172 Does not start first time - usual?

[da_murphster]

Putting some miles on my new 172 and discovered a potential niggle.

Quite often (but not always) when I go to start it it takes two bursts turning the key before it starts.

ie it won't catch first time (me-thinks immobiliser) but then starts easily if I give it another burst.

Is this normal?

Does the immobiliser do something odd? It only happen when I have left the car for a while (not tracked pattern yet)

 

[barker22]

my 182 does this everyday. But only on the first start of each day. The first time the car just dies but the second time everything is fine.
I have now got the car starting first time each day without fail. The trick is to turn the ignition on, wait a few seconds (like 5), then turn ignition off then on again, wait 2 seconds then try and start the car. Like i sed this works for me, just give it a try

 

[DrR]

TDC sensor?

 

[da_murphster]

TDC sensor?

Whats that?

Just been out and my car is as the above post - first drive of the day - needs two cranks, after that (even when left for an hour) starts first time.

 

[maz172cup]

ims 90k not services for 2 years - starts 1st time - so abit weird

 

[RDH]

I always turn the ignition, wait a few seconds, then start it up and it starts first time everytime.

Only do this though as it's a habit from using the works diesel vans everyday.

 

[cpcrampton]

Mine does the exact same after iv had it a good drive leave it for 30min to an hour and it will not start first time I then have to wait and try again. It is strange, any one else shed any light?

 

[da_murphster]

Glad its not just me!!

 

[EdwardTobia]

dodgy spark plugs?

 

[Xanda73]

Mine will fire up and then die straight away unless I start it with a bit of throttle. After a couple of seconds it idles ok. When its warm it is fine though.

 

[Ralphizzle]

@ Dr. Rollo.: TDC as in Top Dead Center sensor!

Tells the ECU where top dead centre is on the engine.

[FONT=Arial, Helvetica]The sensor is located on the top of the bell housing. It is a small black cylinder with a little metal point on the end and has a banana shaped metal bracket with the sensor attached.

Remove sensor and wipe with some contact cleaner to see if this rectifies the fault. If not a replacement is required (approximately £17).
[/FONT]

 

[Ralphizzle]

Pics of the wherabouts.:

http://www.cliosport.net/forum/showthread.php?t=337680&highlight=tdc

 

[Martin_172]

ive found this problem to be caused with as described above tdc sensor on all clios not just RS clios, removing cleaning and refitting ususally solves the problem

 

[Tom|Nbk]

dodgy spark plugs?

Nah won't be, mine does this sometimes, I think a TDC sensor renewal is on the cards at some point (already tried cleaning)

 

[Jun]

I always turn the ignition, wait a few seconds, then start it up and it starts first time everytime.

Only do this though as it's a habit from using the works diesel vans everyday.

That's what I do too. I don't know if it actually does anything really, but it works for me lol.

 

[Monaco Sean]

+ 1
Never started from first turn of key since I bought it. But straight away off the second turn. Might try barker22 combination....?!

 

[Wilkeh]

Are you letting your heater plugs warm up?

LOL

 

[da_murphster]

As a new car my clio is due some TLC - will try cleaning this TDC thingy and potentially cleaning the throttlebody - will report i either of these fix the problem.

Unfortuntely I have a flat to fix and a car to sell before I am allowed to 'play' with the Clio. :dapprove:

 

[Ralphizzle]

That's what I do too. I don't know if it actually does anything really, but it works for me lol.

Well the fuelpump starts pumping in the back ie. building pressure.

You can here it whine...

But it has nothing to do with the problem which arises here.
The engine needs to know where the pistons are for the timing, fuel injecting and so on.

 

[milkyjjones]

its not what you want to hear is it!! my cup usually needs a good crank when cold where crappy astras start instantly,but i think its renaults in general as my bro has a 5turbo an takes ages to crank but flies once stated..will do that sensor thingy but not 2 exactly wettin myself with apprehension.

 

[realnumber 1]

+ 1
Never started from first turn of key since I bought it. But straight away off the second turn. Might try barker22 combination....?!

So you bought a car that never starts first time? Crazy:S.

 

[Sargara]

Hmm interesting topic. My 172 doesnt do this everytime but it is happening from time to time. Sometimes the throttle kicks in just in time to stop it from dieing and it splutters to life.

Has anyone paid the £55 Renault fee for the new TDC?

 

[Monaco Sean]

So you bought a car that never starts first time? Crazy:S.

Not really crazy.
I done some reading up before buying one and found out common issues with them. i.e often dont start on first turn of key, idle rough from cold, leaky headlamp washers. In 8,000miles of motoring it hasnt put a foot wrong (touch wood).

 

[realnumber 1]

Not really crazy.
I done some reading up before buying one and found out common issues with them. i.e often dont start on first turn of key, idle rough from cold, leaky headlamp washers. In 8,000miles of motoring it hasnt put a foot wrong (touch wood).

They all have a rough idle, as for the washers I could just about take that but not starting 1st time I would expect to be sorted before I hand over my money tbh.

 

[da_murphster]

My prob was it only doesn't start first time when very cold. When I bought it my test drive the car was started for me (ie he drove it first) so I wouldn't have noticed it. If I was selling a car I would always warm it up before the buyer arrived!

I did not know the rough idle was common - makes me feel better.

Basically I'm noticing more of these things as I have the car longer - it really does not like being cold but runs great when warm.

 

[Curtis!]

If I was selling a car I would always warm it up before the buyer arrived!

Alot (or atleast knowledgable) of people won't buy a car before starting it from cold tbh. I know I wouldn't.

 

[Christophe]

my 182 does this everyday. But only on the first start of each day. The first time the car just dies but the second time everything is fine.

exactly what happens to me.

 

[BenStanley]

when i turn the key mine has about a 3 second delay before it starts anyway. Starts first time everytime

 

[dsana123]

Yes, I had that problem. The Renault garage never managed to sort it out (this included changing the TDC sensor which is probably the first thing the garage would think of looking at). Reading the threads in various forums the problem may have been down to the immobiliser.

When I had that problem it always occurred when the car was left for more than 12 hours (so cold starting), and would occur maybe once a week.

It seems to have gone away since I remapped using rs tuner (and thereby upgrading from ECU software version 8100 to 8200).

From one of my earlier posts.

 

[minisuper666]

TDC sensor?

I've just literally came back from cleaning the TDC sensor in my car.

It had a very lumpy idle every morning, being it cold or warm. My car would also start on the second time, every time. This morning the car decided it would crank but not fire up.

Cleaned the tdc sensor, and the car started with the first turn and the smoothest idle it's ever had.

My shot goes to that, try it mate.

 

[Wests Renault]

if it turns over but wont fire i'd say tdc sensor (crankshaft sensor) but make sure you replace the wring loom (connector) as well