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]

  On 30/03/2025 at 16:40, 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? 

Expand  

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

[EyesWeldedShut]

  On 30/03/2025 at 18:56, 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 

Expand  

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]

  On 02/04/2025 at 11:10, riek said:

SUPER SPORT CHUFFER

Expand  

 

[Kiltox]

  On 02/04/2025 at 12:17, 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.

Expand  

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]

  On 02/04/2025 at 12:51, 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) 

Expand  

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

[SiC]

  On 02/04/2025 at 12:51, 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) 

Expand  

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]

  On 02/04/2025 at 13:12, 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".

Expand  

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