Shudders when pulling off

[Milosh]

Hello,

I have a 2007 Megane II 1.6 VVT 16V engine with 8000miles. It's my dad's car and I've covered most of those miles because he's using his company car.
Recently I've come across this dreadful problem:

When the car is warmed up, that means when I'm driving for about 45mins or more, when I get stuck in traffic etc, the car starts to shudder (jerk) when pulling off in 1st gear. This problem occurs at around 1800rpm. This shudder is somewhat lighter when I give it more revs, then it just jerks a bit (passenger wouldn't notice it) when I got the clutch 90% released.
This problem appears when pulling off uphill and sometimes on flat ground at 90% released clutch when the engine is hot (as I've said before).
I have taken it to Renault and they said that they have ''tightened things up'' and if the problem persists, they will take the car for a month or two and solve it.
By the sound of it, they have no idea what it is.

Has anyone had any similar problems?

Please help

Sorry for my lousy English

[Pieter85]

I also have this problem in my 2.0 sedan occasionally, since I bought mine (new) and Renault can't pick it up, as it doesn't happen all the time...

Some days, the car is great, and other days I just can't get that clutch to stop "shrudding"when pulling away, but my pasengers feel it in the car like mad!!!!

Don't know at this stage how to resolve though, sorry, anyone else?

[AlunWJS]

Do you ever get a flashing orange light on the dash (toxic emissions warning light). I've had all sorts of issues with this that are normally 'diagnosed' as being a failed ignition coil (and always on no3?!) - loads of threads discussing here. I normally get it when the car is fully warmed up and has been idling for about 20secs. The engine judders slightly and the light starts flashing. If I then try and pull away I get the juddering symptoms described above.

Would love to know if anyone has ever found a definitive solution for this, I've had plenty of mechanics looking at my car (including three seperate Renault garages), and no-one's ever been able to resolve it. I just live with it now, when the car is idling I just give it a gentle prod on the throttle every couple of seconds (up to about 1200 rpm) and I never experience the symptoms.

I did have one solution which temporalily had the car running beautifully. For the last MOT (it's always failed on emissions previously), I used Redex Fuel system cleaner with a full tank of Shell's premium petrol (can't remember the name). The car was absolutely perfect for the MOT and for the next 800 miles or so, with no hint of the Toxic emissions light or juddering when pulling away. After this the issues have gradually crept back in though...

The car does definitely drive a lot better with the higher grade of fuel though, and I never use supermarket fuel as that always seems to make the issues more pronounced.

(2004 Megane estate - 1.6 vvt engine)

[Milosh]

Hm, well, the light doesn't come on :/

Shudder or judder mostly appears in a traffic jam after a few stops.. I don't know what to do, the mechanics found nothing wrong with the car and I fear it will become even worse when summer comes because the car will be hot all the time.. I will drive it frequently for a few days and see if the judder appears again. Besides that, I am very pleased with my Megane..

Btw, sometimes there's a nice jerk when shifting to a higher gear, only when driving for about an hour in bad traffic..


I got an answer from guys at Renault forum, they said that the problem lies in the so called Slave hydraulic cylinder.. I don't think it has anything to do with the fuel injection system because the car runs perfectly fine and it's not driven at 2000rpm all the time, there shouldn't be any probs.

[Milosh]

Ok I've searched the web a bit and I've come up with these as possible culprits:


1) Ignition coils (engine running at 3 cyl at low revs) -- maybe, from time to time car drops revs below 750/800 in neutral and begins to shake

2) Worn engine mounts -- don't think so
3) Broken springs on clutch friction plate -- possible, when the clutch warms up enough, springs begin to fail (??)
4) Oil leaking onto the clutch -- don't think so
5) Clutch dipped with oil -- don't think so
6) Bad thrust bearing -- possible



So I have NO IDEA what to do neither does my Renault dealer...

Juddering appears only when the engine is hot or cold, in first gear, when pulling off, mostly at hills.
I don't think it's leaking oil anywhere, I suppose I'd see it in my garage.
I have no mechanical knowledge but Renault mechanics seem to be worse than me..

Can the rest of you guys tell me the exact symptoms you're experiencing?

[Pieter85]

Just be careful in assuming that the engine mountings are not worn... Renault advised me that it needs to be replaced every 60,000km (in my case about every 2 - 3 years!) And it ain't cheap!!! It costs a lot of money to do!

From handbrake trouble, to engine mountings, to brake pad (AND DISC) replacements, all within 70,000km... Haven't seen this on any other car I have driven before... And it really is sad, cause it is such a nice drive!

[Pieter85]

I have replaced the clutch on 140,000km, and the clutch problems seem to be gone... For now, hopefully

[sniffy]

I Had similar problems, hard work setting off from lights and in stop start motorway traffic, similar miles on an 07 estate, changed the top engine mounting and its now perfect although even the new mount seems loose it certainly cured the judder, £125 from Renault (could'nt wait for one at £65 of ebay) and about 3/4 of an hour to change myself

[Pieter85]

Well, speaking in terms of costs, a new clutch in South Africa is around 800 pounds if I am not mistaking the currency conversion! This was not done by Renault though, as it would have been worse!

Had the engine mountings replaced on about 60,000km, had it checked now again, but all seems fine for now. The only problem I still have is a funny noise when pulling away, as if the brakes are touching? Only when in heavy traffic though... The rest of the car seems fine and is "ageing" gracefully.. haha.