Velocity. Satisfaction*. 2002 Renault Vel Satis 3.5 V6 Initiale

[Kiltox]

Pretty much every single inch of plastic in this is sticky, like the soft touch coating has failed. A couple of bits seem to have already had it removed. 

Anyone dealt with this before? 

[SiC]

Elbow grease is usually the go to soft touch remover on Clio 1*2. B&M and Home Bargains usually have it. 

[Kiltox]

Essential Vel Satis accessory just dropped (for topping up the coolant reservoir….)

[J-T]

2 hours ago, Kiltox said:

Pretty much every single inch of plastic in this is sticky, like the soft touch coating has failed. A couple of bits seem to have already had it removed. 

Anyone dealt with this before? 

I had this on an old Alfa Romeo, I used meths on it, took all the coating off and looked 100x better 

[EyesWeldedShut]

11 minutes ago, J-T said:

I had this on an old Alfa Romeo, I used meths on it, took all the coating off and looked 100x better 

Covid era hand sanitiser with a fairly high alcohol content worked on the Bini softtouch slime

[Kiltox]

Premium valet time 

 

[High Jetter]

I saw the local Vel Satis driving off earlier, was too slow to get a pic.

[Kiltox]

No ditch is safe. 

Apparently the rear TPMS sensors are awol 🤷‍♂️ 

[riek]

SUPER SPORT CHASER

[Kiltox]

Chasing sport. Probably never catching it. 

[SiC]

I seem to remember to that DS150 has an option to disable the TPMS entirely on the Laguna and it should be the same with the Vel Shatis.

[hairnet]

1 hour ago, riek said:

SUPER SPORT CHUFFER

 

[Kiltox]

8 minutes ago, SiC said:

I seem to remember to that DS150 has an option to disable the TPMS entirely on the Laguna and it should be the same with the Vel Shatis.

Guessing that must’ve been what’s happened here then! No warning on the dash. 

[SiC]

At this age on the current MOT rules it shouldn't be a failure if the TPMS is showing a fault. But I have a vague memory it was for a few years a long while ago. 

[RoverFolkUs]

TPMS is currently only testable on vehicles registered after 1st January 2012. I can't imagine they'd ever change that to cover earlier vehicles, and it's still not a fail unless it's obviously inoperative. If it can't be proven it's inoperative then it's not a fail, it's tested in the same way as the airbag system, you can just tape over the light/disable it as it's fine unless it's obviously modified 

[Kiltox]

Costs next to nothing to fix properly though, unless there’s something particularly weird about the Shatis (which there probably is to be fair) 

[RoverFolkUs]

14 minutes ago, Kiltox said:

Costs next to nothing to fix properly though, unless there’s something particularly weird about the Shatis (which there probably is to be fair) 

I'm definitely on team fix, not team delete 😅

[SiC]

17 minutes ago, Kiltox said:

Costs next to nothing to fix properly though, unless there’s something particularly weird about the Shatis (which there probably is to be fair) 

Sensors used to be £50+ each and then a proper diag to code them in. Some (can't remember if Renault ones do) need a special TPMS tool to buzz them to turn on for the first time out of the factory. They also get seized in the alloy over time, leak air and usually a pain to remove. In 2025 most garages have such tools to deal with them as so many cars now have them. Back in say 2005-2015 much less so. Also the antenna for them is on the bottom of the vehicle in the middle. This commonly plays up and fails from water ingress.

So given the option of taking it to a main dealer to fix the TPMS for ££££, or disable for ££ then I suspect most went "sod paying that, I'll just check the tyre pressures myself like I always used to".

[Kiltox]

5 minutes ago, SiC said:

Sensors used to be £50+ each and then a proper diag to code them in. Some (can't remember if Renault ones do) need a special TPMS tool to buzz them to turn on for the first time out of the factory. They also get seized in the alloy over time, leak air and usually a pain to remove. In 2025 most garages have such tools to deal with them as so many cars now have them. Back in say 2005-2015 much less so. Also the antenna for them is on the bottom of the vehicle in the middle. This commonly plays up and fails from water ingress.

So given the option of taking it to a main dealer to fix the TPMS for ££££, or disable for ££ then I suspect most went "sod paying that, I'll just check the tyre pressures myself like I always used to".

Aye I guess you’re right that it used to be hard to fix. Now about £6 each and an Autel scanner can program them. I’ll add it to the list of things to fix. 

[SiC]

I had a lot of fight with my Laguna II V6 trying to get them to play ball. The best I managed to get them all working together for about 6 weeks after replacing most of them. Genuine Renault sensors aren't cheap (aftermarket didn't exist then) and then paying a tyre place to fit them too. Then one of the new sensors started giving false reading. Soon after the replacement second hand antenna packed up too.

I gave up with them at that point and just disabled it 🤣

[Kiltox]

Heh, I didn’t realise about the antenna to be fair, sounds like another great design 

[Kiltox]

Finally got the chance to do this today

neglecting work I should be doing that’ll actually make me some money obvs. 

NSF drop link is knackered and hopefully the source of the clunking. Other suspension components on that side seem okay 🤞 

Air filter was…. Overdue

[Schaefft]

Nice one, free fixes at least!

[Kiltox]

Just now, Schaefft said:

Nice one, free fixes at least!

I didn’t see any drop links in the parts stash, there are ARB bushes and a track rod end though. 

[Schaefft]

Just now, Kiltox said:

I didn’t see any drop links in the parts stash, there are ARB bushes and a track rod end though. 

I'm fairly sure there was a drop link, unless I'm thinking of another car (Xedos came with one 🤔).

[Kiltox]

9 hours ago, Schaefft said:

I'm fairly sure there was a drop link, unless I'm thinking of another car (Xedos came with one 🤔).

No doubt I’ll find it after the one I’ve ordered from Amazon arrives today  was only £9.60, Febi too. 

[Kiltox]

On 28/03/2025 at 18:22, yes oui si said:

Photos of the suspension, pls. Twin bolt Macstrut at the front, and divorced spring/shock at the rear? 

[Kiltox]

New drop link has silenced the clunking. It still creaks a bit over speed bumps but meh. 

[Bear]

On 08/04/2025 at 08:17, Kiltox said:

No doubt I’ll find it after the one I’ve ordered from Amazon arrives today  was only £9.60, Febi too. 

Amazon's really messed up the filtering/car parts section, but there are still a few of those odd bargain items. I got a water pump for the Spark for £4.64. Don't need it, but I wish they'd make it easier to browse parts to look for these things.