Renault Avantime - Dear god what have I done.
Discussion
So, having decided that I'd had enough of paying £350 a month for a reliable, modern car on finance, I decided to sell up and buy a nice, cheap runaround with no monthly outgoings. So what did I do? I had far too many beers and ended up with a Renault Avantime.
Yes, it has more electrical issues than an Alfa in a lake and yes I know I'm going to spend whatever money I've saved on persuading it to work properly, but I love it.
Yes, it has more electrical issues than an Alfa in a lake and yes I know I'm going to spend whatever money I've saved on persuading it to work properly, but I love it.
Indeed, I thought I'd need a boating license when I first climbed inside, it's tremendously relaxing to drive though! Strangely enough there's not a squeak or rattle to be found. Need to spend the weekend giving it a good service and cleaning every electrical contact to within an inch of its life.
Will do! At the moment the main issue is the electrical warning screen illuminating when the car is started, which forces the car in to limp mode and eventually causes the engine light to stay on. A basic OBD reader (and the torque app) show a P0120 throttle pedal sensor fault, but the car has recently had a brand new throttle body. Hopefully going into a specialist on Monday to diagnose 
Well, the Avantime has gone for its appointment with the Renault specialist today, so let's see how much I'm going to have to re-mortgage the house for in a few days time When the truck pulled up outside the garage it was almost as if a Ferrari had pulled outside the amount of attention it garnered! I thought most people would just assume it was a big Megane.
When the truck pulled up outside the garage it was almost as if a Ferrari had pulled outside the amount of attention it garnered! I thought most people would just assume it was a big Megane. Yeah there are a couple of small patches bubbling, nothing too bad though. Should the car behave well once repaired and stay (relatively) trouble free, I may have them re conditioned. The original wheels and caps came with the car too, so they'll be due to go on after some new boots.
irocfan said:
despite my dislike of most things practical I do find myself looking at these on occasion. Lovely
The odd thing is it really isn't practical at all. Renault effectively took the very practical Espace and said "You know what? Why don't we remove 3 seats and 2 doors and yet keep it the same size as as a small African country." It does have a big boot though.HTP99 said:
Steve421 said:
irocfan said:
despite my dislike of most things practical I do find myself looking at these on occasion. Lovely
The odd thing is it really isn't practical at all. Renault effectively took the very practical Espace and said "You know what? Why don't we remove 3 seats and 2 doors and yet keep it the same size as as a small African country." It does have a big boot though.Matra designed and manufactured the Espace for Renault, however Espace IV was entirely Renault's design which they also built, thus Matra came up with the Avantime which was based in Espace III, it was built on the same production line as Espace III.
Just saved going into detail really. What a swan song for Matra though! If only Renault had decided to keep the Espace clad in GRP rather than switch to steel, they may still be with us as a car manufacturer. And it's all sorted! Turns out the replacement throttle body handn't been "coded" to the car via Renault diagnostics. I thought this car would have been too old to be caught in the trap of coded ancillary parts, but there you go! Currently still in the garage having a once over, but we're looking like we're in business.
Car is still with the garage at the moment, I asked them to give it a once over since I didn't have much of an opportunity to go over it properly. So far they've advised it needs strut top bearings, a rear lambda sensor and new brakes all round. It's taken a little longer as the garage owner very kindly agreed to fit my car in around cars which were already booked in. Hopefully should pick it back up Tuesday or Wednesday and then we'll see how I come on!
Damien-wp50s said:
hi Steve.
I found this article whilst browsing for a similar issue with my Avantime. Guess what it’s your Avantime! I m Currently parked up waiting for the AA, I’m sure you had a nightmare with it. I’ve broken down about three times to date. I assume you found no fix for it?
Damien
Hello!I found this article whilst browsing for a similar issue with my Avantime. Guess what it’s your Avantime! I m Currently parked up waiting for the AA, I’m sure you had a nightmare with it. I’ve broken down about three times to date. I assume you found no fix for it?
Damien
Bloody hell what are the odds of finding this! (well actually, considering how few they sold in the UK probably not that bad)
Sadly I never got round to fixing the issue, I left it with a Renault specialist in Newcastle for a few weeks but when even he failed to rectify the issue, I sold it to a guy on the Avantime Facebook page who had a few of them (not sure if that's you?)
Did you get sorted in the end?
Stephen.
Gassing Station | Readers' Cars | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff