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Please help with non starter



  1.4 16v Dynamique
Hi All

This is my first post so hello!!!

Need some advice, had a little crash in my clio and the front drivers side headlight got smashed and the bodywork arround it, the car wouldn't start after this but pushed it home and when we pried the bonnet open we could see the battery had been shunted foward so put the non starting down to that.

Insurance company wrote it off so I bought it back with the plan of fixing it by replacing the panels, headlight and assumed fuse that had gone, and have it back to normal.

When we got the car back today the battery was completly flat even though it had only been sitting for 4 days.

We charged the battery up and managed to jump start the car but then realised there is something much more sinister going on by how roughly the car was running, it was choking and stuggling and just sounded like it wanted to die. When it did die I had my foot on the accelerator trying to push the revs up to keep it going but it still died with the revs not moving.

Under the drivers headlight what I think is the carbon filter had been pushed inwards from the impact and the pipework / tube that connects to the engine had popped out and the seal was no longer intact at the engine end. Have pushed this back in but it is not secure.

When you turn the key nothing happens at all, just a noise from the fuse box like the fuse box isn't allowing things to run, and an electrical wirring noise from the bit that controls the throttle / air flow.

Would this be the cause of the non starting?

When the engine was jump started drove it up the road and back but all the lights on the dash were flickering and the speedo and revs weren't moving. When you try and turn the engine over the speedo needle vibrates and then nothing.

Any ideas would be greatly appreciated.

Thank you

Ashley and Cat
 
  1.4 16v Dynamique
Immobiliser light is being normal as far as I can remember flashes normally then goes out when you try to start the car. I'm back home now and the car is on my mums driveway. I will check tomorrow and let you know for definite.

Are there any cut off's on a MK2 that would stop it from starting? As this has only happened after the crash. The car was fine beforehand.
 
  182 trophy
If there is no inertia switch under the bonnet (big red button) to press and reset then the cut off is all part of the air bag computer but if its only a light smash an no air bags deployed don't think that could b the problem, can u lift the rear bench seat and hear the fuel pump prime when u turn the ignition on? Does the engine turn over when u try start it?
 
  1.4 16v Dynamique
no inertia switch, and nothing at all when you try and start it. Just a click from what sounds like the fuse box area, not turning over at all.

Airbags didn't deploy just a small accident.

I can take a video of what the dash and engine are doing when we try and start it tommorow and put a link to it on youtube if that would help
 
Last edited:

MicKPM

ClioSport Trader
  Clio16v/Zoe Z.E.50
If the SRS light is illuminated when you turn the key and then goes out (and stays out) then no crash data has been stored and you're lucky. There may be something occuring with the electrical infastructure though after the crash.

Check all earth points are correct and intact. If the headlamp area and battery position have been disturbed this will have caught the earths I'd say.

Mick
 
  1.4 16v Dynamique
If the SRS light is illuminated when you turn the key and then goes out (and stays out) then no crash data has been stored and you're lucky. There may be something occuring with the electrical infastructure though after the crash.

Check all earth points are correct and intact. If the headlamp area and battery position have been disturbed this will have caught the earths I'd say.

Mick

Hi Mick

Thanks for that, we didn't think of the earth's earlier when we were with the car. Am I right in thinking their is a two way earth are off the battery negative, and another from the starter motor. Are there any more we need to check for?

We have bought a battery charger and the battery is on charge now overnight. Don't think the SRS light stayed on but will double check this tomorrow as well thank you.

Cat
 

MicKPM

ClioSport Trader
  Clio16v/Zoe Z.E.50
There's two main earths that will need to be intact. The main one is in the passenger wheel arch area between the gearbox and the chassis. The second is the battey terminal which goes in to the main engine harness but also to the chassis behind the passenger headlamp.

If this has been damaged you won't get a good enough transfer between the chassis and the rest of the engine back to the battery.

There are other things that need checking to but lets be sure the basics are in place and are working first.
 
  1.4 16v Dynamique
Just got back to the car, and as far as we can see all the earths are intact, however the dash lights are not all going off. I have taken a video of what the dash is doing and uploaded it https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2wdV7V8rC8U What is the little light at the bottom right that stays on? looks like a steering wheel.
 
  1.4 16v Dynamique
Fuses were the first thing we checked thanks, double checked with volt meter today and all fine. Thank you anyways :)
 
Definitely sounds like a power problem, do you have another battery you can try? Also any pics of the damage so we can see exactly where to damage is. Then we can see what wiring, fuses and earths are in the damaged area
 
  1.4 16v Dynamique
Found the problem, I think.

Took the cover thing off the postive side of the battery and realised this bit (I have no idea what you call it) was broken.

photo.php
http://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=10200858506527564&set=a.10200858506367560.1073741825.1311343554&type=3&theater

Bridged the gap with a screw driver and it started. Next question is, can anyone tell me what that bit is called so I can get a new one.
 
  182 trophy
That is a fuseable link, I've replaced 1 before and it's the whole cable from battery to starter if I remember rightly, get hold of ur local Renault dealer an order 1 or if there expensive new u could even source 1 from
A Clio that's bein broken for parts
 
  1.4 16v Dynamique
Can you buy just the end and crimp it onto the old wire?

Also do you think there could be anything else going on as we were able to jump start it and it went crazy when it was jumped? or does this all go back to the fuseable link?
 
  182 trophy
Not sure if u can buy the link seperatley I never tried, was a customers car that I fitted it to so opted for a Renault part which was the whole cable, u may be able to ring around some motor factors an see if they could get somit non genuine
 
  1.4 16v Dynamique
Spoke to renault, they said I can just solder it back together or take it out all together as most cars don't have them. Going back to the car nowto solder it back together, wish me luck
 
  1.4 16v Dynamique
Renault said that?! I'd be repairing it properly. The fuse is there for a reason.

Yea, I thought it was quite good because they didn't try to sell me something I didn't need.

Just got to hope it works

Plus all the body parts just arrived so should be good to go by end of play tomorrow.
 
  1.4 16v Dynamique
Does anyone know what the rating of the fuse is? I am looking for one on-line in case soldering doesn't work and can't find the info anywhere.

Thank you
 

MicKPM

ClioSport Trader
  Clio16v/Zoe Z.E.50
120A IIRC

Fused link isn't available on its own either im afraid. It comes as a part loom section that includes the main starter line and alternator feed... around £85 + VAT I seem to recall.

Mick
 


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