Starting problem ...

[beamer]

Frequently my 182 is very difficult (taking 10+ attempts / 3+ minutes of trying) to start, if left overnight, after having to restart and moving a little bit (1/2 a metre max) when parking (generally occurs when I have to shift it a little when parking up for other cars to manoeuvre around - tight shared gravel driveway :O( ).

When this occurs all subsequent restarts are fine until left overnight after similar. No problem if I don't have to do the restart and shift when parking up.

I have recently replaced the battery after the original failed a capacity test. This fixed a complete failure to restart at the time.

This all started about a year ago and seems to be getting slowly worse (more attempts required / more time spent trying).

The car is a 54 plate.

Is this just something that happens with older 182s/172s or an indication of something needing replacing - spark plugs, coil pack, component of fuel injection system ... ? Stale petrol that gets left overnight, which would normally be flushed if the move was more like 100ft rather than 1/2 a metre ?

Things are tight money wise at the mo, so any tips from a similar experience for exactly what needs to be replaced (rather than playing part casino) would be much appreciated.

 

[James105]

Where it doesn't start is it turning over but just not firing up?

(Possibly TDC/ crank position sensor?)

 

[beamer]

Yep, it turns over exactly as it does during the first 2-3 seconds of a normal start, without the actual ignition (seems to be referred to as a "long crank" elsewhere).

I also checked all electrics when it last happened, thinking maybe something had bust the battery again (or I had been unlucky and got a duff new battery) but wipers were fine, headlights as bright as normal, windows all lowered and raised at normal speed - all together, that pointed me away from the electrical side.

Reading up on the TDC/crank position sensor, symptoms do sound similar, though I'm a little bemused why it only seems to happen after the "ultra mini journey" when parking up.

Mate at work is a bit "Fast and Furious" and has an OBD bluetooth thing and phone with Talk app - hopefully I can get an error code that points specifically at that sensor - should help to keep the repair cost down if I can walk in to garage with a part from ebay and just say "fit this".

 

[beamer]

Other thing that concerns me is that this is always a "cold start" problem. Other reports where TDC sensor replacement fixed the problem were "warm start" problems. Hmmmm, fingers crossed the OBD does what it was designed for

 

[NotoriousLor]

I'm having the same kind of problem but mine is more all the time, doesn't really matter if its cold or hot, although it is a bit better when warm I think. The other day when it was pissing down it took ages to start

 

[bmh.01]

Crank sensor all day long.

 

[andywa]

Im having the same problem but mine occurs after rain. From what I can gather from all the posts on here that the problem is the crank sensor. It seems that in most cases where the car is turning but not firing then it is down to this pesky thing. Am I right in thinking that there is 2 parts for this both at about £45 each?

 

[NotoriousLor]

Got the new crank sensor yesterday, fitted it inbetween the rain pissing on me and no difference, car still struggles to satrt, no matter if its hot or cold really, it's worse the first start of the day and gets progressively better as the day goes on, anyone else got any better ideas what it might be now?

 

[MicKPM]

Which crank sensor have you fitted though, black or blue? Also, genuine part or auto factor "fuel parts" item?

I ask as its possible the cps is still the issue but due to a wiring fault rather than the sensor itself. The new Blue unit has a new loom section and greatly reduces the number of failures of this type which up until 2005/6 Renaults were very common for.

Mick
Diamond Motors

 

[NotoriousLor]

It's the new blue unit, this one here to be exact, http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Renault-Cl...ht_4277wt_1024

 

[Dan519]

It's the new blue unit, this one here to be exact, http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Renault-Cl...ht_4277wt_1024

that's not a genuine one, and unless you've replaced the plug and loom section then it's not of the newer type

 

[MicKPM]

The first thing I notice in that advert is the line "OE Quality"... Normally translates to "piece of s**t" part.

Personally at this stage I would have it plugged in by someone competant but this time forget the fault codes and go for the live data. If when cranking you see the engine speed give a reading you can pretty much rule out the cps (although this doesn't prove the sensor is seeing the full 60-2 trigger pattern correctly). If this value is fine then go elsewhere and check for good power at the ignition coil pack and injectors. If the value isn't reading either the sensor is duff and nothing like the Siemens OE unit or you have a wiring fault between the sensor and the ECM.

Mick

 

[NotoriousLor]

b****cks, looks like I'm going to Renault tomorrow to get a genuine part, how easy is it to fit as I don't have any soldering experience?

 

[NotoriousLor]

Another thing is the one I took off the car was spotless, almost like it was fitted not to long ago, is it possible this is the case and the problem is something else, the car still starts everytime, it's just sometimes it takes longer than others and it's a bit of a pain in the arse

 

[MicKPM]

I bet it's the connector at fault but again, really needs a diag session to confirm.

It's two wires and worst case is you get em the wrong way round an it won't start so just flip em over and then solder them up... It's not hard to do.

 

[NotoriousLor]

Lol, what that should have said was its soldering equipment I don't have any of

 

[Dan519]

new loom section comes with heat shrink crimps, don't need to solder them

 

[NotoriousLor]

Just bought a genuine setup, hopefully its here tomorrow if not Monday, Thanks for your help guys