Hesitant to start

[Thrill]

My Clio seems a bit hesitant to start for some reason (and its not the cold weather), nothing on dashboard, brand new battery 3 months ago, new spark plugs, new coil pack. It just seems to 'stutter' for a bit longer than it used to when you turn the key

 

[MicKPM]

Proper diagnostic session to start with chap, not a code read.

Had one in yesterday that was just using more fuel than it should. After 5mins poking around the ECT parameter was showing 50 degrees C when the engine was actually sub 30 degrees. New ECT and all good again.

Don't always expect the worst but always take it to someone reputable rather than the cheapest you can find as experience counts for everything with these.

 

[Thrill]

Cheers mate! At what price do diagnostics start at?

 

[MicKPM]

It varies from garage to garage. We charge £45 for an hours fault finding as I hate charging for "diagnostics" which is nothing more than code reading.

 

[Thrill]

It's not all the time though, most of time it starts fine, other times it seems to stutter a bit more.

 

[MicKPM]

And you're still going to need diagnostics to see what is causing it.

It could be a faulty H02 heater, incorrect coolant sensor value, cylinder no.1 recognition not completed, poor fuel pressure or a plethora of other things that you can neither see or hear without the aid of a computer.

 

[Thrill]

I suppose you're right, I'll get it booked in when I can afford it!