CLIO 172 FIRE!!

Moose1978 · May 25, 2004

Got woken up by my car alarm at 1.30am on Monday to find my 18 month old 172 on fire!!

All the bonnet was in flames and had loud bangs as the tyres were going.

Hands were shaking as I called the Fire Brigade and they got there within 4 minutes. A bunch of very good lads!

It has turned this - http://erc.qmuc.ac.uk/cliosport/gallery/full/1085482399__IMGP0108.jpg http://erc.qmuc.ac.uk/cliosport/gallery/full/1085482399__IMGP0108.jpg

Into this - http://erc.qmuc.ac.uk/cliosport/gallery/full/1085482657__IMGP0544.jpg http://erc.qmuc.ac.uk/cliosport/gallery/full/1085482657__IMGP0544.jpg

Words can not express how gutted I am! The Fire man in charge says that it was not arson and there were no suspicious circumstances. He says that the fire had started in the drivers headlight area of the car and then spread across the engine under the bonnet! The car had not been moved for 2 days so the engine was stone cold as well! The officer in charge believed that there must have been some electrical fault in the headlight area which caused the fire.

My insurance company have phoned me today to tell me the car is a write off and that they will be paying me out.

I have phoned Renault and they have not been very fothcoming. I asked them to inspect the car but they say that it is not their job and to leave it to the insurance company. I stand to lose thousands with the loss of my NCB and should not see why I have to stand this when it is a manufacturing fault. The car was bought from Renault, serviced by Renault, and still had 18 months of Renault warranty left - and they still dont want to know.

Does any body know anyone at Renault who I can speak to about this? I know Jas works for Renault but if anyone can give me names and numbes of people high up I can start kicking and screaming!! What would have happened if I was doing 70 in the car at the time???

I have hundreds of pics will i will post shortly but I hope someone can give me a bit of a lead.

A very gutted, and now 172less, Mark

tom_c · May 25, 2004

sh*t!

Lee · May 25, 2004

F**k, thats terrible, really terrible Mark.

When Hippychicks car did the same I joked about it to my mom and she practically asked me to park mine away from the house!! I think its best I dont mention another doing it.

I hope it all gets sorted out quickly.

Lee

1.6 16v · May 25, 2004

Didnt this happen to someone else on here?

If you where doing 70 the wind would have put the flame out. Sorry had to put it.

Good luck and make sure you get the right price for your car. Never accept the firstv offer

Infinicar · May 25, 2004

This is the 5-6th case of this happening with the mk2 172s that I have heard.

What a sod, I know several people in Renault let me see what info I can glean.

Paul

Mark · May 25, 2004

SHIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIT fella, thats bad. glad no 1 was in it at the time

Clart · May 25, 2004

thats rather worrying!

Moose1978 · May 25, 2004

Gareth · May 25, 2004

not the first to go up in flames!

iPap · May 25, 2004

Yep deffo Hippys car that did it too. Hippy knows of another that did too. She was really lucky as she had stopped at the post office and wasnt sure whether to get the kiddies out of the car. Good job she did!

Sorry to see your loss Mark.

I would suggest that yourself and Hippy contact watchdog as you both have the same proof! Renault wont expect you to know another person with the same problem.

CocoPops · May 25, 2004

omg, I am sooo gutted for you

Same colour/car as the one Ive just p/exd for a 182.

I cant believe Renault are not interested, this is the 2nd one on these forums to go up on its own is it not?

Daipac · May 25, 2004

F**KING HELL !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

That is shocking, truly shocking !

I have no idea what to say, I really dont.

What happened with Hippychicks car then ? Was it a MKII 172 too ?

Slinky182 · May 25, 2004

Id contact Watchdog. If this has happened to more than your car it is very worrying. They may want to investigate it further.

CocoPops · May 25, 2004

Also, make sure you claim for a new driveway, coz the fire will have wrecked the tarmac under the car etc.

Pete · May 25, 2004

Exactly the same side as Michelles was aswell!

S2 PTH · May 25, 2004

argh man thats soo sad. really, terrible for a modern car.

wen my dad had trouble with his vauxhall omega, he mananged to write to the head office and get his problems sorted! not sure if u can do the same, but if u get those pics printed off and go there then im sure they will quitely do something for u so that u dont kick up too much of a fuss with them

tell them ure gonna send them to the paper or EVEN BETTER that ure gonna tell watchdog or brassed off brittain watever its called

that will sh*t em up!

-phil-

Moose1978 · May 25, 2004

Just about to call them now and see what they say.

Ill let you know what Renault say about it!

Back soon

telford_mike · May 25, 2004

Blimey - its worrying - if that happened to mine (I park it in the garage) it would have burned the house down

S2 PTH · May 25, 2004

worrying

cant wait to hear the outcome..

