Need Help ASAP

[Mattyds29]

Hi there all.

Just putting this out there as i am at my wits end with my Renault Clio Sport 197 2008 plate car.

I bought the car in October 2015 and have had numerous issues with the car, after a period of 3 weeks after driving the car two and from work a 30 minute drive either way i go out to the car and the battery is dead and the car wont start. When i try and start the car it just makes a clicking sound and its quite loud, also the dash lights up and has all lights lit up. It also says the car has faults but they soon go. The car has been back to Renault where i bought it and they just link it up to a machine and say there are no faults, they dont take it out for a drive and keep it long enough to experience this issue.

Now for the 4th time it has happened, i have disconnected all internal lights bar ceiling lights, i am very particular and make sure everything is turned off before exiting the car so there is no issue there.

What i noticed recently and to be honest it was like it before and i did mention this to the garage that before it dies when driving it it becomes very sluggish and fills like there is a drain and power loss. I did feel this last week and when i had to charge the battery over night the car feels very quick again. The rescue company and the Renault garage have both said the alternator is fine, but surely if there is a drain on the battery it constitutes the alternator isn't working properly.

I just need some advice and if anyone else has experienced this issue as the garage aren't very helpful, i am contemplating having to seek a independent garage checking it over but thats my cost and if there is a issue i wont pay as this should be pushed back onto the Renault garage where i bought it.

Help please??

 

[masekwm]

Have you changed the battery?

 

[Mattyds29]

Have you changed the battery?

Hi there new battery was put in the first time it happened so brand new battery only 2 months old. Shouldn't be failing

 

[VR46-G@Z]

Hi I can't really help with the issue but what I can help with is don't bother with Renault dealers...! The specialists on this forum are the guys you need to ask or take your car to, I know the dealership you got the car from should sort it but they won't, A. because they haven't got a clue 99% of the time and B. they don't want the hassle, they've had your money so they're happy...

 

[Mbeau]

Put a volt meter on the battery when it is running and see the voltage put out from the alternator. Anything below 14v is rubbish. If the alternator was not working the car will run off the battery power until it is too low and then become sluggish before cutting out due to not enough power to supply all the electrical stuff on the car.

It is not uncommon for new batteries to fail also. See what the voltage of the battery is at the start of your journey and at the end of your journey.

If there is a small drain on the battery(From a component not switching off), but the alternator was working fine the battery should be charge sufficient enough on your journey to work and you would not experience the power loss before it cuts out.

If it was purchased from a Renault dealer take it back to them and tell them you don't want it back until its fixed. Mention the words trading standards and consumer rights. That is really poor service from them.

 

[Mattyds29]

Hi I can't really help with the issue but what I can help with is don't bother with Renault dealers...! The specialists on this forum are the guys you need to ask or take your car to, I know the dealership you got the car from should sort it but they won't, A. because they haven't got a clue 99% of the time and B. they don't want the hassle, they've had your money so they're happy...

Cheers for the message I appreciate it

 

[VR46-G@Z]

The Specialists on here are very helpful, depending where you are it may only be a short trip to take your car to one of them, hardly anyone on this forum uses Renault dealers, it may even be a simple fix like a bad earth etc...

 

[Jonz]

Could it be that a 30min drive just isn't long enough to replace what the starter motor took out to start the car and the battery slowly drains over a period of 3 weeks until dead?

 

[Mattyds29]

But what would cause it to die the garage are not being helpful they have had the car 3 times and just want to run diagnostic checks which they say have come back with no fault. But as I keep telling them it's something to do with the car being driven for a period of time then it dies it's getting to a point where not sure what to do the garage is Seward Renault Portsmouth there useless not helpful

 

[Mattyds29]

The Specialists on here are very helpful, depending where you are it may only be a short trip to take your car to one of them, hardly anyone on this forum uses Renault dealers, it may even be a simple fix like a bad earth etc...

How would I get someone to check the earth etc. When green flag came they said the batt was drained completley. So I get home on Friday then over two days the car dies

 

[Jonz]

I used to have the same problem when I worked nearby. The drive to work wasn't long enough to replace all the charge used to start the car, only say 95% or something, so the battery would die over a period of 20 days or so if I didn't charge it. The problem was fixed when I got a job further away, allowing the alternator more time to re-charge the battery. I'm no auto-electrician but I'm told some newer cars can have quite a high parasitic drain so if it was almost dead anyway, parasitic drain could completely flatten it over a couple of days sitting about.

 

[R3k1355]

Could it be that a 30min drive just isn't long enough to replace what the starter motor took out to start the car and the battery slowly drains over a period of 3 weeks until dead?

No it should be fine.

 

[VR46-G@Z]

If I were you I'd give Mike at Rentech a call, he's in Portsmouth:up:

 

[Mattyds29]

I used to have the same problem when I worked nearby. The drive to work wasn't long enough to replace all the charge used to start the car, only say 95% or something, so the battery would die over a period of 20 days or so if I didn't charge it. The problem was fixed when I got a job further away, allowing the alternator more time to re-charge the battery. I'm no auto-electrician but I'm told some newer cars can have quite a high parasitic drain so if it was almost dead anyway, parasitic drain could completely flatten it over a couple of days sitting about.

That's seems crazy doesn't it, I've had other cars and never had this issue. Is it something to do with the model it's a Renault Clio sport 197 2008 plate. I basically drive it mon - Friday as we have another car in the house hold I then leave the Clio for two days so that's when the drain is happening then do you mean

 

[Stay Puft]

But what would cause it to die the garage are not being helpful they have had the car 3 times and just want to run diagnostic checks which they say have come back with no fault. But as I keep telling them it's something to do with the car being driven for a period of time then it dies it's getting to a point where not sure what to do the garage is Seward Renault Portsmouth there useless not helpful

+1 for Rentech.

 

[da rok]

get a multi meter and measure the current draw with the car off... if its more that 10-15 milliamps then you got something pulling it down... common thing is the tracker alarm systems like netstar, had exactly the same problem... after 5 batteries dead in short succession caused by the trackers repeated failure, had the tracker removed, sorted. as for a 30 min drive... more than enough to charge the battery, my mom drives less than 5 mins to work and back every day, never had a problem, although this is in a opel.