Engine Vibrations on 1.5dCi Engines

[IainMW]

As some of you may remember I've had problems with engine vibrations at tick over for some time now.

These can be felt throught the fronts seats and the steering wheel at idle. The top engine mounting was replaced last October because it had collapsed, this stopped the vibrations for about 2 weeks, but they returned, along with an engine resonance between 2200rpm and 3500 rpm when accelerating, and a sharp shudder when stopping the engine.
The vibrations disappear as soon as you raise the revs very slightly, turning the air con on has the same effect.

I've had the car back twice now, and the garage have checked and re checked all of the engine mountings, loosened them off and re tightened them, (thinking the engine might have settled) and given them a clean bill of health, but not solved the problem? They've also checked the exhaust mountings as well, this to has revealed nothing?

I'm getting somewhat hacked off with this now, as it's spoiling my enjoyment of the car, (which is pretty good in most respects) but I don't want to start shouting if this is simply a characteristic of the 1.5dCi engine (Which I doubt?)

I'm not convinced, as the vibrations and noise were not evident until the top mounting failed, so I still think one or more of the engine mounts is to blame.
The wife's Clio 1.5dCi is smooth at tick over, likewise my dads 1.9dCi is smooth and vibration free (just like mine used to be)

So if you own a 1.5dCi Megane and have similar problems to mine then I'd like to know.

[silencer51]

My experience with diesels is very, very limited, however I can safely say that I've never come across a diesel that didn't have these classic characteristics:

-the typical 'diesely' (rattly) sound at idle and under load
-increased vibrations passed on to the cabin at idle
-weird resonances at various RPMs and under different loads

No matter how refined a modern diesel is, one or more of these signs will always be there...

[IainMW]

The one thing that struck me when I bought the Megane was how quiet and refined it was inside the cabin. Yes you do get the typical Diesel clatter from outside, but inside it was very subdued. My dads 1.9dCi is very quiet inside and out.

[Jonault]

I have a 1.4 petrol that sounds very much like a diesel when idling! It also rattles quite noticeably when the revs drop down through 3,200 to 3,000 rpm. The Renault tech said it wasn't bad enough to start pulling the engine apart and as I still have 20mths of warranty left, leave it to see if it gets worse or bring it back if the performance/fuel consumption drops.

[IainMW]

Any 1.5dCi owners out there?

[Stranger]

1.5dCi in the other halfs Modus is a very refined ride in terms of noise, handling and everything so I am tempted to agree with you that there is something amiss.

[Woody Woo]

No vibrations at all in my 1.5dCi. In fact it's one of the smoothest diesels I've driven. Miles better than the VAG units in this respect.



Renault Build A Better Car

[Hoody]

Hi Iain, my megane sounds like your megane's twin. It does exactly that. When I first bought it teh noise inside was very minimul for a diesel, but as the year or so has passed I have noticed that it is getting incredibly noisy and there are a lot of vibrations when idoling.

Think I will take it to the dealers and get them to take a look.

Nick

[L_Stix]

I had exactly the same problem with my 1.5dci I brought it back to the garage a number of times and could not find anything wrong, it was only when I checked on this forum and went back and told them it was an engine mount they finally found that it was a broken engine mount and this was causing the engine to rub against the chasis resulting in the vibrations. Since they replaced the mount it has been smooth sailing, so far!!!

[IainMW]

Cheers for the replys guy's. I'm 99% convinced that it's a duff engine mounting that's causing the problem, I can't see what else it would be?
I'm off to my dealer on Saturday for a long test drive with the owner and a serious chat.

[boysie]

My old Clio used to be noisey at tickover and gave the impresion it was vibrating... Try removing the plastic engine cover. Mine was vibrating and hitting the underneath of the bonnet due to one of the rubber mounting points being split were I pushed it down to hard

[IainMW]

Cheers boysie

Already explored that avenue, my previous Laguna's engine cover used to vibrate like mad.

The vibrations are definately engine mounting related. Like I said the top mounting failed, this is when the vibrations and noise became apparent. It was replaced and the car was fine for about 2 weeks, but then they returned!

Thinking about it logicaly, the mountings are the designed to support the engine and isolate engine vibrations from the chassis. If one or more of these have gone soft or lost there elasticity (if that's the right word) then this has got to be the cause of all the problems?

[Celticking]

I did have the 1.5 DCI Meg until recently and I never had any such problems that you describe.

[IainMW]

Had it back at the dealers on Saturday, it's going in on the 9th of May and they are going to replace the engine stabilizer bar (and the top engine mounting, again)

Sat in a couple of other 1.5dCi's (80/100bhp) for comparison and they did not have any vibrations and they were a lot quieter inside than mine as well

Here's hoping it works this time?

[stormbringer]

Just bought an 11000 miles 2010 1.5 dci megane 5 door ,buzzes/vibrates all over the place ,at idle its through the doors ,dash ,steering ,seats ,not like any of our other 4 1.5 dci's .


Should there be any sound deadning panel fixed to the underside of the bonnet as ours does not have one nor an engine cover allthought the mounts are there.
I have returned the car as there where other issues and we have now bought a 110 dci with 800 miles on the clock.