Lee · May 25, 2004

Heres a couple of pictures of Michelles. I dont know if they ever decided upon what caused it, but she had had the brake master cylinder replaced a few days before it happened.

http://erc.qmuc.ac.uk/cliosport/gallery/full/1085484345__IMG_0965-small.jpg http://erc.qmuc.ac.uk/cliosport/gallery/full/1085484345__IMG_0965-small.jpg

http://erc.qmuc.ac.uk/cliosport/gallery/full/1085484389__IMG_0966.jpg http://erc.qmuc.ac.uk/cliosport/gallery/full/1085484389__IMG_0966.jpg

Mine also goes in the garage Mike. Thats why my mom was somewhat concerned!! Especially when Michelle told her all about hers.

black-cat · May 25, 2004

Is there any way we can find the build date of the cars that have gone up in flames so far, as it cant be a coincidence if they were built around the same time. i.e. Could there be a batch of dodgy wiring looms?

Rajk · May 25, 2004

yes Nickys right contact watchdog, Renault HAVE to sort this! We are all behind you! Like its been said this is not the first time, band together and make an official complaint, with the help of the BBC/Trading standards.

Also if the fire started from the headlight it should have a British standards KITE MARK, you may want to let them know Too!

Hope it goes well and fight the insurance all the way!

Spammy · May 25, 2004

Shame

. Sell the stuff thats still fine!

TheCake · May 25, 2004

I am sure she wont mind me posting this. She put it on http://www.hothatch.netwww.hothatch.net

http://www.hothatch.net/forum/uploads/post-1-1085180818.jpg

Sawa · May 25, 2004

OMG

not much I can say apart from that!

S2 PTH · May 25, 2004

Quote: Originally posted by Lee M on 25 May 2004

Heres a couple of pictures of Michelles. I dont know if they ever decided upon what caused it, but she had had the brake master cylinder replaced a few days before it happened.

http://erc.qmuc.ac.uk/cliosport/gallery/full/1085484345__IMG_0965-small.jpg http://erc.qmuc.ac.uk/cliosport/gallery/full/1085484345__IMG_0965-small.jpg

http://erc.qmuc.ac.uk/cliosport/gallery/full/1085484389__IMG_0966.jpg http://erc.qmuc.ac.uk/cliosport/gallery/full/1085484389__IMG_0966.jpg

Mine also goes in the garage Mike. Thats why my mom was somewhat concerned!! Especially whem Michelle told her all about hers.

in the 1st pic u can still see the CS sticker!

but really its terrible, and shows how bad dodgy wiring can be.

GR7 · May 25, 2004

Quote: Originally posted by CocoPops on 25 May 2004

omg, I am sooo gutted for you Same colour/car as the one Ive just p/exd for a 182.

I cant believe Renault are not interested, this is the 2nd one on these forums to go up on its own is it not?

That is such a shame to happen to such a new car. Imagine what would have happened had it been parked inside a garage where there might possibly have been a can of petrol or another car beside it. Doesnt bear thinking about, especially as some garages are integrated with a bedroom or two up above, which is what we had in our last house.

Why not contact one of the car programmes like Top Gear as I am sure that they would be interested in hearing about this, which might spur Renault into doing something to protect their name! Pity that Watchdog isnt on at the moment as they would have run a story on it.

Daipac · May 25, 2004

Just found a link to Michelles post about her car going up in flames, this is scary !

http://forum.cliosport.net/display_topic_threads.asp?ForumID=2&TopicID=55869 http://forum.cliosport.net/display_topic_threads.asp?ForumID=2&TopicID=55869

Moby · May 25, 2004

sh*t!

Im really sorry to hear that mate - that puts my scratching problems into perspective!

S2 PTH · May 25, 2004

....waiting for the news from the phone call....

mr sheep · May 25, 2004

OMG! defo email topgear for a start and get renault to take this prob seriously.

(urm can i have your interior if its not damaged)

cliosportcraig · May 25, 2004

thats scary, maybe try and sell the interior to get some money back ?

GR7 · May 25, 2004

Quote: Originally posted by cliosportcraig on 25 May 2004

thats scary, maybe try and sell the interior to get some money back ?

and the wheels, there must be people who would like the good wheels (plus spare in boot).

S2 PTH · May 25, 2004

if its the insurance company write off u cant do nething to it, as, if they pay u out then the car technically belongs to them for spare parts (mind u- theyll just scrap it)

Moose1978 · May 25, 2004

Im off to call Renault now so will have report soon. I have got the name of the customer services manager so will see what he says!

S2 PTH · May 25, 2004

cool- go get em moose!

Viv172 · May 25, 2004

oh my god!! gonna park mine away from the house from now on

Moose1978 · May 25, 2004

Ive just phoned him and he is away on dinner and should be calling me back urgently!

The car was right next to my new house so I was a little worried about the petrol tank going and taking the new house with it!!

I will be very interested to see what Renault have to say. I have already contacted Which? and they are very interested in it!

It worries me that this has already happend before to someone elses car and I would be interested to see what they said to Michelle

iPap · May 25, 2004

Moose, PM her.

Im sure one of the guys will have contacted her and she will come looking for you!

Moose1978 · May 25, 2004

Cheers Nicky, will do.

CLIO 172 FIRE!!

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