Teething troubles (I hope.....)

[LaurieC]

hi everyone

Straight to it, I have a 2003 DCI (yes, the one with the iffy engine)
the first problem I have with it is that it uses about a litre of oil every 600 miles, the car has full renault S/H with 60000 miles, the dealer I bought it from has changed and flushed the oil that was in it an put synthetic oil in.

The dealer also ran the car on a rolling road to check the emissions, aparently they were normal, no clouds of smioke on start up, the usual 'cloud' when you give a bootful, but thats all? Any ideas PLEASE?

Second thing is a pool of water in the cubby hole and footwell drivers side, cant see any obvious leaks through the door?

All this aside me and wifey love the car and are determined to stick with it, lots of character an stuff.

Thanks for letting me in on the forum.

Oh yes I did call renault, spoke to a worse than useless individual called Darryl CHRISTIE, who was totally non-committal, advised me to take the care to my local dealer (TOOMEYS). Called them, they were not interested either, said the car was not warranted anymore (even tho' it has full history from Toomeys), but I could bring it in and they would check for any faults at my expense.

The dealer I bought the car from is doing his best, but I wonder if we are missing something obvious?

Laurie

Laurie

[davelowe]

If it uses 1 litre of oil every 600 miles, it's funked. Get rid of it.

1940s Austins used less.

[AlexB]

Read this and return the car ASAP, before the turbo blows.
https://www.parkers.co.uk/advice/forum/t ... C_ID=14661
Don't drive it! There exist 3 deadlines: 1 week since purchase, 6 months and 1 year. Read about it and act!

Use an independent to prove the fault if necessary. If it is not an external leak (happens) or blocked sump ventilation pipe (unlikely), then the fault is either in the piston-cylinder group or the turbo is gushing oil into the intercooler. Both later options are very bad, and the normal emissions virtually eliminate the first option. The crooks who sold you this lemon knew what they were doing. Their hope is that the car survives the first 6 months, then it will become much more difficult to return it, so you'll start repairing it under the Yellow OTS scheme...

Safe fabrication numbers for this model start either from
D052261,
E131341
or
D065550,
E168000.
Check the oval plate behind the driver's door.

If the car is older, then it is likely to be turbo. These engines don't produce "clouds" when the engine is hot! Mine consumes a negligible amount of oil per 10000 miles, less than 0.5L.

Welcome to the forum, BTW.

[LaurieC]

Thanks very much for your reply.

I checked the number you mentioned which is EO42333

Not good.

The dealer has offerd to replace the turbo if he has to, so we will see, at present I'm in favour of handing the car back, I've owned it for just over a month.

Thanks again

Laurie

[AlexB]

I think, you might have a clear case for the full refund. Don't wait until it fails. If you agree to start repairs, then you have to give them three attempts, it will take time and after 6 months everything will become more complicated. You are at risk of getting stuck with an unreliable car. The dealer, on the other hand, doesn't risk anything and they'll be paid under the Yellow OTS scheme. You are about to become a victim of a big scum, I am afraid.

Did you buy this car on finance? If so, the finance company will help you to fight against the dodgy dealer. In fact, it is probably your obligation to inform them about the situation anyway, as they legally own the car.

Finally, do you know what happens when the turbo blows? The engine oil enters the intake and burns in the engine as fuel. The engine revs, the car accelerates as if going flat out, clouds of smoke come out and the engine refuses to stop when the button is pressed. Now, imagine all this happening on a busy motorway...

[LaurieC]

Thank you all for the advice given.
Unfortunately, I had to drive the car and yes you've gueseed it, the turbo gave out.
Luckily it did not self-destruct, merely sucked all the oil out of the engine.

The car was un-drivable so it was recovered back to the dealer, some 300 miles.

The dealer offered to replace the turbo etc, but I've now lost all confidence in the car and accepted an offer to 'change' to another vehicle in his stock, which incidentally is also french.

I'm bitterly disappointed not with the car or the dealer really, but Renault's totally apathetic attitude, when it is clear there is a known problem.

Several years ago I owned an E class mercedes , this car suffered from chronic rust on the bodywork, and suspension mountings, I approached mercedes with this problem but like Renault they refused to play ball, it seems that very few manufacturers actually want to give any service at all, those that do are in a minority.

Good like with your Megane's a wonderful car tainted by a crap manufacturer.

I'll stick with my new peugeot!!

Regards

Laurie