Renault Clio MK3 electrical gremlins

Renault Clio MK3 electrical gremlins

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Discussion

jjmonaghan

Original Poster:

10 posts

54 months

Monday 2nd November 2020
quotequote all
Hi guys,

Hopefully this is in the right place. I have a 2012 Clio with an intermittent electrical fault on the rear offside light cluster (a fairly common issue, so I've read). It started with the indicator bulb not illuminating. I changed the bulb even though the old one was fine, but very soon it happened again. I checked all the wiring and contacts, which were all pristine, so I bodged it by wrapping the wiring in electrical tape to hold it in a position where the bulb would consistently illuminate. This worked for a year or so, but a few months ago the issue reared its ugly head again and is getting worse. The taillight has now started intermittently cutting out (can be fixed by knocking the plastic, but I don't know how often it's cutting out again while I'm on the move). However, it has now become a concern after I was pulled over earlier tonight for my brake light on the same side apparently being out. I gave it the benefit of the doubt, as that's a bulb I've never changed, but lo and behold, it was working again when I got to my destination. My local area is under a high COVID tier, so the police are out in force, and as I often have to drive at night for work, I can see the problem that's inevitably going to occur if I leave this any longer. Problem is, it's clearly not something a simple bulb change is going to fix, and I'm worried the eventual fix isn't going to be particularly cheap or simple!

If anyone here has had a Renault with this issue before, or worked on one that has, could you give me an idea of what might need done and the costs I could be looking at? I intend to phone my trusted autoelectrical place tomorrow to see what they say, but I'd like some idea of what we're dealing with before I hand the car over to them.

Cheers smile

Pericoloso

44,044 posts

162 months

Monday 2nd November 2020
quotequote all
I'm no electrics guru but have you tried a new bulb holder or light unit ?

Don't bother with a secondhand one that may have the same fault as yours .