Clio 182 - not starting / engine cutting out

[Jeronh]

Hey guys!

I'm hoping you lot can help me with some ideas here..

My 04 Clio 182 has started having some engine issues. It began with taking a second turn of the key to get it to start but it's now progressed to shutting the engine off randomly. Sometimes it'll be shortly after starting, sometimes it'll be whilst driving!

I've replaced the crank sensor / loom already. Any other ideas?

Cheers!

[chammyman]

Codes? Whats live data saying?

Since you have done the crank sensor you better have a look at the coolant temp sensor and do you have a rattling dephaser pulley?

It can cause a cut out on clutch dip or an issue starting but its rare tbh.

[Jeronh]

chammyman said:

Codes? Whats live data saying?

Since you have done the crank sensor you better have a look at the coolant temp sensor and do you have a rattling dephaser pulley?

It can cause a cut out on clutch dip or an issue starting but its rare tbh.

No codes other than a misfire, which would be caused by the engine cutting out according to the local garage.

It will die with the clutch in, when idling or driving normally.

[samnorthy]

In the absence of any fault codes Id check your crank position sensor, cheap and easy to replace

[Jeronh]

Thanks for the idea, though I've already changed that as noted in the original post

[Penelope Stoppedit]

Jeronh said:

Hey guys!

I'm hoping you lot can help me with some ideas here..

My 04 Clio 182 has started having some engine issues. It began with taking a second turn of the key to get it to start but it's now progressed to shutting the engine off randomly. Sometimes it'll be shortly after starting, sometimes it'll be whilst driving!

I've replaced the crank sensor / loom already. Any other ideas?

Cheers!

Google tells me that several people have experienced exactly the same fault and most of the people fixed the problem by fitting a new fuel pump relay
Although the relay could be faulty, I don't like the idea of guessing. Are you able to connect a 21 watt bulb or Multimeter with some wires to the fuel pump output terminal at the relay and earth/return to prove it's faulty? If you are able to test the relay that is the best thing to do but you must be careful in making sure to test at the correct fuel pump relay terminal and not be touching any other terminals at the same time otherwise you could damage something

[chammyman]

What misfire code is it giving?

[Mr2Mike]

A fault in the ignition switch itself is a possibility.

[Johnny5hoods]

I know this sounds strange, but could your battery be on the way out? Not a gradual wear down, but a sudden dead cell. If you've got a cell flickering in and out within your battery, this is how it could be manifesting. My nine year old (at the time) 182 still had the original battery at around 45K. One day, the battery just failed, completely. No electrics, full stop. Engine had always turned over fine, even on freezing mornings. Good job I didn't park the car hard up against a near side wall on the day it happened, as that is the only external keyhole (worth knowing).

May not be the answer, but definitely worth eliminating. Test your battery next time it happens.

[GreenV8S]

I've have a battery post with an internal break that cause that sort of sudden dead battery syndrome, but I don't think that would stop the car while it was running unless there was also something preventing the alternator from self sustaining.

[Jeronh]

I've had a bit of a result it seems! As has been noted already the Fuel pump relay can go occasionally, although it's not clear which relay that is exactly as they all seem to be different. I swapped them all around and it seems to be working perfectly now.. I just need to figure out what system has the dodgy relay now!

[GreenV8S]

When the fuel pump is powered via a relay this would typically be controlled via the ECU and include a flyback circuit to prevent feeding an inductive spike back to the ECU. Relays operated by switches don't need that protection. When replacing the relay, make sure you replace it with the identical specification and not just any old relay that fits in the socket.

[PositronicRay]

GreenV8S said:

When the fuel pump is powered via a relay this would typically be controlled via the ECU and include a flyback circuit to prevent feeding an inductive spike back to the ECU. Relays operated by switches don't need that protection. When replacing the relay, make sure you replace it with the identical specification and not just any old relay that fits in the socket.

Particularly a relay with a timer inside, like a HRW jobbie.

[Penelope Stoppedit]

Penelope Stoppedit said:

Jeronh said:

Hey guys!

I'm hoping you lot can help me with some ideas here..

My 04 Clio 182 has started having some engine issues. It began with taking a second turn of the key to get it to start but it's now progressed to shutting the engine off randomly. Sometimes it'll be shortly after starting, sometimes it'll be whilst driving!

I've replaced the crank sensor / loom already. Any other ideas?

Cheers!

Google tells me that several people have experienced exactly the same fault and most of the people fixed the problem by fitting a new fuel pump relay
Although the relay could be faulty, I don't like the idea of guessing. Are you able to connect a 21 watt bulb or Multimeter with some wires to the fuel pump output terminal at the relay and earth/return to prove it's faulty? If you are able to test the relay that is the best thing to do but you must be careful in making sure to test at the correct fuel pump relay terminal and not be touching any other terminals at the same time otherwise you could damage something

Google has gone right down the pan in recent years but - Google fixed this one - Praise be to Google

[Penelope Stoppedit]

Jeronh said:

I've had a bit of a result it seems! As has been noted already the Fuel pump relay can go occasionally, although it's not clear which relay that is exactly as they all seem to be different. I swapped them all around and it seems to be working perfectly now.. I just need to figure out what system has the dodgy relay now!

You didn't really swap all the different type of relays around "did you" ?

[Jeronh]

Penelope Stoppedit said:

You didn't really swap all the different type of relays around "did you" ?

Hah, no! That was a little exaggeration on my behalf.

There are three relays that are all identical, yet are running different systems. It's not clear which of these is the fuel pump - even Renault themselves said they have no documentation explaining this.