Here goes, I've had enough of the crap reliability of my Clio and general incompetence I've suffered at the hands of Renault dealerships on many many occasions. So I'm sending the following letter to Renault Customer Services and also Arnold Clark (of which 2 of the 3 dealerships involved are).
Today's problems have just pushed me to write this letter - major rattle, probably something bearing-related to do with the alternator/water pump. Horrendous metallic rattle at about 3k revs. Might not be a particularly serious problem (or it might, who knows) but it's the latest of several problems.
Anyway, I'm well pissed off so if you see me driving tomorrow don't get in my way :evil:. Lets see what sort of response I get to this.
Ally
Dear Sir / Madam;
The life of “Clio” – my Renaultsport Clio 172
I am writing on behalf of “Clio”, my car. He is very disappointed at having to go back to the garage once again for another repair. Being just over 2½ years old he just doesn’t understand why all the other cars are out driving while he has to stay in the garage. His story begins:
2nd April 2004:
Someone wants me! Ally has just brought me home from Motorpoint in Glasgow. I’m a 2004 model Clio 172 and I’m an import from France but I’ve still got my 3 years warranty – I hope that won’t be needed though…
January 2006:
I’ve got a rattle under my bonnet. I’m not sure what it was, but the mechanics at Arnold Clark in Grangemouth had a look at me and sorted the rattle – something to do with my water pump they said, after looking at me on two separate occasions.
February 2006:
Smoke! My alternator has burnt out. Back to Arnold Clark in Grangemouth (I hate car garages!) and they’ve fitted a new alternator.
March 2006:
I’m ill again. I’ve got a very noisy rattle under my bonnet which sounded just like the rattle I had in January. Back into Arnold Clark Grangemouth – again – and they’ve diagnosed that my timing was “out by 4 teeth”. This seems very strange as I was performing normally. Ally checked with a Renault Technical Expert on www.renaultsport.co.uk who said that it’s highly unlikely my timing was out by 4 teeth as I’d be very sick: my engine wouldn’t have run very well (if at all) and I wouldn’t have performed. Ally wasn’t very happy so he had me looked at by Parks Renault in Dunfermline who checked my timing and also checked to see that my compression ratio was OK – it was so my valves seem to be OK (they’ve not been bent as could have happened if my timing had actually been out). That cost Ally £60.00 of his own money! Unfortunately Parks Renault washed me (despite Ally telling them NOT to wash me) with a floor brush and a bucket of dirty water and have scratched my paint and glass all over – Ally managed to fix the scratches in my paint but my rear window is still very bad.
May 2006:
What now??!! I’m stranded at the roadside, Ally’s just driven me back from Stirling to Falkirk in the dark and wet with no lights or wipers as I’ve got no electrical power: none of my electrics work – lights, wipers, instruments, central locking, interior lights, nothing! I was taken to Arnold Clark again, this time in Stirling as the staff at Arnold Clark Grangemouth were rude and threatening towards Ally last time. Arnold Clark in Stirling found a wire was “broken” between my alternator and my battery – I wonder how that happened? The garage won’t speculate on the cause, but I think it’s strange this happened to me soon after my alternator was replaced…
May 2006 (+24hrs):
Ally’s had me back for 24 hours and I’m rattling again. It’s not too loud at the moment and because Ally’s moving house he can’t take me to the garage (I don’t want to go anyway!). An independent mechanic that Ally knows looked at me and identified my rattle as coming from my alternator, but because I’m still under warranty I need to be fixed by a Renault garage. The mechanic also thinks my engine mounts are a bit worn as my engine and gearbox move a lot compared to the mechanic’s own Clio 172.
13th July 2006:
Ally took me back to Arnold Clark in Stirling – this is starting to feel like a second home to me. They found that a bolt securing my alternator to me was missing, causing the rattle which was very loud now. Again they won’t speculate on how this might have happened, but Renault UK would not authorise this work to be carried out as a warranty repair. Arnold Clark Stirling had to claim the cost of my work from Arnold Clark Grangemouth. Although they won’t say so, it seems from Renault UK’s reaction that Arnold Clark Grangemouth didn’t fix me properly when they fitted my alternator in February (why wasn’t I worked on under warranty? I’ve still got one). And they didn’t find anything wrong with my engine mounts, their service manager said I’m a very smooth running car.
14th July 2006:
Ally’s not very happy at all. He’s only just got me back from Arnold Clark Stirling and my passenger side headlamp washer is leaking, plus my electrics are all to pot! When my headlights are switched on my driver’s side xenon unit doesn’t work, and when Ally flicks me onto full-beam my driver’s side indicators all light up and my fullbeam goes out. What’s wrong!?
20th July 2006 (approx):
In at Arnold Clark Stirling again! They replaced my headlamp washers which were leaking and also sorted my electrics (I hope). Seemed to be that there was a problem with the earth connection but the garage wasn’t sure.
