Injection Fault & STOP 1.5 DCI

[dry_flood]

im having the same problems every thing you said has happened to me every little bit i have a 1.5 dci 2003 seems strange that i think dont you please let me know if you find any thing else out as im tryingto sort things out on it
hope all goes well

Mine is also a 2003 1.5dci. I would get yours into Renault ASAP for a diagnostic. I have a feeling that my problems only got so bad because I kept driving it.

I rang Renault back after my earlier post and the mechanic told me that I would be better taking the car to a local engine specialist for a diagnosis and possible rebuild as this is the same company they send engines too but will be cheaper as Renault take the engines out and charge £100 per hour and also charge 10% on top of the bill from the engine people to cover transport costs etc.

I will be ringing the company in the morning to get it booked in.

I just dont understand how there could be oil in cylinder 4 and none of the others unless the piston or ring have failed. The mechanic also checked the turbo and says that it is fine and hasnt failed. Unless the head gasket has gone?

Although my problems are not solved, Renault have been very helpfull and are even going to tow my car to the engine people for free. So all in it has cost me £85 for the diagnostic. Lets see how much more this will cost.

[dry_flood]

Just a quick question:
Will a 2006 megane 1.5dci engine & 6 speed gearbox fit into my 2003 1.5dci 5 speed megane?

Gaz

[wanda]

Just a quick question:
Will a 2006 megane 1.5dci engine & 6 speed gearbox fit into my 2003 1.5dci 5 speed megane?

Gaz

I think so but double check with Renault.

[AlexB]

Inspecting glow plugs belongs to the initial check alongside with checking oil and reading the service history. Looks like you are talking to wrong people... Did they check compression by now? ...or just stared at the glow plug saying "wow"...

BTW, how often did you change oil, what grade was used and what type of driving did you do?

Ive jus had a call from the garage and they have informed me that when they took the glow plug out of cylinder 4 they have noticed alot of oil on it. The mechanic says there is major damage to the engine and has also told me that they will require 4 hours (£400) just to take the cylinder head off and inspect the damage. All in he thinks I will be looking at £2k to have it rebuilt....

Do I let them do it or do i just cut my losses?

[dry_flood]

Renault conducted a full compression test on all 4 cylinders, the 4th was lower than the rest and the glow plug is covered in oil. That is all I was told, I have been quoted £150 by a local rebuilder to take the head off and diagnose the extent of the damage.
Before the car is towed to the rebuilder I will get a full print out of both the diagnostic and the compression test so I can give them as much info as possible. I will post these tomorrow when I can get them.

The car was serviced 17k miles ago by Renault and the oil was whatever they put in, I have a service pack at home, new air filter,oil filter and 5l of the oil which was recommended on here, I cant remember the visocisity but it was quite low, Shell Helix Ultra 5/40w?.
As for the driving, its about 30 miles a week round town and then a 80 miles of Motorway at the weeked. I'm quite a conservative driver but I have a mad moment every now and again

After speaking to the rebuilder he thinks that the 4th cylinder injector has failed and this has caused the piston to cook itself inside the block, apparently he did 4 megane engines last year with the same problem. Unfortunatley he cannot look at the car until the 26th/27th

As I have already done without the car for about 6 weeks I want to find a replacment engine and have it ready on standby just incase this one is dead.
Its not to bad for me as I ride a motorbike but its like someone has cut off my wifes legs lol.

Gaz

[AlexB]

Yours is K9K-722 (or 728-729) engine, if i am not mistaken.

According to Renault, remove-refit the cylinder head is supposed to take 5.9 hours. Everything else is simple, but it is likely to take 3 more hours. Looks like your mechanic charges £50 per hour, which is not bad.

I asked about oil as I had to repair an engine once damaged by failed thermostat, "garage oil" short journeys and long service intervals. It was a 50k 6 y.o. petrol Astra-G bought for my son privately at half of the normal price. It took me a whole weekend and £250 to replace rings, exhaust valves, belts, pump, thermostat, oil, coolant, etc. When I took it apart, there was sludge everywhere, piston rings and lash adjusters seized, one valve chipped, valve stem seals and the camshaft seal damaged. Now it runs as new, so it was worth it.

