2002 Renault Clio Extreme from UK and Ireland - Comments

This forum is great and has given me back some sanity!! I thought the world was against me with my 03 extreme. I see a lot of comments about the dreaded lights illuminating on the dash, has anyone ever got to the bottom of exactly what the cause is?? Having had a new ABS sensor fitted and the ecu reset twice I still get my ABS/SERV/STOP lights coming on and I have just been told by another mechanic that its the ABS pump which is over £500 from the dealer for the part alone!!! They advised me that they rarely got requests for pumps as they rarely go, anyone any thoughts?? Any advice greatly appreciated!!

04 1.2 16v Clio, want to set it on fire, had it into a Renault garage and an other 3 times with lack of power/response, trouble with mine is I don't get a warning light so no fault codes, so as far as modern mechanics are concerned, no fault light=no fault code=no faults!!!

Going to PX for a Japanese car ASAP.

Here is a reply from Renault regarding my Clios poor running;

Thank you for taking the time to contact our Customer Services department regarding the issues with your Renault Clio.

I am sorry to hear of the problems that you have experienced to date and would like to take this opportunity to sincerely apologise for any inconvenience caused. Please rest assured that customer satisfaction is of paramount importance to us and your comments and feedback are vital in allowing us to achieve this. I will ensure that your feedback is forwarded to the relevant department.

I have taken the opportunity to examine your vehicle on our central database and can confirm there are no outstanding quality assurance programmes available for your vehicle; this means we are not aware of any inherent issues across the range.

We pride ourselves on the durability and technical excellence of our vehicles so when one of our customers experiences a problem, we treat it very seriously. I can confirm that our Renault dealer network have highly trained Renault technical experts who can assist with any poor running problems. However, intermittent faults are more difficult to locate. Sometimes, the fault is not apparent at the time of diagnostics.

If this is the case then Renault dealers will often suggest that the vehicle is left with them so they can try to recreate the fault. The Renault dealer will provide a courtesy car as subject to availability so you are caused the least inconvenience. The Renault dealer will not charge you to use their courtesy car. However, they may ask that you insure it yourself.

Should you wish to discuss this matter further, then please do not hesitate to call me on our free phone number: 0800 072 33 72 during 08:30 - 18:00, Monday to Friday.

Thank you again for taking the time to contact us.

Kind Regards.

Name Deleted.

Consultant.

Renault Customer Services.

http://www.renault.co.uk.

Tel: 0800 072 33 72.

customer.services@renault.co.uk

Re post above (number 320, comment from Renault)

There's a brush off letter if ever I saw one. Keep the letter, print off every one of these messages on this forum and send them to head of Renault UK, Top Gear, Watchdog and every national tabloid you can find.

How's about it? If I'd received that letter I would too. Take the point about intermittent faults, but over 300 people (give or take for double posters etc) with roughly the same problem? Don't wee on my leg and tell me it's raining.

Tut.

I have a 1.4 16v dynamique. I have always wanted a clio and couldn't believe my luck when I found a 2yr old 53reg with 8k miles on the clock. Had it for a couple of months then the faults started.

1. Car wouldn't go over 50mph, repaired under warranty by dealer (peugeot)

2. 10mins after picking it up from repairs, brakes failed as I approached a round-a-bout! Repaired under warranty by peugeot.

3. Fog lights came on every time I breaked, repaired by peugeot as they left some loose connections.

4. Sunroof rattles.

5. Stereo sucks! The volume goes right down by itself untill it is at 0 if the temperature is to warm, I have to wait for the car to cool down before I can put the volume back up. CD also gets stucks and makes a clattering noise.

6. Engine management light has come on and has been on for the past 9 months! Took it back to the peugeot garage, they tried charging me £700-800 to replace parts, but lucky for me, it was still under warranty so no charge. A few weeks later, light came back on, they supposedly repaired it. Then the light came back on again, but suprise suprise, the car was OUT OF Warranty! Now, I have to pay £60 for the diagnostics (?) and a possible £700 to have the catalytic converter replaced. Oh the joys of a Clio.

It is a shame, despite all these problems, I absolutely love my clio, its pretty fast, comfortable and cheap on fuel!!

I have a Clio 1.2 Expression, and in truth I've always been very happy with it...

A couple of minor comments, though, and one MAJOR question...

1. When I went to reconnect my radio, the code the dealer provided was incorrect, so I had to get a new one, luckily through a contact so it didn't cost me anything.

2. The service light goes on quite a lot. Someone at Renault told me to fiddle with the wires under the passenger seat and that would sort it - it works every time!

