Smoke/Steam From Under Bonnet

Problem with your Megane? Can't find an answer? Workshop manuals and technical notes are in here.

Moderators: q292u, Ray, AndyAdmin, Stranger

User avatar
Chambo211
Learner Driver
Posts: 58
Joined: Thu Dec 04, 2008 6:51 pm
Currently Drives:: Renault Megane 1.6 vvt Oasis Black
Location: East Midlands

Smoke/Steam From Under Bonnet

Postby Chambo211 » Mon Jan 26, 2009 6:30 pm

Hi everybody.After taking the kids to school this morning my wife came home and when she got out the car she noticed a little bit of smoke/steam? come out from the right side of the grill on the bonnet.
She has used the car a bit today but no more smoke/steam? has been seen.
Then when she went to pick the kids up from school she said she could smell a smell that didn't seem right
I know there isn't much to go on here but if anybody has any ideas it would be greatly appreciated.

Head Gasket springs to mind??
Please help guys!
Renault Megane, Oasis, Black, 1.6, 16v, vvt, Panoramic Roof

User avatar
Ray
Site Admin
Posts: 3845
Joined: Mon Mar 21, 2005 1:11 am
Currently Drives:: 2005 Megane Privilege - Now Sold
Location: Hong Kong

Re: Smoke/Steam From Under Bonnet

Postby Ray » Mon Jan 26, 2009 7:00 pm

brakes? clutch?

User avatar
Chambo211
Learner Driver
Posts: 58
Joined: Thu Dec 04, 2008 6:51 pm
Currently Drives:: Renault Megane 1.6 vvt Oasis Black
Location: East Midlands

Re: Smoke/Steam From Under Bonnet

Postby Chambo211 » Mon Jan 26, 2009 7:23 pm

Don't think the brakes or clutch would cause steam/smoke to come from under the bonnet would it?
Renault Megane, Oasis, Black, 1.6, 16v, vvt, Panoramic Roof

Andy_CC
Just Passed
Posts: 117
Joined: Wed Nov 12, 2008 5:51 pm
Currently Drives:: Megane CC and Nissan Navara Avantura

Re: Smoke/Steam From Under Bonnet

Postby Andy_CC » Mon Jan 26, 2009 7:32 pm

Chambo211 wrote:Don't think the brakes or clutch would cause steam/smoke to come from under the bonnet would it?


Has the car got Air con?? is it still working?? stone could have hit condenser which is in front of the radiator and burst it, so the refrigerant will come out, loking very much like a cloud of steam. or it could have blown a seal joining onto the condenser. PUG 206s are bitchs for doing it!

You may get a funny smell as the refrigerant will contain oil and if that splattered about the engine bay and hit the manifold etc......
Either that or it could be somthing simple like rain hitting the radiator or condenser which both get hot and will turn the dropplets of rain into steam
07 Megane CC 1.6 Dynamique and Nissan Navara Avantura with 215 bhp and 480n/m Torque wooohooooo!!!!

User avatar
Chambo211
Learner Driver
Posts: 58
Joined: Thu Dec 04, 2008 6:51 pm
Currently Drives:: Renault Megane 1.6 vvt Oasis Black
Location: East Midlands

Re: Smoke/Steam From Under Bonnet

Postby Chambo211 » Mon Jan 26, 2009 7:44 pm

Ahhh thanks for that Andy.From what I'v heard and read it's not the head gasket (phew!)
Ill check to see if the air con is still working in the morning.
Still it's got me a little worried though as steam or smoke from under the bonnet scares me!
Is it something to ger sorted ASAP?
Will it re-appear tomorrow when I'm driving it if it's what you say?
Also is it going to cause me some major probs if I don't get it looked at ASAP?
Renault Megane, Oasis, Black, 1.6, 16v, vvt, Panoramic Roof

Andy_CC
Just Passed
Posts: 117
Joined: Wed Nov 12, 2008 5:51 pm
Currently Drives:: Megane CC and Nissan Navara Avantura

Re: Smoke/Steam From Under Bonnet

Postby Andy_CC » Mon Jan 26, 2009 8:01 pm

Chambo211 wrote:Ahhh thanks for that Andy.From what I'v heard and read it's not the head gasket (phew!)
Ill check to see if the air con is still working in the morning.
Still it's got me a little worried though as steam or smoke from under the bonnet scares me!
Is it something to ger sorted ASAP?
Will it re-appear tomorrow when I'm driving it if it's what you say?
Also is it going to cause me some major probs if I don't get it looked at ASAP?


The way to check of the A/C is still working, turn the temp dial to its coldest position, and press the A/C button, if there is NO click/clunk from the engine bay ( compressor starting up) then this means the a/c system is short of or no refrigerant in the system. there is a low pressure switch that stops the A/C from starting up to protect it. If you here the click/clunk every 10 - 20 seconds or so of the compressor then its short cycling, again this means its short of refrigerant or the unit is going out on HIGH PRESSURE, A/C will only cut out on high pressure if the fan at the front of the car stops working or the system is over charge with refrigerant.

If it is the A/C and depending whats happened as to how its lost it refrigerant, if its just a blown seal then its the cost of a small rubber seal, fitting cost and a VAC out and RECHARGE of refrigerant. If the condenser has split or a stone has hit it then its the cost of a condenser,fitting labour, plus a VAC out and RECHARGE.

Car will still run fine if theres a problem with the A/C. Alot of people dont bother getting it repaire due to cost, but they soon regret it once the summer comes!! :lol:

If it has lost it refrigerant then u wont get the cloud of steam again, as once the refrigerant is gone it gone, it holds about 600 gramms of refrigerant.

hope this is of some help, if its not your A/C i dont know what it is :lol: :lol:
Last edited by Andy_CC on Mon Jan 26, 2009 8:40 pm, edited 1 time in total.
07 Megane CC 1.6 Dynamique and Nissan Navara Avantura with 215 bhp and 480n/m Torque wooohooooo!!!!

