Renault Money Pit

davidjwest

My partner has a Renault Grand Scenic, built on a Friday afternoon by a bunch of drunken peasants judging by the problems she's had with it.

Anyway, latest problem is the "Check Emissions" warning came on, with a little picture of an engine. We were driving back from holiday at the time so pulled over into a motorway service station to have a look.

According to the manual it isn't a critical warning but just something that needs looking at when you get a chance, that's me paraphrasing. The same light flashes if it's something more critical that needs you to stop driving the car immediately, the light isn't flashing.

Since then the car has driven completely fine, MPG is OK and no flat-spots, misfires etc, it's done over a thousand miles in the last 4 weeks or so.

She took the car to a garage that specialises in Renaults ie is good at extorting money out of gullible people who know nothing about cars.

The garage put the car on a diagnostic machine, or a unicorn, not sure what it was they used exactly as apparently this diagnosed three possible problems:

1. Cam-shaft sensor fault.

2. ECU needs reprogamming.

3. Cam pully pre-tensioner fault.

4. Too much rocking horse !!!! detected.

Anyway, they went ahead and replaced the cam-shaft sensor as they said at the time that was the cheapest option - they did this without advising my partner as they reckon they couldn't get in touch with her and they didn't bother leaving a message on the answerphone either.

Total bill was around £180, which she paid thinking at least the fault was fixed.

The same warning light came on again as she drove home.

I've just been back to the garage who said, surprise, surprise, it's the same warning and now they want to try reprogramming the ECU.

This will be around £70 but they can't do it but know a man who can.

I've agreed to the work as the final option that their amazing diagnostic machine has come up with is that the cam pully pre-tensioner needs replacing and that's going to be around £600.

I'm in the process of writing a letter asking for a refund of the £170 to replace a part that wasn't faulty, any advice?

I'll wait until they get the ECU reprogrammed before sending it to see if that does actually fix the fault.

Thanks for any advice.

s_b

was it the dephaser they changed?
these clatter when they are faulty
how can you upgrade an ecu for £70
more likely they are going to spend your money on a man and machine that might point them in the right direction of why your emissions light comes on
another set of clowns in my opinion, using the audiences money (you)to pay for their big shoes red noses and big tops

UncleZen

how can you upgrade an ecu for £70

Easy they download the latest firmware from Renault and upload it, it'll take 30+ mins, hence whey they are charging £70 (plus VAT)

In all lileyhood the light will go out on its own after a while, but then may come back on again. Theres probably an intermittent fault causing it or a sensor is delivereing a reading beyond what is expected, usually once this light is triggered, it stays on for a while to allow the garage to connect a disagnostic device and relieve you of some money.
IME when cars are new they work, when they get older they still work but with wider tolerances than when new and lights appear. The updated ECU software may well open up the tolerances on certain sensors to allow the engine to function exactly like it does now but without the light coming on.
Ive lived with French cars that do this - never again.

s_b

UncleZen wrote: »

how can you upgrade an ecu for £70

Easy they download the latest firmware from Renault and upload it, it'll take 30+ mins, hence whey they are charging £70 (plus VAT)

In all lileyhood the light will go out on its own after a while, but then may come back on again. Theres probably an intermittent fault causing it or a sensor is delivereing a reading beyond what is expected, usually once this light is triggered, it stays on for a while to allow the garage to connect a disagnostic device and relieve you of some money.
IME when cars are new they work, when they get older they still work but with wider tolerances than when new and lights appear. The updated ECU software may well open up the tolerances on certain sensors to allow the engine to function exactly like it does now but without the light coming on.
Ive lived with French cars that do this - never again.

OP doesnt say renault agent he says

garage that specialises in Renaults

vax2002

A obii code reader in the wrong hands is an instant recipe for endless repair bills, scanning one code after another, replacing the wrong parts and back on comes the lights.

passatrider

You could try a forum for renault owners. 'Renault Forums.co.uk' have a wealth of information of information from others and you might even grow to like your Renault too!

Hth

davidjwest

The garage is getting someone else to do the ECU "reprogramming", probably a Renault specialist by the sounds of it.

We're getting rid of this pile of junk asap but it's not going to sell well with the warning light on.

There's no clattering s b so thanks for the info re the dephaser, no they've not changed that.

See if this ECU reprogramming fixes it, or masks it for a while.

I wouldn't mind so much if it were an old or high miler but it's done barely 50k on a 55 plate.

fivetide

When looking at potential vehicles, I tend to find if it is wearing a beret or has a whiff of garlic about it then it is best to walk away.

Hope you get this french lemon sorted.

5t.

davidjwest

Thanks everyone.

The ECU "upgrade" appears to have "fixed" the problem, I say that as I suspect the underlying fault is still there but the ECU is more tolerant with a wider operating range for whatever it is that was triggering the warning in the first place.

I would like some advice as I am going to ask for a partial refund, what do you think?

My point being that the original work was done without my partner being made aware of it beforehand, she only paid as she though the cam-sensor replacement had fixed the fault, that was what the mechanic told her at the time. It was only after she had paid that he said to bring it back if the warning light came back on!

He also told her what he'd done was the cheapest of the three possible options, not sure how he works out £170 is less than £70 (the cost of the ECU upgrade).

PsiDOC

It's worth a try, however your request will probably be politely - or not so politely - declined.

Psi