20th July 2006 (later that day):
Who was the numpty that fitted my front bumper after the repairs?!! Because they didn’t do it up properly and missed out most of the screws holding it on. As I was being driven home from the garage my bumper dropped down and almost came off! That could’ve been very dangerous and it was just lucky Ally noticed it and pulled over immediately before it caused a serious accident.
21st July 2006:
Since I couldn’t be driven very far, Ally had to take me back to Arnold Clark in Grangemouth – oh no this won’t be good! The mechanics there put in a few more screws to hold the bumper on more securely. Hopefully that’s it now.
22nd July 2006:
My bumper is STILL NOT FITTED PROPERLY!!!!!! Two garages, two different sets of mechanics and they STILL can’t complete a simple task such as fitting a front bumper properly. Ally was driving me through to Glasgow when the bumper came loose again. He’s so angry with the garages that it’s probably just as well we’re not anywhere near Stirling or Grangemouth. Ally drove me home – slowly – and fixed my bumper on properly himself. See, it wasn’t that hard, was it?!!
25th September 2006:
Here we go again… This time there’s a very loud rattle from the engine bay when the revs reach about 3000rpm. Ally thinks it sounds very much like bearings or a pulley attached to the water pump or – more than likely since it’s been replaced once already and worked on numerous times – my alternator. A mechanic friend of Ally’s also thinks this is what’s rattling. Ally’s not happy at all.
The end (for Clio????)
Well, I’m sure you’ll agree that no car should suffer the problems that I’ve highlighted above. I understand that every litter has its runt, but I am extremely fed up with all of the trouble that I have had with this car and seriously doubt I will ever buy another Renault again. The amount of problems and level of ineptitude I’ve experienced with the vehicle and Renault dealerships is, in my opinion, absolutely shocking – I trust you agree.
As I write this I am debating my next course of action. Obviously – as much as I hate doing it – I must return my car to a Renault garage to have the latest problem rectified under warranty. But I am seriously worried about the consequences and financial implications should I continue to suffer the frequency and seriousness of problems that I’ve suffered so far in owning this car.
I am very concerned that my warranty runs out in just under four months and I will be left with a car that requires more trips to the garage to replace and repair faults that have come about through manufacturing problems and/or problems with Renault dealerships. I would like “Clio” to be fixed once and for all. Also, given the problems and issues highlighted above, I feel a “courtesy” 12-month extension of my warranty as a goodwill gesture would be appropriate compensation for all of the trauma that “Clio” and I have been through, and also as reassurance against future problems that may occur.
What do you think? I await your response.
Today's problems have just pushed me to write this letter - major rattle, probably something bearing-related to do with the alternator/water pump. Horrendous metallic rattle at about 3k revs. Might not be a particularly serious problem (or it might, who knows) but it's the latest of several problems.
Anyway, I'm well pissed off so if you see me driving tomorrow don't get in my way :evil:. Lets see what sort of response I get to this.
Ally
Dear Sir / Madam;
The life of “Clio” – my Renaultsport Clio 172
I am writing on behalf of “Clio”, my car. He is very disappointed at having to go back to the garage once again for another repair. Being just over 2½ years old he just doesn’t understand why all the other cars are out driving while he has to stay in the garage. His story begins:
2nd April 2004:
Someone wants me! Ally has just brought me home from Motorpoint in Glasgow. I’m a 2004 model Clio 172 and I’m an import from France but I’ve still got my 3 years warranty – I hope that won’t be needed though…
January 2006:
I’ve got a rattle under my bonnet. I’m not sure what it was, but the mechanics at Arnold Clark in Grangemouth had a look at me and sorted the rattle – something to do with my water pump they said, after looking at me on two separate occasions.
February 2006:
Smoke! My alternator has burnt out. Back to Arnold Clark in Grangemouth (I hate car garages!) and they’ve fitted a new alternator.
March 2006:
I’m ill again. I’ve got a very noisy rattle under my bonnet which sounded just like the rattle I had in January. Back into Arnold Clark Grangemouth – again – and they’ve diagnosed that my timing was “out by 4 teeth”. This seems very strange as I was performing normally. Ally checked with a Renault Technical Expert on www.renaultsport.co.uk who said that it’s highly unlikely my timing was out by 4 teeth as I’d be very sick: my engine wouldn’t have run very well (if at all) and I wouldn’t have performed. Ally wasn’t very happy so he had me looked at by Parks Renault in Dunfermline who checked my timing and also checked to see that my compression ratio was OK – it was so my valves seem to be OK (they’ve not been bent as could have happened if my timing had actually been out). That cost Ally £60.00 of his own money! Unfortunately Parks Renault washed me (despite Ally telling them NOT to wash me) with a floor brush and a bucket of dirty water and have scratched my paint and glass all over – Ally managed to fix the scratches in my paint but my rear window is still very bad.