Let's look at your numbers. 30 miles a week mean ten 3-mile trips (or worse), when the engine has no chance to warm up. It is followed by a longer 80 miles trip when the earlier condensation in the sump forms emulsion. Then this cycles continues 52 times a year... Your numbers add up to 5720 miles per year, which makes me think that the last oil change took place long ago. Was it more than 2 years? Your mechanic may be right regarding the injector, but expect more nasties due to bad oil on top of it. You can check your oil by a simple blotter test: 1 drop of oil on a business card, soak for 2 hours, check for rings and a sticky kernel.

[dry_flood]

It was serviced around 1.5 years ago, I used to commute 20 miles each way to work last year so was totting up 200 miles a week plus some at the weekend. I changed job around 6 months ago and my mileage is about what I stated in my earlier post. You are correct in that it is 10 journeys of around 3 miles and then a blast at the weekend.

If the engine is repairable would it be worth asking them to change the belts and pulleys while they are at it as the car is 5 years old this year? If so what belts and pulleys should be changed?

Gaz

[AlexB]

The belts are changed every time they are removed anyway. They will also change the coolant and oil. Ask the mechanic what else makes sense to replace (water pump, thermostat, fuel filter, etc.).

If the short journeys started just 6 months ago, then it is not too bad. Still the question remains about the primary cause of this failure. There exists a procedure of checking injectors -- presumably your mechanic will start with it... Meanwhile, try the blotter test to rule out lubrication failure.

The engine might be repairable, it is just a question of costs. To get the picture you can ask the dealer to calculate the cost of 1 piston and 1 injector replacement and, as usual, programming. This will involve head/pan/belts removal. Then substitute the labour price by what your mechanic charges per hour.

[terry_mccann]

Regarding the red Diesel in your tank: If it is the same as in Germany then they sold you Heating Oil which is, again at least here in Germany, is much cheaper than Diesel - and illegal to use in cars of course.....

Maybe that little filling station in Suffolk tried to better their income by that....

Just a thought.....

[AlexB]

It is illegal in the UK also. If evidence is found, then on top of a fine the owner may be charged the fuel tax on all fuel consumed by the car since registration.

[dry_flood]

Until the mechanic explained what it was I didnt actually know what red diesel was.

The phone conversation went like this.

RM = Renault Mechanic
ME = ME

RM: What fuel have you put in your car?
ME: Diesel
RM: are you sure?
ME: I am always very careful not to put petrol in it
RM: your diesel looks very pink
ME: Which means what?
RM: Have you filled up with darv?
RM: Come again
RM: Dino Diesel
ME: ???????
RM: Diesel
ME: Yes definatley diesel
RM: It looks like it has been filled up with red diesel
ME: Whats red diesel?
RM: its used for plant
ME: I havent put plant food in my car
RM: No, plant machinery; jcb's etc ( how stupid am I lol)
ME: oh whats the difference?
RM: Red diesel is tax expempt as its used for off road use
ME: Well I last filled up at a petrol station, if its for off road use they wouldnt sell it.. right?
RM: Where were you when you filled up?
ME: The last time I filled up was in Suffolk
RM: That probably explains it, lots of farmers etc so the petrol stations probably sell red diesel as well
ME: But if its cheaper than normal diesel, wouldnt the station say something about me filling my car
RM: You would have thought so, have you still got the reciept?
ME: It might still be in the car as it broke down not long after filling up.
RM: Would you like to come down and look for it?
ME: I will have a look when I collect the car, please cancel the free valet until after I have looked
RM: Ok, I will phone you when we have evaluated the damage.

And that pretty much sums up what happened before he told me it was buggered.

Gaz

[AlexB]

Gaz,
It is 70% cheaper. Wouldn't you have noticed it, especially if paying cash?!

[dry_flood]

70% cheaper...... Then i definatley didnt pay for red diesel. I spent over £40 when I filled up.

Gaz

[AlexB]

It sucks...

[blazinl]

the injection fault and stop appeared on my 1.5dci scenic tonight for the first time, ive read through this forum but not too sure what this problem maybe.
i hope it nots the turbo problem, is it just a glow plug? fault only occurs when i put my foot down and appears when i hit 3000rpm.
can anyone shed any light on this problem.