[ducky]

Hi

I have a real annoying problem with my clio 1.2 (2003) for the last couple of years and only during the warmer months it won't start when the engine is already warm. Always happens when I stop at the shops and re-start. I have taken back to renault dealer they put on computer but said no fault came up!!!! I have swapped keys using the spare but this makes no difference - so I do not think it is a key issue. Please help it has just started doing the problem again but all winter was fine. I will have to get rid of it if this carries on. Can anyone help! xx:crazy:

 

[ottoman]

Hello & Welcome to the Forums Ducky.

A temperature sensitive fault would indicate sensor fault somewhere or fuel vaporisation.

Have a look in the Clio FAQ section you might find a solution there.

Another Member with more technical knowledg than myself should be along shortly to assist with your post.

Regards

Ottoman

 

[Spaceman]

I had the same problem with my Megane. After some research on this forum I decided to take off the Top Dead Centre sensor and give it a clean. Sure enough it had some small filings and gunge on it. It took about 15 mins and I've had no warm-start problems since.

Incidentally problems with this sensor do not show up as a fault code.

Hope this helps.

 

[superbiatch]

The very same symptoms to mine when it was the TDC sensor - i'd start there

Very common problem and inexpensive to resolve (compared to most other renault faults!)

 

[cliopuzzles]

Hi,

very recently had the very same problem on my Clio, and although changed the top dead centre sensor only 2 weeks ago (so still 'observing' the random start problems from a statistical viewpoint...) the random start problems have completely gone away.

Also, it had the same behaviour- warm starts especially bad, had its moods when it was behaving bit better, but nothing was picked up in the diagnostics ran by the Renault garage.

So I could pass on the same advice I received (and so far seems to have totally cured it): start with the TDC sensor replacement and it has a very high probability of curing the problem as it is also a classic issue with the entire Clio range it seems.

 

[superbiatch]

... as it is also a classic issue with the entire Clio range it seems.

And meganes

 

[ottoman]

All Renault's really..( Petrol ).

Luckily it can be resolved relatively cheaply and easily.


Regards

 

[bones]

Thank the Good Lord for the Renault Forum, I have had same problem as the thread starter for such a long time. My wee clio '98 is such a great wee car but after any kind of journey, if I stop for any reason (i.e shops or that) I can't get the car started again. Also it has taken to shutting down completely at traffic lights etc.

I have been back and fourth to my mechanic who can't detect any faults which made me feel that I was perhaps losing my marbles :crazy:

So by chance I tried this place and within seconds it seems I'm not the only one. The car is booked in for Saturday morning where i'll get this Top Dead Centre sensor cleaned as I'm pretty sure this is my problem.

I'll be so happy if my car can now function normally again, all thanks to this place!!!! Cheers! :rofl:

 

[dave_mezza2006]

Glad the forum could help bones. Hope you stick around.

All the best getting the clio sorted.



Regards

 

[bones]

I shall indeed! Thanks Man :d

 

[chris m]

keep us updated

 

[johnday99]

DIY Job ?

I have a similar problem with my '98 1.2 Clio and am now at my wits end having had it in the garage twice only for them not to find anything wrong.
Is the TDC sensor somthing I can clean myself and if so where is it?

 

[madnoel10]

Hi Johnday99 - if you had done a search of the forum for "TDC sensor" - you would have come acros the link below. Although the engine may be different the principle is the same

http://www.renaultforums.co.uk/showthread.php?t=10062&highlight=tdc+sensor

 

[Spaceman]

The link MadNoel10 has given you is excellent. My guess is that it will not be too different for the Clio. Before you go to the extremes of buying a new TDC sensor, pop it out and check for small filings on the metal probe at the end. A quick wipe with a cloth has kept mine going for over a year.

