Dacia Duster, 999cc of Throbbing Fun

[blueST]

croyde said:

blueST said:

Mine has a digi speedo amongst the options. Can’t recall if it’s MPH or KMH though.

Interesting. Mine's a 2021 Essential but I thought they all came with the same clocks with the screen in-between.

I upgraded it to have cruise just by swapping the speed limit button for a limit/cruise one and the ECU recognised it and hey! I had cruise.

So I presume that the electronics are the same across the range.

[blueST]

The quintessential Duster wheel is proving to have quintessential budget build quality. All 4 of my wheels are corroding in the joint between centre and rim. 18 months old, less than 10k miles, regularly hand washed using Bilt Hamber wheel cleaner, never seen a pressure washer or commercial car wash. The example pic below is not the worst bit. What chance of getting a refurbished under warranty?

[lord trumpton]

That's not good!

I guess its always going to be a place where it can breed; as I guess they can't really get the paint all the way into the tiny tight crevice.

I'm gonna load mine with Dynax UC to nip it in the bud.

I'd certainly try the warranty route as I can't see that being acceptable at all

[croyde]

blueST said:

croyde said:

blueST said:

Mine has a digi speedo amongst the options. Can’t recall if it’s MPH or KMH though.

Interesting. Mine's a 2021 Essential but I thought they all came with the same clocks with the screen in-between.

I upgraded it to have cruise just by swapping the speed limit button for a limit/cruise one and the ECU recognised it and hey! I had cruise.

So I presume that the electronics are the same across the range.

Ah, explains a lot. My central screen looks completely different.

[Mikebentley]

They upgraded to the digi speedo dash in 2021 I believe.

[blueST]

lord trumpton said:

That's not good!

I guess its always going to be a place where it can breed; as I guess they can't really get the paint all the way into the tiny tight crevice.

I'm gonna load mine with Dynax UC to nip it in the bud.


I'd certainly try the warranty route as I can't see that being acceptable at all

I’ll certainly give the warranty route a go, but might wait until the next service in Jan as I hate engaging with dealers. No doubt they’ll try and worm out of it somehow.

[croyde]

Talking of warranty. Is the 3 years from the day you buy the car or from when it was registered?

Got an MOT notice for mine, been that long already, I bought it Jan '21 but it was preregistrated Sept '20.

[lord trumpton]

croyde said:

Talking of warranty. Is the 3 years from the day you buy the car or from when it was registered?

Got an MOT notice for mine, been that long already, I bought it Jan '21 but it was preregistrated Sept '20.

Reg date

[DaSugg]

Do they not cut out certain dash features on the lower range models?

My 2015 Access doesn’t have a coolant temperate display, but I’m sure I’ve seen pictures of Laureate models that do

[croyde]

lord trumpton said:

croyde said:

Talking of warranty. Is the 3 years from the day you buy the car or from when it was registered?

Got an MOT notice for mine, been that long already, I bought it Jan '21 but it was preregistrated Sept '20.

Reg date

Cheers.

[blueST]

DaSugg said:

Do they not cut out certain dash features on the lower range models?

My 2015 Access doesn’t have a coolant temperate display, but I’m sure I’ve seen pictures of Laureate models that do

On the later models I don't think so. I bought an Essential in 2022, which was the base model as Access had been dropped by then, and it has all the same menu options etc as the higher models. No Dusters have coolant temp gauge as far as I know. I think more widely, Renault's as whole don't have them. I've driven a few Captur's and Clios that definitely don't.

[Mark-t]

My essential model had similar with the wheels, I think I've mentioned it here previously. I called the dealer I bought it from and was passed around, nobody knew how (or wanted) to deal with me! I decided to pop in and they were super helpful, the warranty repair being authorised within 10mins of me driving away. They take photos and apparently they're uploaded to a database against your car details for authorisation.

I since cancelled my appointment though, as the car went to WBAC last week. I was sad to see it go and I'd happily buy another Dacia. Whoever buys PO70 THF will have a great car, an Essential with cruise control added

[ChocolateFrog]

croyde said:

Interesting. Mine's a 2021 Essential but I thought they all came with the same clocks with the screen in-between.

I upgraded it to have cruise just by swapping the speed limit button for a limit/cruise one and the ECU recognised it and hey! I had cruise.

So I presume that the electronics are the same across the range.

I'm pretty sure they're different. Someone posted a screenshot of theirs and it looked different to mine, same model year.

[ChocolateFrog]

blueST said:

I’ll certainly give the warranty route a go, but might wait until the next service in Jan as I hate engaging with dealers. No doubt they’ll try and worm out of it somehow.

I think some people have had some luck.

That looks worse than others I've seen. Usually the paint peels off but that looks to have significant rust already.

Don't Landie guys put a thin bead of silicone around the seam to stop any water getting in? Might be a good shout if you do get a new set.

[ChocolateFrog]

blueST said:

DaSugg said:

Do they not cut out certain dash features on the lower range models?

My 2015 Access doesn’t have a coolant temperate display, but I’m sure I’ve seen pictures of Laureate models that do

On the later models I don't think so. I bought an Essential in 2022, which was the base model as Access had been dropped by then, and it has all the same menu options etc as the higher models. No Dusters have coolant temp gauge as far as I know. I think more widely, Renault's as whole don't have them. I've driven a few Captur's and Clios that definitely don't.

Mine does. It's in the menu, you also get the blue coolant cold symbol on the dash.

[DaSugg]

ChocolateFrog said:

blueST said:

DaSugg said:

Do they not cut out certain dash features on the lower range models?

My 2015 Access doesn’t have a coolant temperate display, but I’m sure I’ve seen pictures of Laureate models that do

On the later models I don't think so. I bought an Essential in 2022, which was the base model as Access had been dropped by then, and it has all the same menu options etc as the higher models. No Dusters have coolant temp gauge as far as I know. I think more widely, Renault's as whole don't have them. I've driven a few Captur's and Clios that definitely don't.

Mine does. It's in the menu, you also get the blue coolant cold symbol on the dash.

My wife’s MG3 has a blue light and no gauge too.
I always feel a bit apprehensive without a coolant gage after having an issue with an AX many years ago where I’d cooked it long before the light came on.

I suppose it’s just a fear I’ll have to get over

[ChocolateFrog]

I'm pretty sure that despite it showing a gauge its actually just a switch to tell you it's up to temp/about to melt.

It never moves from the middle which is a bit of a giveaway.

[DaSugg]

You’re probably not far off there

[jamesson]

My first serious problem with the Duster at around 37,500 miles. I was driving along a dual carriageway at 60mph when the instrument binnacle lit up. "Check injection" announced itself on the central digital display, EML flashing, traction control light on, spanner service light on and a lack of power accompanied by a vibration suggesting perhaps one of the cylinders was not firing.

I turned off the LPG and power was restored instantly, the EML went off and so did the traction control light.

I rang Dacia to get it booked in (six weeks wait!) who said it sounds like one of the LPG injectors has gone (which was what I thought) and they'd cover it under warranty.

I'm a bit disappointed, of course, but at least I can still run the car on petrol in the meantime. I'll let you know what happens when it's repaired.

[Bobupndown]

That's pretty poor that they can't even look at it for 6 weeks. What if it wasn't driveable, would you be expected to be carless for 6 weeks, courtesy car an option?