wuvvum Posted January 21, 2015 Share Posted January 21, 2015 Right, this bloody thing has been sat around for months now, and I really can't be arsed with it at the moment. (How's that for an opening sales pitch?) For those who don't know, it's a 3.0 DCi, with the infamous 3-litre V6 Isuzu diesel coupled to a 5-speed Aisin Warner autobox. It's an Initiale spec, which means it's the posh one, all leather and wood and electric gizmos and built-in sat nav (which works, although it's 10 years out of date). It still starts on the button (literally - I know this turn of phrase has featured in the "most hated stuff in adverts" thread), drives and stops. It has a number of issues though. It had a hole in the expansion tank and was pissing out coolant. I tipped in a bottle of Radweld Plus which appears to have done the job, but there are air locks in the system and it needs bleeding thoroughly. When I was using it on the road it used to overheat if thrashed - the heater would go cold at the same time, which again suggests airlocks - these engines are notorious for them. It doesn't do the common thing these cars do of going into limp mode when the throttle is floored. It does, however, often go into limp mode after a hot start, and sometimes requires several attempts to make it behave itself. The locking button on the key card doesn't work, so it can't currently be locked. Not too much of an issue in the arse end of Norfolk, but might be a pain elsewhere. There's a few places which can repair these (it's the microswitch which packs up), but I only have the one card so the car would be immobilised until it came back. The airbag light is on, and there's a warning which flashes up saying "sensor fault" - don't know if the two are related. I read the codes and it said something about an open circuit on the side airbag on the driver's side - which could be a dodgy connection under the seat, something to which Renaults are quite prone, or it could be something more. Since it's been stood up, the climate control has packed up. I don't think it's the fuse as the backlight still comes on, I think it's the unit itself. These are shared with the Laguna 2 and are consequently quite common and available on eBay for under 20 quid, but look to be more hassle to fit than I can be bothered with at the moment. Anyway, this means the car has no heating or demisting - although the heated seats work so you don't completely freeze, in the front at least. I have one of those plug-in ceramic heaters which I've, er, plugged in, but that is about as effective as a not particularly flatulent gnat breaking wind in the general direction of the windscreen. Good bits now. It's supremely comfortable, has plenty of power, electric everything, cruise control, speed limiter, superb stereo, etc. etc. It drives fine, the only thing I can fault it on is a knock from the rear suspension over bumps (which could be a bush or, in typical modern Renault style, a broken coil spring). If anyone wants it for £350 they can take it away. Bring warm clothes and your breakdown card, I will supply a gallon of water just in case the radweld doesn't hold, and a cloth to wipe the windscreen. If nobody wants it it can sit there until the weather warms up enough for me to be bothered to try and fix it - by which time the lack of heating won't be an issue, so I probably won't be bothered to try and fix it. It's out of MOT; it's still taxed, obviously this is non-transferable but it'll get you home. Here's some pictures: Oh yeah, it's in north east Norfolk. Cavcraft, richardmorris, Bren and 2 others 5 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lord Sterling Posted January 21, 2015 Share Posted January 21, 2015 Oh my. To have £350 in my pocket now... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cort16 Posted January 21, 2015 Share Posted January 21, 2015 I recon that's probably best for spares given the number of issues but still well worth 350 notes.If you've got one of these in a more miserable spec this would be brilliant for an upgrade . Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lankytim Posted January 21, 2015 Share Posted January 21, 2015 Bloody nora, that's tempting! Cavcraft 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pillock Posted January 21, 2015 Share Posted January 21, 2015 That's an incredible amount of car for the money. I would offer a swap for an MG F but I think my bank balance moving forwards has been saved by this being too long, tall and wide for the garage. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
carlo Posted January 21, 2015 Share Posted January 21, 2015 I think you've summed up in a few paragraphs why so many people buy new cars for £150 a month and then give them up after three years. Unfortunately a perfect example of all that's gone wrong with the motor industry in the last fifteen years. Bamboocarman 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
320touring Posted January 21, 2015 Share Posted January 21, 2015 If only it were XUD powered and able to be fix3d using a selection of hammers. Bonne chance avec the vendre! Bamboocarman 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Craig the Princess Posted January 21, 2015 Share Posted January 21, 2015 I know I would regret it, but that is bloody tempting. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
overrun Posted January 21, 2015 Share Posted January 21, 2015 What was the list price on these, new?I had a sit in one in the Renner dealers and I seem to remember an electric ashtray, too? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sierraman Posted January 21, 2015 Share Posted January 21, 2015 It's worth more than the £350 for the parts alone surely!? Cavcraft 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
scruff Posted January 21, 2015 Share Posted January 21, 2015 If you can be arsed to break it, then deal with flogging the bits, then probably. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lankytim Posted January 21, 2015 Share Posted January 21, 2015 I recon this has years of trouble free happy motoring ahead of it. It looks great! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
prab Posted January 21, 2015 Share Posted January 21, 2015 Seriously considering this! May message you if I lose my marbles! (i do that often) Prab Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
