Supra Gaz Posted August 11, 2010 Share Posted August 11, 2010 Hello, my younger brother has been running a 54 Plate Renault Clio 1.2 16v. Lately his engine management light (the one that looks like an engine) has come up whenever he takes his car over 3500rpm. Originally the car had a nice linear power delivery all the way to the red line, now the car looses power and has no pull over 3500rpm, he described it as 'being in 4th and trying to pull away from a standstill'. He is a very sensible driver (to the point of being boring) he does not rev is car to the red line and instead revs to the maximum power delivery point which he knows from the Renault mechanics. His car has full Renault service history and has done 62000 miles. He took it to Renault who blamed the spark plugs and charged him 160£ to change them over but the problem persists. Any ideas anyone? I thought possible fuelling issue but this should not be the case on such a young car? Thanks in advance Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
L18msy Posted August 11, 2010 Share Posted August 11, 2010 Not en expert but maybe an air mass meter, o2 sensor , egr valve or a cat that has collapsed inside? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Supra Gaz Posted August 11, 2010 Author Share Posted August 11, 2010 Mmm o2 sensor, didn't think of that, an emissions test should eliminate the cat ad an issue hopefully. Nice thinking on the o2 sensor. Anyone else? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Havard Posted August 11, 2010 Share Posted August 11, 2010 Has anyone checked the fuel filter? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
L18msy Posted August 11, 2010 Share Posted August 11, 2010 If he drives around town like Miss Daisy the o2 sensor might be just clogged up. Take it out onto a motorway and give it some stick as it might unclog the sensor. Had a friend with a Peugeot that had the same problem and that fixed it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JakeG Posted August 11, 2010 Share Posted August 11, 2010 Had same problem wit my Williams, changed spark plugs with no joy, changed ignition leads with no joy, checked the rotor arm turned out it was moist inside and car was skipping some spark, lambda sensor(o2 sensor) would make the car run lumpy on idle so shudnt be it Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Supra Gaz Posted August 11, 2010 Author Share Posted August 11, 2010 Ok, so, I thought fuel filter, it was changed 3000 miles ago and looks good. I just tried taking it for a blast to clear the o2 sensor (poor thing got the shock of it's life), my brothers right, 3500 and power drops, no pull, it's just like you jump up 3 gears and the car can't pull. The car isn't lumpy or anything like that, it's absolutely fine until 3500rpm. I hadn't thought of the rotor arms, it shouldn't be that though. I tried googling it and ignition coils are apparently a very common problem on them. Any idea where that sits? I can't place it in my head Cheers for all the advice so far by the way, it helps having people with a fresh perspective Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Graham S Posted August 11, 2010 Share Posted August 11, 2010 Ok, so, I thought fuel filter, it was changed 3000 miles ago and looks good. I just tried taking it for a blast to clear the o2 sensor (poor thing got the shock of it's life), my brothers right, 3500 and power drops, no pull, it's just like you jump up 3 gears and the car can't pull. The car isn't lumpy or anything like that, it's absolutely fine until 3500rpm. I hadn't thought of the rotor arms, it shouldn't be that though. I tried googling it and ignition coils are apparently a very common problem on them. Any idea where that sits? I can't place it in my head Cheers for all the advice so far by the way, it helps having people with a fresh perspective The 1.2 16v is a different type of engine to the ones that use the individual 'pencil' type coils, the 1.2 16v uses just the 1 and uses normal leads. They aren't as common to failing compaired to the ones used in the 1.4 16v >. It is possible the coil is braking down but i've not known one to happen at a certain rev range. Whilst it was in renault did they put it on their diag machine? They must have done to rape you that much for replacing plugs. Does the car feel like its got any sort of misfire when it gets to 3k +?? They are quite common for getting the fuel pump hangers breaking down and clogging the pump, basically as you rev it harder it makes it worse. What ever you do, don't take it to renault to sort or they will replace everything.. It became a common problem and were originally just replacing pumps/hangers and they were coming back with other issues, so now they replace pump, hanger, injectors, rail, cat, sensors, the lot... Would definately go get it put on a CO machine, basically get a BETS / CAT test done and see if its running rich and start eliminating problems before you go replacing stuff! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Supra Gaz Posted August 11, 2010 Author Share Posted August 11, 2010 Cheers Graham, very thorough, I couldn't feel a misfire, but I only drove it for a short time and took it back to the drive so I didn't make things worse. My brother took it in, he said they put it on a diagnostics machine and it read misfire on cylinder 4. He did take it back to them when the problem persisted ad they said pretty much what you said 'we will start replacing things until we find the problem', I called Renault back for him and said that, that kind of policy is not acceptable and my brother, who is a student cannot afford this. It males me sick. Anyway, the car is going to a friend of mine in the morning who used to service my cars before I got the sup, I will pass on what you guys have said, hopefully it can be rectified quickly. I will update when it is all fixed Thanks again Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Graham S Posted August 11, 2010 Share Posted August 11, 2010 Cheers Graham, very thorough, I couldn't feel a misfire, but I only drove it for a short time and took it back to the drive so I didn't make things worse. My brother took it in, he said they put it on a diagnostics machine and it read misfire on cylinder 4. He did take it back to them when the problem persisted ad they said pretty much what you said 'we will start replacing things until we find the problem', I called Renault back for him and said that, that kind of policy is not acceptable and my brother, who is a student cannot afford this. It males me sick. Anyway, the car is going to a friend of mine in the morning who used to service my cars before I got the sup, I will pass on what you guys have said, hopefully it can be rectified quickly. I will update when it is all fixed Thanks again No probs mate, be interested to know what it is... misfire no 4? interesting as its a single coil.. Could be injector! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Supra Gaz Posted August 14, 2010 Author Share Posted August 14, 2010 Well we got it back from the garage, the ignition coil was breaking down and only partially firing, they changed the coil and the oil and filter while they were at it. £70 all in including paperwork, that's what I call mates rates! Cheers for everyones help Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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