3. When Renault serviced my car, they tried to charge for repairs to a number of items that were covered under warranty (and items that should NOT have showed faults at such low mileage - my car is 52 reg and at about 30k miles, so I really don't abuse it). After a real battle, they conceded, but I would never trust a Renault dealer ever again. They even tried to charge me for a new number plate that had just got through MOT, that they had sold me in the previous year. They seem to believe they have a licence to print money!

My MAJOR question is as follows...

WHERE ON EARTH IS THE RESERVOIR FOR POWER ASSISTED STEERING? It is not where the manual says, and despite hunting high and low, I cannot find it. Any clues would be welcome.

Cheers.

Re the post above..

I've a feeling that we have electronic power assistance so we don't have a fluid reservoir at all... I think..apologies if I'm wrong on that..

Had the same problems re the car not running properly (chugging..low idling..) I've got a 51 plate 1.6 16v dynamique, mate got it sorted by cleaning out the throttle body and replacing the ignition coils. He also gave most of the sensors a good clean out, not that he could see anything wrong with them. Although judging by what I've read on here there seem to be many different ailments that cause these problems.

Renault certainly seem to have created a stupefyingly awkward engine in these cars..

On July 22nd I was driving along A50 at about 6pm when the bonnet of my Y reg Clio flew up, shattering my windscreen and damaging the front of the roof. It was a very frightening experience, especially as I had my two young grand-daughters in the car with me. It has now gone to be repaired leaving me with an excess of £350 to pay and spoiling my no claims bonus. Renault still won't recognise a fault in the design.

Just after buying the car in 2003 with just over 4000 miles on the clock the first of my 4 coils had to be replaced followed, at intervals, by the other 3 coils, involving me in a good deal of expense. I shall not buy another Renault car.

I bought a Renault Clio 1.5 DCi today. Within seconds of leaving the garage, the heaters did not work, and a couple of hours later the service light and airbag light both came on. Any ideas on how to resolve these problems??

3 weeks ago I bought an 04 clio 1.2 dynamique, apart from being a bit flat (I put this down to the fact I've been driving a 1.7D corsa for 6 years) it was OK, but today coming home from town an orange light came on, according to the manual it is the "toxic fumes warning light"... The dealer I bought it from gave me a 3 months warranty... so I'm going back there tomorrow... but after reading this site I'm very wary... we live in a rural area and I am scared to have an unreliable car... I'm in 2 minds whether or not to get it fixed and then trade it in... I'm gutted my last car was sooo reliable... I just wanted something a bit newer!

I have a Renault Clio 1.2 Expression. 03 reg. It has developed the following faults

1. Cold starting

2. Losing power in the initial 4-5 min of starting the car

After warming up it seems to have no problems. What should I do?

mv

Hi I drive a Renult Megane Voupe 1.6 16v. I have had loads of problems; it seems like every week I have new problems with it. I think I have replaced every part in the engine, but I still get daft problems. Renaults have to be the worst cars in the world. All my mates drive Clio's and Megane's and we all get problems. It makes you wonder why people buy these french buckets of ****.

My girl friend has just bought a 57 plate Clio Campus Sport 1.2 16v. I have just noticed that in the top right hand corner of the door has white mold on it on both sides, so there must be damp getting in from somewhere? I think it's shocking how Renault deal with their customers and their ridiculous over charging for parts.

Guys, I thought it might be of some help to follow up on this post. My car was doing all of the problems you have listed, juddering, cutting out emissions light flashing etc. I replaced the 3 relays as suggested in the post below. Now I know this will not be a fix for everyone, but please, try it first as it worked for me and only cost £50.

"Possible cure for your Renault.

Hope this may be of some help to those of you at your wits end! Open your bonnet and on the right hand side next to the battery is a plastic fuse box cover, remove this and just behind the headlight you should find three little black relays in a line, remove one at a time and look for any white/green corrosion, if found change all three (£14.75 each!) this completely cured a 1.2 16v clio dynamic which has the same faults as described on here, cutting out, non start, and rough running, simple to check and may save you hundreds of pounds as this will not show up on a diagnostics check. hope this helps some of you out. good luck"

*** Not a serious suggestion ***

To fix the Renault problem;

1) Locate the bonnet pull.

2) Pull the bonnet pull.

3) Lift the bonnet.

4) Secure the bonnet in the upright position.

5) Locate the wiring loom and lambda sensor.

6) Locate a container with petroleum contained within.

7) Splash the said petroleum over the entire engine.

8) Get some phosphorus sesquisulfide on a small stick.

9) Ask a friend to ignite the phosphorus sesquisulfide stick.

10) Ask the said friend to introduce the phosphorus sesquisulfide stick to the petroleum sodden engine.

11) Wait for the wooofing sound and watch the said friend loose his/her eyebrows.

12) Stand back and wait 29 minutes.

13) Phone for help.

14) Don't buy another Renault.