R9UKE Posted January 21, 2015 Share Posted January 21, 2015 Uber rare blue leather! If you were down the road I'd buy the interior to stash for another at some point. Seems to be the way every dV6 is dying, the incurable overheating at speed syndrome. Great engine when it is at normal temp tho! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bren Posted January 21, 2015 Share Posted January 21, 2015 Nice car. At the end of the day it is exactly what you would expect - a 10 year old renault with electrical problems. Cavcraft and Bamboocarman 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mr_Bo11ox Posted January 21, 2015 Share Posted January 21, 2015 Whats this incurable overheat problem, are there any good theories as to what its all about?? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
R9UKE Posted January 21, 2015 Share Posted January 21, 2015 I've read loads Bol. Nobody has ever actually cured it completely and permanently. For some reason the same engine in the Signum and 9-5 never does it, something to do with the way Renault jigged the coolant system. Mine were always superb in traffic, would idle all day long just fine, but as soon as you push it or stay constantly above 55mph the gauge would just shoot right up. Most people sell them as head gasket failure, but that is generally only a side effect of the unknown original cause and letting the car overheat in the first place. Bamboocarman 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cort16 Posted January 21, 2015 Share Posted January 21, 2015 Sounds like a challenge for you bollox. What's the chances there's a wee plastic pea jammed in their somewhere? Pillock and pompei 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wuvvum Posted January 21, 2015 Author Share Posted January 21, 2015 This one will (would) manage to roll along at an indicated 70 on the flat without heating up - it wouldn't do much more than that though, and obviously up hills the cruising speed had to be commensurately lower. It was perfectly useable for my 16-mile commute to work - a mix of single carriageway A-roads and town driving, so it never had reason to overheat, and it would cope with a burst of full throttle to get past a Tesco lorry or Ford Fusion - it was only sustained pressing on that bothered it. I read somewhere that Renault later came up with a kit of metal plates that could be bolted to the engine and which were supposed to cure the problem - presumably by helping to dissipate the heat. Sounds to me a bit like putting a sticking plaster on a severed artery though to be honest. I did wonder whether fitting an ancillary electric water pump into the cooling system might help - it does seem to be a flow problem from what I can tell. I have heard some horror stories about this engine in Vectras, albeit not as frequently as in Renners. I don't know whether this was because the GM cooling system was better designed, or just because the Vectra is a lighter car and therefore the engine isn't working as hard. Who knows. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mr_Bo11ox Posted January 21, 2015 Share Posted January 21, 2015 This is most interesting, I love reading about incurable problems like these, can you link me up to any good threads about it Luke? R9UKE 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
OwdChina Posted January 21, 2015 Share Posted January 21, 2015 This is most interesting, I love reading about incurable problems like these, can you link me up to any good threads about it Luke?Hmmm....it's got me too. Same engine is OKish in other cars. Gotta be something stupidlike restricted air flow to an undersize rad.............?? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bren Posted January 21, 2015 Share Posted January 21, 2015 Same problem afflicted R5 GT turbo - rad was too small. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
OwdChina Posted January 21, 2015 Share Posted January 21, 2015 Same problem afflicted R5 GT turbo - rad was too small.Yes........Hey Wuv, is the auto box cooling also connected to the same rad. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
richardmorris Posted January 21, 2015 Share Posted January 21, 2015 Was the cooling a problem when new? If so how on earth did Renault sell them? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
steve_earwig Posted January 21, 2015 Share Posted January 21, 2015 ...restricted air flow...Hmm... *looks at grille* Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
OwdChina Posted January 21, 2015 Share Posted January 21, 2015 Was the cooling a problem when new? If so how on earth did Renault sell them?Not when new ...No. And they didn't sell many at all if I remember.Wondering if the auto box oil is fooked......Provided it goes through the same rad. Wuv?? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
messerschmitt owner Posted January 21, 2015 Share Posted January 21, 2015 it has the symptoms of either a failed MAF or the EGR valve sticking open and the ECU putting it into limp mode ... There is a workround for Mercedes diesels which involves a diode and a resistor, hacking the ecu and disconecting the EGR. Something similar should work with a car such as this ... I know these things are all foreign to the average shiteist but I feel we will be getting used to them as our choice of vehicles are from these new-fangled modern things. Craig the Princess 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
406V6 Posted January 21, 2015 Share Posted January 21, 2015 Go on Mr Bol - you know you want to ! Fixing this up would cement your Autoshite credentials beko1987 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bren Posted January 21, 2015 Share Posted January 21, 2015 This motor in vauxhalls suffers from EGR problems. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
R9UKE Posted January 21, 2015 Share Posted January 21, 2015 Have a read at this, and the forum in general Sir Bol. Good insight into life with one of these... Though they're really not that terrifying. http://www.vel-satis.org/forum/vel-satis-knowledgebase/dci-3-0-initiale-overheating-at-speed Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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