May 2006:
What now??!! I’m stranded at the roadside, Ally’s just driven me back from Stirling to Falkirk in the dark and wet with no lights or wipers as I’ve got no electrical power: none of my electrics work – lights, wipers, instruments, central locking, interior lights, nothing! I was taken to Arnold Clark again, this time in Stirling as the staff at Arnold Clark Grangemouth were rude and threatening towards Ally last time. Arnold Clark in Stirling found a wire was “broken” between my alternator and my battery – I wonder how that happened? The garage won’t speculate on the cause, but I think it’s strange this happened to me soon after my alternator was replaced…
May 2006 (+24hrs):
Ally’s had me back for 24 hours and I’m rattling again. It’s not too loud at the moment and because Ally’s moving house he can’t take me to the garage (I don’t want to go anyway!). An independent mechanic that Ally knows looked at me and identified my rattle as coming from my alternator, but because I’m still under warranty I need to be fixed by a Renault garage. The mechanic also thinks my engine mounts are a bit worn as my engine and gearbox move a lot compared to the mechanic’s own Clio 172.
13th July 2006:
Ally took me back to Arnold Clark in Stirling – this is starting to feel like a second home to me. They found that a bolt securing my alternator to me was missing, causing the rattle which was very loud now. Again they won’t speculate on how this might have happened, but Renault UK would not authorise this work to be carried out as a warranty repair. Arnold Clark Stirling had to claim the cost of my work from Arnold Clark Grangemouth. Although they won’t say so, it seems from Renault UK’s reaction that Arnold Clark Grangemouth didn’t fix me properly when they fitted my alternator in February (why wasn’t I worked on under warranty? I’ve still got one). And they didn’t find anything wrong with my engine mounts, their service manager said I’m a very smooth running car.
14th July 2006:
Ally’s not very happy at all. He’s only just got me back from Arnold Clark Stirling and my passenger side headlamp washer is leaking, plus my electrics are all to pot! When my headlights are switched on my driver’s side xenon unit doesn’t work, and when Ally flicks me onto full-beam my driver’s side indicators all light up and my fullbeam goes out. What’s wrong!?
20th July 2006 (approx):
In at Arnold Clark Stirling again! They replaced my headlamp washers which were leaking and also sorted my electrics (I hope). Seemed to be that there was a problem with the earth connection but the garage wasn’t sure.
20th July 2006 (later that day):
Who was the numpty that fitted my front bumper after the repairs?!! Because they didn’t do it up properly and missed out most of the screws holding it on. As I was being driven home from the garage my bumper dropped down and almost came off! That could’ve been very dangerous and it was just lucky Ally noticed it and pulled over immediately before it caused a serious accident.
21st July 2006:
Since I couldn’t be driven very far, Ally had to take me back to Arnold Clark in Grangemouth – oh no this won’t be good! The mechanics there put in a few more screws to hold the bumper on more securely. Hopefully that’s it now.
22nd July 2006:
My bumper is STILL NOT FITTED PROPERLY!!!!!! Two garages, two different sets of mechanics and they STILL can’t complete a simple task such as fitting a front bumper properly. Ally was driving me through to Glasgow when the bumper came loose again. He’s so angry with the garages that it’s probably just as well we’re not anywhere near Stirling or Grangemouth. Ally drove me home – slowly – and fixed my bumper on properly himself. See, it wasn’t that hard, was it?!!
25th September 2006:
Here we go again… This time there’s a very loud rattle from the engine bay when the revs reach about 3000rpm. Ally thinks it sounds very much like bearings or a pulley attached to the water pump or – more than likely since it’s been replaced once already and worked on numerous times – my alternator. A mechanic friend of Ally’s also thinks this is what’s rattling. Ally’s not happy at all.
The end (for Clio????)
Well, I’m sure you’ll agree that no car should suffer the problems that I’ve highlighted above. I understand that every litter has its runt, but I am extremely fed up with all of the trouble that I have had with this car and seriously doubt I will ever buy another Renault again. The amount of problems and level of ineptitude I’ve experienced with the vehicle and Renault dealerships is, in my opinion, absolutely shocking – I trust you agree.
As I write this I am debating my next course of action. Obviously – as much as I hate doing it – I must return my car to a Renault garage to have the latest problem rectified under warranty. But I am seriously worried about the consequences and financial implications should I continue to suffer the frequency and seriousness of problems that I’ve suffered so far in owning this car.
I am very concerned that my warranty runs out in just under four months and I will be left with a car that requires more trips to the garage to replace and repair faults that have come about through manufacturing problems and/or problems with Renault dealerships. I would like “Clio” to be fixed once and for all. Also, given the problems and issues highlighted above, I feel a “courtesy” 12-month extension of my warranty as a goodwill gesture would be appropriate compensation for all of the trauma that “Clio” and I have been through, and also as reassurance against future problems that may occur.
What do you think? I await your response.
