1998 Renault Clio RL Biarritz from UK and Ireland - Comments

I also have a leaky Clio : (and thought it was just me. I have a 1.5 Clio 5dr 85 expression plus.

The water seems to come in from the sunroof and leaks on the drivers side from the corner nearest the windscreen. If I forget to cover the seat with plastic I get a very wet bum and if I do remember I get a slight wet bum.

As a uni student I don't have the money to get ripped off by Renault to fix the problem and as a girl I don't know enough about cars to be taking them apart!

Any suggestions?

Guess what...

Yep, another Renault Clio 2001 with a sunroof as watertight as Newcastle's back line.

Have emailed Watchdog - if everyone reading this did the same surely there would be enough of an issue for Watchdog to act.

I have read somewhere that applying a generous helping of Vaseline around the rubber seal on the sunroof solves this problem. Does anyone know more about this?!

Could I have a tip on how to remove the internal plastic to allow easier access to the sunroof connections, please?

Hi. Just gently prise the internal parts out with a thin screw driver. Our parts were corroded, but I managed to find replacement parts at local car scrap yard for pennies. Electric sunroof working fine now, but still leaks. I believe the water is coming off the glass and when it builds up, it floods between the rubber seal and the underside of the glass.

Oh dear! I too have the same problem. My 02 clio is leaking whenever its raining heavily. The water leaks at the top front corner of the car and sometimes completely wet the front passenger seat : (

I had had the drain pipes cleared but it didn't solve the leak. When I returned to the garage that cleared my pipes, they basically told me to either to get a new sunroof for £400 or a new car!

I tried opening up the sunroof and clean the rubber around the sunroof frame but its not still working as the roof lining is still wet after the heavy rain : (

My roof lining is getting stain : (

Not sure what I can do..help?

We had the "water on the passenger side problem" with our 2002 Clio. It turned out to be a blockage of the water drain. I don't know the English term for this part. (I'm Swedish) In Swedish, we call this "the turbine", but don't ask me why. However, that's where the water goes when it flows down the front window. It seems that the holes in the bottom of this part are too small, and if dirt gets into the water flow, these holes can get blocked. We had ours parked under a tree. When these holes get blocked, the water starts rising until it reaches the air inlet for the fan. After that, it starts flowing into the passenger side, behind the front panel.

This might be the problem for some of you.

Btw, this design is very bad, and with strange dimensioning.

BR,

Johan.

Hi, my Clio is also leaking. I have a 1997 1.4 Sport. I sealed the sunroof shut and sealed the arial, and it still leaks with the rain. Over the last few days it has done the immobilizer and now it's not going anywhere. Does anyone know if you can just get a new sensor/circuit board from the scrap yard, or would the car have to be remapped? Thanks.

I also have a Renault 1.4RT 1997 model and I have had this since September 2007. All the bad weather we have had since my sunroof started leaking just after Easter 2008. It is also leaking from the roof console. I looked in haynes manuel that came with the car and it tells how to take off and clean but no sign of where drain holes are. I shall also be contacting watchdog as I do not need two showers every day on the way to work.

Well another leaky 1997 RT. I had to have a new immobliser 2 years ago (£350 and I needed a new key), I wish I had looked on this site before. I get water leaking from the central unit above, I think it is due to the drainage holes being blocked. My hubby blew air down the holes with his compressor which sorted it for a long time but today I got another soaking. I also have got a leak somewhere else that leaves a foul smell, the boot seems a bit damp and under the rear seats. I will investigate the foot wells after reading the other reports. Apart from that I really love my Clio it has been brilliant but I think this is its last year with me.

Another one here. 1997 1.2 RL.

Nothing in the foot wells, but it is coming down through the interior light. And through the sunroof catch, although I believe it's an after market one, so prolly just needs resealing.

Just bought Renault Clio 1.5 Diesel, I wish I'd read these comments first!

My problem is a leak that ends up under the back seat, passenger side, not in the floor well. I've no idea where it's coming from, possibly from the aerial. The front of the car is dry (so far).

Has any one else got a leak which ends up under the back seat and knows where it comes from?

For all those affected by the water leaky sunroofs that then fubar the IR sensor I have found a way of disabling the immobiliser without the plip key remote.

Http://www.bba-reman.com/content.aspx?content=Test_for_Renault_Key_Immobiliser_failures_emergency_recode.

The password to unlock the zip is "reman" For the program its self is "trantir"

As for the whole sealing of the aerial affair, Easily and cheaply done.

Simply remove the courtesy light cover and gubbins within that. Then you need an 8ml socket to remove the aerial. With that done you can take the aerial off the roof. T cut around the two holes and then cover with sillicon sealant, clear is probably best. Don't be shy with it, then just wipe away what comes out. It shouldn't effect your paint work and will seal the aerial hole. Most garages charge around £50 quid for that. But it takes 15 minutes at most.

If you have any questions you can email me on jmeATliveDOTcom.

Oh dear, I also have a leak in the exact same place (my sunroof) and this morning my whole electrical system has gone, no engine no lights nothing! anyone looking to buy a renault, Don't!

I have recently bought a 52 Clio and thought I was the only one with a wet passenger seat. I have taken to putting a bin bag over the sunroof when I'm not driving it!!! I think we should all contact Renault, as there is obviously a massive problem here. Who's up for it, please let me know.

Miranda.

Can any one tell me how to get the square bit in the roof which contains both lights and switch out because I need to get behind that to stop a leakage reply back asap please :D.