25 years ago, I thought we landed men on the moon. I am annoyed that I got sucked in to buying a french car. Never again.

I am a other leaking clio sunroof owner. Does anyone how easy is it to replace the seal yourself. Am looking around scrap yards for one rather than get ripped off by dealers.

Hi there. I have contacted watchdog this morning asking for there assistance in sorting out this problem. I am adding the web page address so others can also inform them of this problem. Then hopefully they will be able to help us all to get this sorted once and for all.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/consumer/tv_and_radio/watchdog/contact_index.shtml

Use the address above to send watchdog details. the more of us that do the more likely they will be able to help with this problem.

Good luck everyone.

I too have a leaking sunroof on my 97 1.2 Clio Panache which has stopped my immobilizer from working - which means I can't start the car... you know the story. Renault garage said the only thing they would do would be to replace the whole sunroof unit at a cost of £700 (I only paid £600 for the whole car!!).

I think I am going to get it permanently sealed up, then either replace the immobilizer circuit when it has stopped being damp inside (around £100) or pay somebody to permanently remove the immobilizer feature (also costs around £100), and deal with the leaking "water features" that Renault are so keen on! Any suggestions or recommendations of things that I certainly shouldn't do or try?

I am going to get on the WATCHDOG case - so should everybody else on this thread - even if we don't get any form of financial benefit, it will stop others from having to go throught the problems that we have all gone through.

I wonder if brand new Renaults also will be developing this problem in around 10 years time...?! ITS ALL A CONSPIRACY!

I too have the dreaded leaking sunroof on my 1998 1.4 RT. I have tried everything in the book. It seemed to be okay after I sealed it last week. Sold it on Tuesday and got it back from a very irate buyer today, after the rainstorms from last night. What could I do, tempted as I was to say tough you bought it. I had to give her money back.

I am mightily sick of Renault and will never buy another as long as I live. Someone suggested the only way is to remove the glass and weld a panel over it. Knowing my luck, it would probably still leak.

Another immoblizer bites the dust or should I say drowned.

Renault are as much use a chocolate fireguard. If they had improved their sunroofs over the years it would not be so bad, but it is affecting new cars as well and not just Clio's - SHAME ON YOU RENAULT.

Well it seems I too can join the list of leaky clio owners. Its my wifes first car a clio RT 96 and everytime we had rain I'd get my head dripped on when took a corner, then the rear passenger footwell filled with water.

So yesterday dried up the footwell, took a heatgun to it then resealed the sunroof with marine sealant which will make anything waterproof. Unfortunately not clios, still leaking, not as much, but the rear footwell is again wet. So looks like its going to be the gaffer tape method until the weather gets better and I can removed the sunroof completely. I knew there was a reason I swore off french cars along time ago and this all just brings back the bad memories.

The rear foot well 98 panache leak is a symptom of a badly fitted rear light lens either side. Took same off and cleaned rubber seal and refitted lens has not leaked again. However sunroof leaks. Have gaffer taped it up and it still leaks; will fit a new aerial, and see if this works. Otherwise will remove head cloth and then clean sun roof seal with temperature proof silicon and hope for the best.

After finding out that I'm not the only one that not only has a shower before work, but on the way to work, and on the way home from work, I have just sent an email to Watchdog too.

It would be nice if someone could look into this properly for us. For a fault that has affected so many people it would nice if Renault offered some kind of suggestion as to what to do, without charging us to fix problems they should have figured out at the designing stage.

The momentum is gathering - much like the water in my Clio - for a proper consumer action. I've just emailed Watchdog, even though my Duck tape is holding out for now.

Per ardua ad aqua my Clio chums.

Chris.

Hey guys.

You will not be shocked to here both myself and my girlfriend own T and W reg Clio's and both have the same problem. Mine is going to see a friend in his garage to see what he suggests, but from what I've read I'm not holding my breath. I will let you know how it goes...

Oh yeah I have also emailed watchdog.

I have a w reg Clio which lets in water, I don't know where from and don't know where to start looking. I have to roll up my trousers just to drive the car with the amount of water under my feet. The car is starting to go moldy and its impossible to dry out in this weather, with two little kiddies I hate even sitting in this car. Can't the sell the car, the moment it rains they would just bring it straight back. Does anyone have the answer or is it just a lost cause.

My R reg Clio has exactly the same problems. First of all it was leaking from the light/aeriel which caused problems with the immobiliser and chucking water all over me. That seems to have stopped (touch wood) - a good, if temporary, solution to problems with the immobiliser/central locking is to take off the panel by the light and dry it out with a hairdryer. That usually makes it start working again, in my case anyway.

But I have the other problem now, water in the passenger footwell. I recently came back from 2 months' holiday to find my poor car's upholstery covered in mould!! I've cleaned it up, but it still smells of damp and as I'm in Wales the chances of avoiding rain are in the minus figures. I'm going to speak to my mechanic to see what he suggests, but not holding out much hope. I'm about to email Watchdog too... you never know.

Hey guys - I have a really good solution to immobiliser problems that won't cost you much and should last a good few years, maybe longer than the car!!...

Remove the damaged infrared receiver board that is positioned under the sunroof (what a blooming stupid idea that was!!). Disconnect it very carefully. Be careful not to knock or disconnect the 3 black components which detect the infrared message (the end you actually point your key at!).

Using methylated spirits, a bit of clean cloth and something very gently, clean the water damage from your circuit (white scuzzy looking stuff) but be careful not to rub the soldering. Allow the circuit to dry thoroughly (it must be totally dry - use a hair drier on gentle cool setting).

Then - the clever bit... get a glue gun with clear glue cartridges and completely glue over the whole circuit surface and the components and soldering that it is composed from. Don't glue over the infrared detector bits though! Then let it dry and rewire it - no water will be able to get in again! It has worked for me, I hope it works for you - get onto Watchdog as well everyone...

Ant help with the leaking, but at least you'll be able to start your car every day - even when its been raining as no water will ruin the circuit!

This technique has saved me over £100 for a new circuit. Let me know if you try it and it works!

Hi, just been reading some of the above comments and might be able to help.

I have had a '97 Clio for the past couple of years and I used to get showered too. The water used to come out from where the imobilizer and sun roof controls are every time I turned a corner. My foot wells would get soaked, had terrible condensation and the car had a horrible damp smell.

At first I thought the sun roof wasn't sealing properly, but on closer inspection I discovered it was the aerial. The rubber seal at the base had worn away and was letting the rain in. I bought a new aerial base from a local parts dealer and replaced it myself, cost about £15. Used a heater to dry the car out and the smell went in a week or so. That was almost a year ago and so far so good!

We couldn't stand it anymore, the leaking sunroof, getting our clothes soaked every time we turned a corner, the central locking not working, immobilizer permanently immobilized, so we were forced to sell our Clio to a dealer for £150.00. We daren't have sold it privately for fear of comebacks. It was worth a lot more, but it would have cost a fortune to fix at Renault prices and that was the highest price we were offered. Within 24 hours the Dealer had advertised it for sale at £1250.00, best of luck to him and any fool that decides they want a Renault.