2003 Renault Clio Dynamique from UK and Ireland - Comments

I own a Renault Clio Dynamique and brought it brand new at the beginning of this year. The build quality of my car is also appalling. I have had my car for almost 11 months now and have had several problems from the start, from minor ones like having to have my gear cover replaced (it was pointed out to me on the very day I picked up the car that this was broken and this was visible anyway) or my seat railings replaced (the seat was jammed so the runners had to be replaced - this was not pointed out to me and it was also obvious) to the more major problems that I will discuss further.

At first it was just my engine stalling whilst waiting in traffic in neutral gear - so I kept taking it back the the Renault Approved dealer where I bought my car. After several humiliating visits (as they blamed it on the way I drove the car - apparently 'I just needed to get used to the car') they discovered the problem and rectified it - they said the car wasn't tuned properly.

The problem ceased for about a month and then started again - by this point I was fed up and just put up with it. Then it progressed to refusing to start again after I turned the engine off from any length of journey - I'd have to wait about a couple of hours before it would start again. so I booked the car in 3 weeks in advance (i needed a courtesy car and there was a 3 week wait) but not long after I booked the car in, it started to stall in gear!!! and then not start again!!! and it happened so frequently, I had to call for roadside assistance - who informed me that my car kept stalling because my crank sensors were faulty (i don't know what this means - but he did say it was a vital part needed for the car to function properly.

He also looked under my dashboard for wires which he could not find - there were none. After searching for a while he found them located under my ashtray!!! - very strange. also on looking under my dashboard - he exclaimed that he would not have purchased my car as all the metal were extremely rusted in the interior under my dashboard, and the only way it could be rusty is either that the parts were already rusted before the dashboard was put together, or if the parts had got wet before it was used.

I have not picked up my car from the Renault dealer yet, but I have questioned the rusting, and they say that there is nothing they can do about the rusting and that it is completely normal. Can anyone tell me if this is true? or should I be concerned about the rusting?

Overall, I may just have been very unlucky. I think it's a gamble whether you will get a reliable car that is usually expected from Renault.

Hello, I would like to comment on the rusting problem.

I am from Mexico, and I just bought a Clio sport, known as the cup172 on the UK. The car has not given me any trouble, but I did find light rust underneath my dash board. Its like a fine coat formed when you leave a piece of metal out on a rainy day.

Good Luck with your car.

Rust under the dash!!! I work at a renault dealership and have never heard of this!! I even drive a clio 172 and mine is not rusty, while it sounds very petty now and may not get any worse for the rest of the cars life it would be worth asking if it could be cleaned up so you can at least see if it is getting any worse.

Hey hows it goin, I have a renault clio dynamique 1.2 16v,

i had it for 2 years almost now for the 1st year or so I had no trouble what so ever it was perfect. one day last april I got into my car tried starting it and nothing happened, I consulted my local renault dealer and they said I must have left he immobileser on which I know not to be true after a few pointless talks to my renault dealer I decided to investigate myself the wiring looms under the dash and found one held togetther by tape not the sort of craftsman ship you d expect from a dealer. anyway manged to fix this and had no trouble untill last week when I was waiting at traffic light s and the car stalled. when I managed to restart it it sat idle at 500 rpm usually it sits between 500 and 1000 rpm when ticking over. went to accelorate and the car sounded like it had something stuck in its throat and the engine management light came on. got to work left the car for a few hours and restarted it it was fine. but the same thing happened again coupke of days ago I ve checked the oil, water, gear box oil battery connections fuses wiring looms everything I can't find anything, has this happened to anyone before do you know how to solve this prob any help would be appreciated as its driving me potty

thanx.

Hi,

Have you sorted out the problems yet?

My wife has the same car with similar faults, I work I automotive development and the rust can be common on many cars.

Likely cause is that when first built the parts that are now rusting are un-treated bear metal and any moisture in the air/car will start corrosion.

Your running issues sound like ours, Rough idle and stalling.

We changed the coil pack - ON CHANGE, on the rear of the engine, there should be two plugs covered by a metal box, Fit the box to the bin, It wears through the loom and causes a miss-fire, Also change the spark plugs, This cured our problem...

Now we have another! The car will not rev past 1500ish RPM and also stalls, The engine check and GLOW PLUG? lights come on???

Any help to david_kershaw@hotmail.co.uk

Hey.

I used a diagnostic kit from work and I managed to clear the faults and put out the engine check light, the car was running OK until I touched the plug at the rear of the engine. My suggestion... IF you get any engine running problems, give it a good service and have a look at the engine loom plugs (top center at the rear of the engine bay) This may or may not fix the problem, but at least you will know you've given it a go...

7th Oct 2005, 15:21

Rust under the dash!!! I work at a Renault dealership and have never heard of this!! I even drive a Clio 172 and mine is not rusty, while it sounds very petty now and may not get any worse for the rest of the cars life, it would be worth asking if it could be cleaned up, so you can at least see if it is getting any worse.

I work in the motor trade, and you know what's ups with it.

IT'S THAT CRAP SUNROOF.

The car is getting damp.