Renault Clio Throttle Body Cleaning

bamboooooo

Had loads of problems with my Renault Clio (51 plate) stalling at junctions and roundabouts last year, and the garage cleaned the throttle body for me. Since then, the little car has been running fine. Does anyone know how often do I need to have the throttle body cleaned?

Also, the airbag warning light + serv light have come on since a couple of weeks ago. Any ideas what is likely to be wrong with the car?

The car runs about 5k miles a year but I am about to use the car on a major trip that involves driving around pretty much the whole of the country, so would like to do everything I can to make the car safe for me and my family.

Thanks.

tomstickland

It's probably the idle control valve. They clag up. Driving it hard every now and again will help keep it clear.

anewman

This problem is quite common, due to the requirement for cars burn crankcase emissions - these are fed back to the intake, and usually come along with nasty oily deposits etc which go on the throttle body butterfly valve. So maybe in another good few years it will need doing again. I know some home mechanics, (and probably paid mechanics in other countries), would clean the throttle body at each service. It's usually not very difficult to DIY clean the throttle body, in fact acceptable results can usually be obtained by taking the cover off, running the engine and spraying carb cleaner in short bursts into the intake. Most purists would say you need to remove the throttle body and clean the reverse side etc etc properly which usually necessitates a new gasket/o ring, and if it is unplugged from the car you will likely need computer diagnostics to realign it.

Service light will no doubt indicate the need for a service

Airbag light will indicate a fault somewhere, could even be an electrical fault entirely unrelated to the airbag system. Try Renault forums as there's probably a common fault that brings the airbag light up.

cyclonebri1

anewman wrote: »

This problem is quite common, due to the requirement for cars burn crankcase emissions - these are fed back to the intake, and usually come along with nasty oily deposits etc which go on the throttle body butterfly valve. So maybe in another good few years it will need doing again. I know some home mechanics, (and probably paid mechanics in other countries), would clean the throttle body at each service. It's usually not very difficult to DIY clean the throttle body, in fact acceptable results can usually be obtained by taking the cover off, running the engine and spraying carb cleaner in short bursts into the intake. Most purists would say you need to remove the throttle body and clean the reverse side etc etc properly which usually necessitates a new gasket/o ring, and if it is unplugged from the car you will likely need computer diagnostics to realign it.

Service light will no doubt indicate the need for a service

Airbag light will indicate a fault somewhere, could even be an electrical fault entirely unrelated to the airbag system. Try Renault forums as there's probably a common fault that brings the airbag light up.

I agree, I always try it that way 1st, it works 95% of the time and nice to see the crud issueing out of the exhaust Rarely had to actually take one off, even for the idle control valve.

I may be mistaken, but the airbag light was ussually a bad connection under the drivers seat I think, something to do with the seatbelt pretensioners that use the same circuit, but you will have to verify that.

C_Mababejive

It is imperative that you also check your bonnet release catch mechanism,clean and lubricate it.

bamboooooo

Thanks a lot for the suggestions! You guys have been very helpful indeed.

I have tried fiddling with the wires underneath both the passenger seat and the driver seat. Even tried to disconnect and connect the wires after reading some notes on a renault forum, but with no luck (wires won't budge). So the airbag light it still on.

I guess I will take my car for a MOT + service in a couple of weeks as I realise the MOT is running out soon.

Thanks for the ideas!

IHateDida

Hi - this is a known fault with Clios - my OH has just spent £300 on new throttle body housing (having already replaced the cat) - and a couple of weeks later the fault (as you have described) has come back - its also a 2001. Theres loads about the fault all over the net - my advice would be not to spend any money on it - as no one seems to be able to cure it - and get a different car - even Renault customer service couldn't help and told him to get rid of it.

We're in the process of trying to get rid of this car as its just eating money and no one (not even 3 Renault dealerships) has managed to cure the fault (and its extremely dangerous esp. in winter and slippery roads).

Just do a search for clios 2001 faults and you will see the many people that have the same problem. Renault don't seem to be able to offer a solution nor do they really care.

anewman

Shows you how well Renault think of their cars when they're saying to chuck a 9 year old car of their's. I won't be buying a Renault on the strength of that!

If there is a persistent problem with the throttle body, and it has been renewed, either the throttle body has not been properly aligned (many of your cheapie mechanics are quite poor and think replacing a part is good enough and don't understand the whole computer and diagnostic's side of the car), or there is a problem with the venting system/pcv valve or the engine is overfilled with oil or something.

cyclonebri1

anewman wrote: »

Shows you how well Renault think of their cars when they're saying to chuck a 9 year old car of their's. I won't be buying a Renault on the strength of that!

As against our dear government that tell us to "chuck 'em all" at 10 years :rotfl::rotfl:


Did I get that right?, sure they said "chuck 'em all"