RTE or Clever Peeps

[myky16]

When warming the car up after rain, it will be fine for 30 seconds or so then the power will drop a lot, after 10-15seconds it comes back and seems to repeat every 30seconds? Until its warm it has several different idle speeds depending on the day how it feels from (700rpm to 1500rpm)ish

Does anyone know what to do?

 

[Flying Scotsman]

Im not RTE or very clever but sounds like an ECU problem to me.

 

[Just Bob]

This is tough one to try and diagnose in a forum.

I take it, it only does this after raining and at no other time? Unlikely to be rain, but anything is possible.

It only happens at idle? Not when driving?

Does it cycle through this behaviour about 10 times? and then its OK?

Here goes then! I think its your oxygen sensor, without being able to put it on my diagnostic equipment.

This is what I would expect from a faulty sensor.

During warm up the oxygen sensor doesnt start to work for up to a minute. It has to get up to temperature. This is done by a heating element in the sensor itself. Once up to temp, the injection computer is now looking for a live signal. If it doesnt SEE what its looking for, the computer will enrich the mixture gradually over a 10 second period to see if this has affected the oxy sensor reading (an increase of idle speed). If it doesnt, it weakens the mixture right off (hence low idle speed) It will repeat this cycle 10 times and if after these 10 cycles it still doesnt get the reading it requires, it sets the mixture midway as a compromise. So after a little while the engine idle will settle down and the problem will not repeat until after the ignition has been switched off and the next start up has commenced.

I recommend you replace the oxygen sensor.

Hope that helps

Bob RTE.

 

[myky16]

Dude You is well kleva! Yeah it does it when driving. gets very annoying!

Does it mainly when its raining or has just rained.

as your a RTE you probably know if it is expensive???

I thought it could have been the ecu tho. Hopefully not

 

[Just Bob]

Hi MyKy16

This problem would NORMALLY be associated with idle and not noticed too much when driving, but it can be felt.

I cant give you a price right now, but I can look it up on Monday.

To make sure my diagnosis is correct before you part with your cash, take it to your Renault dealer and ask them to perform a test on the Oxygen sensor. About 1/2 labour charge involved. I think genuine sensors are in the £155.00 price range.

Bob RTE

 

[myky16]

Wow Thats £££ cheers m8

 

[Ben j]

could just be dampness in ya dizzy cap. take it off, quick wipe. spray with wd40. be fine in seconds... plus worth trying first as its a lot cheaper than a £155 sensor!

 

[Leigh]

Mine was doing that !! It turned out to be the idle control valve sticking !!

Just an idea !!

 

[Just Bob]

Nice one chaps.

I dont have all the answers, so its GOOD to see others making a contribution to hopefully finding a solution.

Im afraid the only certain way of finding the fault is to take it to your Dealer!

Laters

Bob RTE

 

[steve_rt]

bob - this made me think about the ECU a bit - is this something that the ECU would log on a fault code?

would the reo chaps just plug a diag. machine into the ECU and read off the appropriate fault code? or is it not t6hat simple?!

 

[myky16]

I saw sumut in halfords last year and ya can plug it in somewheer on ya car and it can do fault diagnosis, only cost bout £20, what ya think of em?

There is a lot of clever peeps on here, are you the only rte bob?

 

[Just Bob]

As far as I know, Im the only RTE here on the forum. There are about 350ish of us in the country and that number grows every year. Each delearship should have 2 RTEs.

As regards to the oxygen sensor, our diagnostic equippment will log the fault but if the ignition is turned off, that particular code is erased. I can say how good other diag equippment is from say, HALFORDS, coz ive never used it!

Our test unit will show us exactly what is happening with the sensor in real time during the test.

Please dont forget my diag on this forum is only an educated guess!

Bob RTE

 

[BenR]

poo......

We cant detect logged faults on our computer and the fault has to occur when the computer is hooked up. Odd yes......dunno why they did it that way. Hence, alot of cars idling and out for rd tests.

 

[Just Bob]

Hi BenR

You are absolutely right. Our equipment can only detect a NON MEMORISED fault if IT HAPPENS AT THE TIME OF THE TEST.

