Popping noise coming from exhaust of my Clio!!

Melissa_x

I have a 53 plate Renault Clio, and have noticed it judders quite a lot sometimes, when I am stopped at traffic lights, but I was told by plenty of people that this was just normal. But I have now noticed that the exhaust pipe is making the odd popping noise when my car is stopped but the engine is running, and Im wondering if the 2 are related? The car was due a service in Sept, but I am getting it done next month and wondered if this will solve it? It has only done 30 000 miles and I drive carefully. I have been told that it might be something to do with the sparkplugs, and back firing or something and may need a new 'coil'. Now I am female and dont have a clue what this means! Is it serious or expensive? The last thing I need is for my car to die on me! Please help!

goldspanners

it might be mis firing this could cause a popping noise,or it could be a hole in the exhaust casing a different noise than you are used to.

if your car dying is the last thing you need then i hope you at least checked all fluid levels when you missed the service last month, i know money can be tight to afford servicing sometimes but it doesnt cost you anything to check your oil and coolant.

my girlfriend is an absoloute nightmare when it comes to her car, she complains at small costs to keep her car running like exhausts and brakes but never checks her oil or coolant even although ive shown her how to do it on numerous occasions.

Melissa_x

Lol I have checked everything I only passed my test in Feb so its still fresh in my memory! I check everything regularly and its all topped up, I just panick over the smallest noise or judder my car makes - I drive my boyfriend mad trust me!

goldspanners

Melissa_x wrote: »

Lol I have checked everything I only passed my test in Feb so its still fresh in my memory! I check everything regularly and its all topped up, I just panick over the smallest noise or judder my car makes - I drive my boyfriend mad trust me!

take it into an independant garage that comes with recomendations from others,don't take it to a fast fit centre they will try to sell you everything you don't need and still won't fix your car.

it could be like you said a dodgy coil pack or lead.

Melissa_x

Okay thanks for your help will do!

Premier_2

When you take it to be serviced, explain the worries you have.

New spark plugs may cure it

MoaningMyrtle

If it is a coil an orange light may come on on the dashboard, it has happened on my Renault Scenic loads of times, the garage changed them all (there is one on each sparkplug) as it was under warranty. Now when it happens, which it does quite a lot, we buy them ourselves and change them. They are £12.00ish each. They are easy to replace. Otherwise, as mentioned above, it may be the exhaust.

Melissa_x

Thanks I was hoping maybe that would be all it was, the man who services it is a family friend and he said he would change spark plugs etc so I'll tell him about the popping and juddering too.

jojooneill

Hi,

I have exactly the same problem with my 53 Clio. So far we have tried changing the spark plugs, coil pack, leads and fuel injector. £250 so far and no luck - I hope yours is easy to fix. When I accelerate I can hear a quick escape of air coming from the engine bay - trying listening for that and mentioning it to the mechanic.
If anyone else could offer any information on what it could be it would be much appreciated!

Hammyman

Melissa_x wrote: »

I have a 53 plate Renault Clio, and have noticed it judders quite a lot sometimes, when I am stopped at traffic lights, but I was told by plenty of people that this was just normal. But I have now noticed that the exhaust pipe is making the odd popping noise when my car is stopped but the engine is running, and Im wondering if the 2 are related? The car was due a service in Sept, but I am getting it done next month and wondered if this will solve it? It has only done 30 000 miles and I drive carefully. I have been told that it might be something to do with the sparkplugs, and back firing or something and may need a new 'coil'. Now I am female and dont have a clue what this means! Is it serious or expensive? The last thing I need is for my car to die on me! Please help!

Yes the two things are related. It is misfiring. The pop you hear is the misfire. The car is nearly a year overdue a service and the spark plugs would have needed changing by now so chances are a spark plug is worn. However, that can also kill spark plug leads and coils as the coil tries to provide more power to the spark plug to keep it sparking. So what could have been prevented by changing a £6 spark plug when it was due could get to over £100 now. And the unburned fuel will be killing the catalytic converter so that'll add another £250-£400 to the bill.

Get it done NOW, not later. All the time you are running it like this, you are damaging the CAT and risking creating more problems.