 

[petercee]

hard starting

does it start okay when cold, i had a similar problem with my scenic, it would start okay cold, but as soon as it warmed up, it would often stall, and hard to restart,i had it diagnosed by renault agent, it was a faulty engine tempreture sensor, the one that controls the fuel injection, it was overfueling, once i got that fixed , no problems since, that was several months and around 2000ks ago. on my scenic which is the F3R engine the sensor is located in the thermostat housing, there are 2 sensors, one for the fan, and 1 for the fuel injection,(white and green plugs) it was the white one faulty if i remember right. about 30 pounds to fix, does the engine sudenly increase in revs without warning, thats another sign of a faulty temp sender

 

[douglife]

im currently having the same problem as many of the ppl on this thread with my 04 clio, but after trawling through the faq forums found that it may be the tdc....so im waiting till the weekend when ill hv chance to change it...fingers crossed!!!! thanks renaultforums!!!!!!

 

[StevieP]

Followed my wife's lead and bought 2001 1.2 16V a couple of months ago.

Generally pleased with it, except for one problem...

Went down to Cornwall for a week, and a couple of times the electrical incident light came on after car was started after stopping for an hour or so.

Started again OK, but wouldn't hold tickover. If you keep the revs up and drive away, the light went out, and car then behaved perfectly.

Since returning, I have trawled through the various (and very helpful) threads, and decided to clean TDC sensor. This appeared to help (was dirty but not unduly so).

Different problem has now arisen - car will start fine (and no electrical incident light), but if I've just been to shops (i.e. 10 minutes or so) it will cut out about 10 seconds after starting, and electrical incident light then comes on. Same issue with lack of tickover, but car always restarts and then light clears about 10 seconds later.

Car has been stuck on diagnostic machine and (surprise, surprise) 'no fault evident, no faults logged'.

As a matter of course, I've fitted new plugs, air filter and fuel filter (service record was a bit patchy).

What next? Do I start by changing TDC sensor, as symptoms changed after I cleaned it? Or should I look elsewhere?

Fuel consumption fine - 51+ MPG, no matter how it's driven, or how long the journey.

BTW local Ren specialist says I'll need the modified TDC sensor with its separate plug - how easy is it to get the rewiring wrong? Does anyone know which colour wires should be attached to which as I believe they're not the same on new plug?

Sorry for length of post, but thought it might help others (...or possibly confuse them further :d)

 

[StevieP]

Have just replaced TDC sensor, and thought I'd add some observations.

Easy job once air filter housing removed and various pipes moved out of the way. Had bought sensor plus new loom (approx £52 for the pair including the dreaded).

Don't assume that wiring is connected as per other member's info - mine was old green wire to new yellow wire (not red) - typical French, messing with our minds! It's easy enough to work out tho' if you compare how the connecting plug fits into the sensor.

I used the heat-shrink connectors that came with it - overlapped the two wires inside the connector and used a lighter to melt the solder and 'shrink' the plastic - it made a good firm connection. Then wrapped both wires individually in insulating tape.

Observations on outcome?

Higher, smoother idle from cold which settled down more gradually than before.

Better, smoother throttle response overall (particularly when still cold), without those annoying intermittent 'flat' spots on acceleration.

Yet to be proven whether it's cured my intermittent stalling shortly after warm startup, but should know after a few days.

Definitely a job worth doing, as it's improved a whole host of 'funny' running problems, and at least it's one thing I can cross off my 'to do' list.

 

[petercee]

engine stalling when warm

i hope you have solved the problem, if not, it would pay to check the engine fuel injection tempreture sender, on mine its located in the thermostat housing, if its faulty, as was mine, it causes over fuelling and stalling, and hard to start when warm, whereas the tdc sensor usually causes hard starting when cold, or no starting at all if its really that dirty, but usually a good clean of the TDC sensor cures it, no need normally to buy a new one. whereas with the fuel injection tempreture sensor, if faulty ,will need to be replaced

 

[StevieP]

Petercee - thanks for info.

That was actually going to be next on my 'to do' list, but there seems to be some confusion as to which sensor we're talking about.

Do you mean air temperature sensor, or fuel injection temperature sensor? Haynes only mentions a fuel injection sensor on the diesel engines confused.

Mine is a 1.2 16v (D4F) - would be great if someone could clarify which sensor it's likely to be, and where it's located on this engine.

Thanks.