Clicking sound underneath glove compartment - car not starting ?

[jpmad4it2]

Hi all,

I got in my car this evening, Clio 172 Cup. I turned the ignition and all I got was a completely dead car and clicking noise that came from underneath the glove box every time I turned the key?

I gave the underneath of the glove box a little slap a few times, and also wiggled the wires a couple of times underneath there, and the car started after that...really weird!

Does anyone know what the hell this could be? Loose fuse.....as the fuse box is over that way isn't it? Loose connection to the fuse box? Anyone else experienced this?

Any help would be great.

 

[bmh.01]

The UCH is under there with several relays on it hence the clicking, as the UCH is part of the immobiliser maybe a loose connection stopped it from working.
What was the immobiliser LED (the one in the clocks) doing when you were trying to start it? Did it go out?

 

[jpmad4it2]

Sorry where is the immobiliser LED? Didn't quite understand that....i can have a look tomorrow morning

 

[bmh.01]

In the middle top of the cluster in the middle of the tacho/speedo, its the red circle which will go out if the immobliser deactivates. It does something else if it doesn't which I can't remember lol, think it flashes.

 

[jpmad4it2]

I cant recall anything flashing, if it happens again I will have to check it and see.

 

[jpmad4it2]

It did it again today. I looked at the immobiliser light, and it went out as I turned the key, but still nothing happened. I think I best take it to Renault so they can take more money off me

 

[lemonnobby]

Sounds like a duf UCH if it does it again check that everything work had one in, i had to break in to it (long story) but no central locking non start no light no wipers nothing.

 

[SBV116]

Right before you take it to renault, just get a torch and get under the passengers footwell, find the UCH, black box thing, and push all the wiring plugs into it with some force! it may well not help, but i have had 3 cases at work where a multiplug has come loose causing a non starting fault in this shape clio!

 

[jpmad4it2]

nice 1 - i will try this. I tried it already - but I didnt want to put too much force on the box. I'll give it some this time!

 

[jpmad4it2]

tried this again but its still not having it. I keep having to 'bump' start it. Everytime I eventually get the engine going, as soon as I switch it off its just dead again once i turn the igntion key - could the UCH box be faulty? I dont want to turn it off cos it wont bloody start !

 

[172Petey]

Are you sure the altenator hasnt just packed up and you have a flat battery? Get multi meter out and test battery power.

 

[jpmad4it2]

took it in to a garage, not renault - he thinks it was something in the fuse box under the bonnet. Anyway its starting everytime now. Will have to play it by ear.

 

[172Petey]

hmmmm, wierd one.

 

[A18XHO]

if it just clicks then your batterys dead lol

 

[A18XHO]

and if its not charging after a bump then something to do with your alternator

 

[jpmad4it2]

been ok since now - very weird!

 

[G_2500]

​I had the same problem. Called the AA. Turned out to be resistance in the crank sensor. Or bad wiring to crank sensor. The AA guy just put his hand under the engine put his finger on the sensor and wiggled the wires and said try it now! Started straight away!

 

[James28]

Has symptoms of flat battery tbh.
Mine struggled to start, was fine for a bit, then all of a sudden wouldn't start. Just clicked.
​Tested battery and replaced and all was fine.

 

[callum_bell]

In the engine fusebox there are 3 little black or brown relays, depending on the equipment fitted to the car they are for different things.

However one of them is for the starter, these relays corrode and stop working therefore the starter wont work, hes probably taken them out and cleaned them up and it's sorted it

 

[Short Norman]

just been directed to this 18 year old thread by google (Yay CS)

my mother has a 07 plate MK3 clio 1.2 Rip Curl and today after she got it out of the garage it wouldn't re-start. So she rings Norman (I was was expecting it just to be a flat battery).

When I get there a can hear a relay continually clicking away under the glovebox. When I put the key in the ignition nothing happens, no dash lights, no attempt to crank, nothing. So I put the jump leads on and it starts straight up.

I took it out for a run, but after 10 minutes while driving along the engine cuts out. I bump start it and after a minute it cuts out again, leaving no lights on the dash at all. This happens a few times until I get to a point where I can't bump start it.

Also worth noting that the red battery light never came on while i was driving. Plus when it stalled none of the dash lights would come on until it was bumped back into life.

I've towed it back to our and there's some sort of relay behind the glovebox is just continually clicking away like a madman, so I've disconnected the battery.

I've also checked the battery and it's showing 12.5V.

I think it might be the UCH but am I correct in saying these are coded to the ECU?

Cheers for any help, last thing she needs is to be buying a new car.

 

[G Hut]

Few people on eBay offer a repair service for the MK2

Example here https://ebay.us/m/vIN6DU

 

[Short Norman]

Few people on eBay offer a repair service for the MK2

Example here https://ebay.us/m/vIN6DU

thanks. I stuck a new battery on it and it fired up, which I wasn't expecting.

Even after the new battery was in there was still some strange goings on with the electrics (windows and the boot lock) but I managed to sort them. Hopefully it's sorted now.

The old battery was eight years old but still showing 12.5v. If it was the UCH it really didn't like being friends with the old battery anymore.