Some faults are recorded and that makes our life a bit easier.

Bob RTE

Hows it going in HK?

 

[BenR]

AWFUL!!!!

we get no support, we got the clio 4yrs late, we get sent LHD cars!!

But the new Vel Satis arrived, and Mike says its gorgous...i have only seen on in the UK. Megane arriving soon as are teh new V6s...which we were told to sell for $400,000!!!!!!!!!! PARDON! its fast, not that fast! lol

Customer complain ALOT, even about squeeking tyres....which lead to teh finding that it only happened in multi storey carparks...DOH....painted floor.

ALL our V6s were in with the same fault on the same weekend.....

Thats about it, but for all the problems, and lack of sales....i love working there.....exciting stuff....

BRand image is SLOWLY building, but i still think itll be another 5 yrs before we are considered along with toyota...LOL....ironic eh.

But, all might no be well for Ren in the future.....can say out loud, but if interested, just pop is a PM....a backstabbing thriller!! haha

 

[myky16]

Can it be anythin to do with the map sensor?

Leigh how do i loosen the idle control valve/ stop it from sticking?

Is it the block near the k+n??

 

[Turkish]

i was guna suggest idle valve as a possibilty, basically use a penitrating oil or brake cleaner, gt85 etc and just gradually work any moving parts, may take a while if its full of sh*t basically a rag and lots and lots of brake cleaner freed off my mates on his rs2000 when his stuck, hope this helps

 

[BenR]

try carb cleaner.....

its very fast acting and burns fine in the engine.

 

[myky16]

Rite bin playin with it today and found that it does do it about 10 times then settles to 1000rpm, if i turn it off it starts again. just wonderin where the oxygen sensor is? i thought the map sensor was the same thing, but i got another one today and it didnt solve the problem....

Will i be able to remove one easily and is it universal e.g. come off a rt to a 16v?

 

[BenR]

MAP = Manifold Absolute Pressure sensor, located in the plenam.

Oxygen or Lambda = just before the cat in the exhaust system. a little metal sonsor with 3 or 4 wires comming out, depending if it got a heating element. Just get a new one for your car.

 

[adiclio16v]

mine has a bit of an idling fault at the min

when i come up to a set of lights or a junc and stick the clutch in the revs will drop to 500-600rpm and then slowly build back up to normal idle speed does it mostly when the engines quite hot

could this be the lambda sensor or the coolant temp sensor?

 

[BenR]

could be the speed sensor behind the dial

 

[adiclio16v]

thought the speed sensor made it idle high it does it mainly after its been stood in traffic for a bit and it gets hot thats why i was thinkin coolant temp sensor

adi

 

[BenR]

well, it just keeps the engine from stalling when you dip teh clutch at speed to cahnge gear...

 

[Just Bob]

Now that problem sounds like Leighs diagnosis - sticky idle valve.

Bob RTE

 

[Leigh]

Do i win a prize ??

Oh I didt bother trying to stop it sticking, I JUST RELACED IT !!

£85.00 AND ABOUT 1/2 TO DO !! I work slowly !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

[Just Bob]

Sorry Leigh no prizes. But you do get ....

Whats with the 1/2 hour?

Did you tie one arm behind your back!

Laters

Bob (the quick) RTE

 

[Leigh]

Bob

Listen mate until it went wrong I didnt know what a idle control valve was !!

So the fact that i actually found it and replaced it is a minor miracle.

1/2 an hour whilst cleaning the pipes and making sure every thing was working tickedy boo !! That aint bad for me mate !! Oh and about 3 fags two cups of coffee and a bacon sarnie !! During that time as well !!

Well a man cant work on a empty stomach can he !!

 

[Just Bob]

Leigh!

You are a geezer!

You smoke tabs, eat bacon sarnies, drink loads of coffee, work on and sell cars!

You sound like me! Apart from I dont sell em!

Bob RTE

 

[Leigh]

oh well thats the life of a salesman i suppose Coffee by the bucket load, grab a sarnie when you can and smoke tabs whilst talking to the teckys.