Random starting glitch - magic imobiliser

[loggyboy]

Last night after coming home from work , wanted to move it so we could get the wifes car off the drive.
But would mine start?, - for some reason it wouldnt. When turning the key, all i heard was a relay click. I thought - 'could be a flat battery', so turned all lights, wipers, air con etc to see of it struggled, but nope, turning the key with all them on and they carried on fine.
Then I thought imobilser again? (suffered with a broken earth before) - checked all lights - they came on and went out as they should.
We had to go shopping so pushed it off the drive and left it for an hour - came back and it still wouldnt start. Then for no reason other than desperation I put my foot on the brake and clutch - and it started straight away.
Seems fine now, but who knows if it will do it again.
Any ideas what might have caused this?

 

[danward]

I had similar happen to mine quiote a while ago now. I reset the immobiliser with my key using instructions I found somewhere (can't remember where, sorry!) and it's been working fine ever since.

 

[klm182]

same thing happened to me twice,1st time it was the battery(got a new one)..
2nd time was the relays.. water got in.. I took them out, was abit green, sanded them down.. it started...
if its been raining near you,,maybe its this..clios do leak round that area.......... (fuse box near the battery).
3 brown and pink ones.. think the brown ones are for starting...
I went to Renault and asked should I change then, they said no, just clean the contacts..
I have put water proof tape round the fuse box ,try to stop water getting in.

 

[loggyboy]

It did it again yesterday and wouldnt start with any form of persuasion.
Plugged my ODB reader in and it flashed up with knock sensor wiring issue.
Wiggled the cable on the sensor and fired in to life. Problem solved (for now?!).

 

[justinbowness15]

Mines been doing this exact problem!! Cleaned all the relays, would WD40 help at all?? which relays are the ones mainly involved for starting? Any other issues to look at?

Whats a Knock sensor?

thanks

 

[klm182]

Mines been doing this exact problem!! Cleaned all the relays, would WD40 help at all?? which relays are the ones mainly involved for starting? Any other issues to look at?

Whats a Knock sensor?

thanks

mines doing the same, where is the knocking sensor..?

 

[loggyboy]

its under the fuel rail, its in the block, just above the oil filter.

I have a feeling mine may be two issues.

• The issue with it not turning over is unresolved, possibly the TDC sensor (above geabox on right of engine)
• The newer problem is that it turns over but stops after a few seconds of trying without firing is likely the knock sensor.

 

[justinbowness15]

I had the tdc sensor changed a few weeks ago.

 

[loggyboy]

Have you checked the earth strap at the back of the gearbox? It runs down the back of the g/box in a flexi plastic conduit, mine was loose when I first bought my car and caused a similar problem.

 

[roncee]

I have the same problem. occured a few weeks ago. car drove as normal in heavy rain then went to restart it after work and engine wouldnt start. just a sort of relay click. no fault codes. no obvious leaks in the engine bay - pulled fuses etc.
Didn't pull the relays (only because i couldnt with my hands)
Same again today - heavy rain wouldn't fire up after my morning at work.
Going to let it "dry up" then pull relays and check the earth strap.

Anyone got a a pic of the earth straps I should be checking for. I thought there was one at the back of the car as well?

 

[mattjk]

Try adding a temporary earth to rule out the problem. I just ran a cable from the negative terminal to the engine hoist hook (cleaned it up with a wire wheel first) and since ive done that its been fine. (Need to put a permanent one in) Other thing to check is the exciter terminal on the starter. Take off the drivers wheel you can just reach it. Otherwise maybe your starters getting a bit lazy?

 

[roncee]

cheers for the advice. ill try that this weekend when its a tad warmer