2001 Renault Clio from UK and Ireland - Comments

I have a Renault Clio for the past few years now, and had no problems at all with it until recently.

When I was driving to work one morning, the orange coil light - indicating an electric fault - came on. The car immediately slowed down and seem to just roll. No power at all in it.

I had it towed to the main dealer (upon advice from my own mechanic as it was an electric fault). The main dealer had the car for 3 weeks. They said initially that it was the throttle (the fault showed up on some computer) and got a new one for me. They put in it, but it didn't work. They then got a second one, but that didn't work either.

Eventually they re-programed something and that apparently sorted it. I had the car back for 2 weeks and the exact same thing happened again. It was towed back to them. the main mechanic just informed me that it still appears that the throttle isn't functioning (according to the computer) but he cannot guarantee this.

If he tries it, it will cost me between €300 and €400. If this doesn't work, they will have to do a bigger job with reprogramming which will cost in the region of €700-800. He's telling me that it's just basically a chance they are taking with the throttle and cannot guarantee anything!!! I'm so annoyed now as I feel I'm left with no option but to go with this.

I'm surprised that main dealers treat people in this way. You rely and pay them for their expertise, and hope they can solve the problem, instead of paying out a fortune on something that they won't even guarantee will work. Has anyone else had this experience?? I love this car, but the whole thing is stressing me out at this point.

Hello, I am having the exact same problem!!! I have a 1.2 16v 2001 Clio. This coil light started coming on about a month ago now so I had a service, as it was due one, to see if this would help. Initially the light did stop coming on, but now it has returned. It seems to happen in low gears (1st sometimes 2nd) edging along in traffic or if I am idle in traffic or at the lights etc. Initially the coil light just came on and I lost power, but if I revved the engine the power would come back and the light went out. Now the coil light comes on and then it stalls completely. I restart it fine and then rev and the light goes out. I really cannot afford to get this fixed if it is as bigger problem as you have described. I'm wondering whether I should just cut my losses and get rid. I have seen loads of similar stories, but not as exact as you describe and loads of possibilities have been mentioned such as needing new leads to needing whole new ECUs. Please keep me updated on your progress, as will I.

I bought an 04 Clio 1.2 16v 8 weeks ago. Two days ago it developed the same problem as described by your contributors. The AA could find no faults in the system and reset the ECU. The engineer said that he is fed up with seeing the same problem with Renaults. I have now found dozens of the same problem documented on Carsurvey.org. I wrote a solicitors letter to the dealership, yesterday asking for my money back. I was immediately given a hire car and the Renault returned to the dealership. I do not want the car back since it seems Renault cannot actually resolve the problem itself. I am now going to take up a case for an elderly neighbour of my parents who bought a Scenic privately and are having the same problem. Please get back to me through this column, if possible. I am going to fight all the way.

I have a Y reg Clio Authentique which has the same problem. When I switch the engine on, it will often stall straight away, and then when I try to restart the car, the coil light comes on. The car will then not go above 10mph (which has proved to be quite dangerous when driving up hills!)

First time it happened, I called out the AA, but by the time they arrived, the fault light had switched off. It has since been to many mechanics who have not been able to find out where the fault is coming from and how to sort it. This has been happening on and off for about a year, and as it is now happening on a daily basis my only option is to get a new car. Please let me know how you get on fighting your case with Renault, as I'm determined to get some compensation for this, especially seeing as Renault wasn't helpful at all when my bonnet came up.