User avatar
nickbell69
Advanced Driver
Posts: 601
Joined: Sat Apr 28, 2007 9:13 pm
Currently Drives:: megane 1.9dci priv 53
Location: wrexham

Re: Smoke/Steam From Under Bonnet

Postby nickbell69 » Mon Jan 26, 2009 8:27 pm

freddymercurystwin wrote:Have you.....
















checked the coolant level?

:shock: :-)

andywills
Advanced Driver
Posts: 536
Joined: Fri May 09, 2008 10:17 am
Currently Drives:: 04 Megane 1.6e 16V VVT

Re: Smoke/Steam From Under Bonnet

Postby andywills » Mon Jan 26, 2009 9:09 pm

Chambo211 wrote:Is it something to ger sorted ASAP?


absolutely
Renault Megané Dynamique 1.6e 16v VVT 2004

User avatar
Chambo211
Learner Driver
Posts: 58
Joined: Thu Dec 04, 2008 6:51 pm
Currently Drives:: Renault Megane 1.6 vvt Oasis Black
Location: East Midlands

Re: Smoke/Steam From Under Bonnet

Postby Chambo211 » Tue Jan 27, 2009 4:46 pm

Just to update you on this one.
Coolant level seems fine.No more smoke/steam at all today from under bonnet.
I did notice on the front grill this morning there was some moisture on the grill and at the bottom of the bonnet.Is that something to worry about or could it be because it was foggy this morning and it was moisture from that?
Could it be a problem with the radiator?
Renault Megane, Oasis, Black, 1.6, 16v, vvt, Panoramic Roof

AlexB
Driving Legend
Posts: 4312
Joined: Tue Mar 22, 2005 8:17 pm
Currently Drives:: Renaultsport R.S.250 Cup

Re: Smoke/Steam From Under Bonnet

Postby AlexB » Tue Jan 27, 2009 4:49 pm

Who knows... Keep watching the coolant level (check it on cold engine).
AlexB
(no, a different AlexB)

User avatar
Chambo211
Learner Driver
Posts: 58
Joined: Thu Dec 04, 2008 6:51 pm
Currently Drives:: Renault Megane 1.6 vvt Oasis Black
Location: East Midlands

Re: Smoke/Steam From Under Bonnet

Postby Chambo211 » Tue Jan 27, 2009 4:51 pm

If it's a problem with the radiator will the coolant level drop then?
Renault Megane, Oasis, Black, 1.6, 16v, vvt, Panoramic Roof

AlexB
Driving Legend
Posts: 4312
Joined: Tue Mar 22, 2005 8:17 pm
Currently Drives:: Renaultsport R.S.250 Cup

Re: Smoke/Steam From Under Bonnet

Postby AlexB » Tue Jan 27, 2009 5:00 pm

Yes.
AlexB
(no, a different AlexB)

Andy_CC
Just Passed
Posts: 117
Joined: Wed Nov 12, 2008 5:51 pm
Currently Drives:: Megane CC and Nissan Navara Avantura

Re: Smoke/Steam From Under Bonnet

Postby Andy_CC » Tue Jan 27, 2009 5:40 pm

Chambo211 wrote:Just to update you on this one.
Coolant level seems fine.No more smoke/steam at all today from under bonnet.
I did notice on the front grill this morning there was some moisture on the grill and at the bottom of the bonnet.Is that something to worry about or could it be because it was foggy this morning and it was moisture from that?
Could it be a problem with the radiator?


Did you check to see if your air con started up ok??

IF you had a leak on your radiator your coolent level would drop and you would get the steam happening when the engine is up to temp and prob a puddle of water on the floor!!

If its none of the above and as ive said, it could have just been rain water (if it was raining that is) hitting the radiator and evaporating off creating the steam or your misses has driven through a puddle and the water has hit the radiator or exhaust and manifold etc.... and again evaporated from the hot parts its hit.
07 Megane CC 1.6 Dynamique and Nissan Navara Avantura with 215 bhp and 480n/m Torque wooohooooo!!!!

User avatar
Chambo211
Learner Driver
Posts: 58
Joined: Thu Dec 04, 2008 6:51 pm
Currently Drives:: Renault Megane 1.6 vvt Oasis Black
Location: East Midlands

Re: Smoke/Steam From Under Bonnet

Postby Chambo211 » Tue Jan 27, 2009 7:00 pm

Hey Andy
Checked the air con earlier.I turned the nob to the coldest setting and pressed the air con button.I heard like a clunk from the engine like it had turned on.I don't think it seamt to get any colder when I turned the air con on though?!
Coolant level looks ok to me,been and got some just in case though.The colour I got today is red,but the colour that's in is like a light browny/orange colour,is that because it's been in there a while or have I bought the wrong colour?

Appreciate your input with this Andy
Renault Megane, Oasis, Black, 1.6, 16v, vvt, Panoramic Roof

andywills
Advanced Driver
Posts: 536
Joined: Fri May 09, 2008 10:17 am
Currently Drives:: 04 Megane 1.6e 16V VVT

Re: Smoke/Steam From Under Bonnet

Postby andywills » Tue Jan 27, 2009 7:23 pm

Chambo211 wrote:Hey Andy
I heard like a clunk from the engine like it had turned on.


a clunk? mine dosent clunk, sounds like there's a problem there
Renault Megané Dynamique 1.6e 16v VVT 2004


Return to “Problems / Questions”

Who is online

Users browsing this forum: Google [Bot] and 60 guests