re-NO-go 172....wont start

[bazza172]

hi, my old man has a clio 172, 2001 on a Y plate, a couple of days ago the lambda sensor warning light came on but he had to use the car a few times. When using it sunday it suddenly cut out, the ignition stayed on but the car wouldnt re start and it hasnt since, the starter motor is turning and everything else seems ok.

does anyone know what this may be? and if the lambda warning light is related to the non starting?

any help welcome cheers.

 

[Christopher]

sounds like an immobiliser problem to me.

get Renault to run it through their 'clip' system

 

[doddy]

The lambda sensor is for emissions in the exhaust, shouldnt have anything to do with the engine not starting

 

[Dan@SJM]

is the rev counter moving when its turning over?

if not, cranksensor is a usual fault

 

[bazza172]

yea, the rev counter doesnt move when turning it over. ive also noticed that the usual short 'buzz' (think its fuel pump) sound when u turn the ignition on isnt there anymore either.

could this also be related to the cranksensor?

 

[Dan@SJM]

now that sounds like an immobiliser problem.

 

[edde]

Check your fuel pump is working have a look under the rear seat check its plugged in and working when you try and start the engine. See this thread for where the fuel pump is.

Does the imobilise light in the center of the dash go out when you try and start it?

 

[Christopher]

the fuel pump still primes even if the immobiliser is faulty.

i had an immobiliser fault on my 172.

as Dan said, could be TDC sensor. More likely to be an immobiliser fault.

 

[bazza172]

the red light acts normal, as the ignition is turned on the light stays solid for a few seconds then goes out... ill have a look at fuel pump since it doesnt prime.

 

[danny1]

happened to me recently it was my crank sensor

bout £20 from renault.

 

[bazza172]

ill have to check it out this weekend, so it could be immobiliser, crank sensor or fuel pump problems. pain in the a$$.

 

[edde]

is the imobiliser light in the dashgoes off then the imoviliser isn't at fault.

From what you've said I'd say its a fuel problem

 

[bazza172]

ok. narrowed it down some more, replaced a 30a fuse under the bonnet and it starts but now lots of smoke comes out the back and the engine is running lumpy. took it round the block and the fuse blew again.

 

[edde]

Any idea which 30 amp fuse or where it was as this could give the clue away.
The large amount of smoke indicates massive overfueling so my guess is a fuel pump failure mayeb it going to earth or something.

 

[bazza172]

just had a check, its with the fuses next to the battery, its one of the smaller fuses, the 30a in slot 1.

 

[Neil82]

You got a de-cat fitted? I was blowing a 30a fuse when my de-cat was fitted and the lambda sensor was rubbing against a heat shield.

 

[bazza172]

its just got a factory cat, had a look under the car and the lambda looks ok, seems to be overfuelling as it smells strongly of petrol from the exhaust.

 

[bazza172]

jacked it up while it was running, seems to b a lot of water/condensation in exhaust, it drips just before the back box too. still smells fuely and the cars deffo not right. ran the dash diagnostics and no fault codes showed up.

 

[Dan@SJM]

CTS will make it over fuel if its shot.

 

[bazza172]

the temp gauge acts normally. could it still b the sensor? if so where bouts is it?

 

[Dan@SJM]

no, the CTS only tells the ecu what temp it is,doesnt do anythingwith the guage.

 

[bazza172]

ah ic, things starting to make more sense now. cheers.