Kwik Fit Brake check turned Renault Vel Satis talk...

[R9UKE]

The Mégane has started that hideous grinding noise when braking heavily.

I've spotted Kwik-Fits offer of free replacement pads/discs for the rest of the time you own your car... that seems pretty decent?

I plan to keep the Mégane as a future classic, so they could well regret that offer.

Any horror stories I should know about when dealing with Kwik Fit?

[Citroenmad]

Ive heard very mixed reports of kwik-fit, so ive not used them myself.

They did get a reputation for replacing parts which were not necessary, though ive not heard that for a while, they do seem to be improving.

Id be wary of the offer, only because ... are they not likely to use the cheapest of the cheap brake parts since they are offering them for free in the future?

It will work in favour for them really, a lot of people change cars within 3-4 years, often sooner. So only one or two brake sets are usually required in that time, but people will be back for services within that time. So it will draw in people nicely.

My local Peugeot dealer has the same offer running.

Brakes are very easy to fit, i do them myself, so if you fancy a bit of DIY, it can be rewarding, and you know your getting quality parts too!

[XMX]

.........................
Any horror stories I should know about when dealing with Kwik Fit?

Far toooooo many to list !
All I can say you'd be totally insane to let any of the so called 'Technicians' at any of their outlets to even breath on you precious motor IMHO

[R9UKE]

Haha thanks for the views.

Well... I didn't get there in the end, Mégane decided to cut out this afternoon and I'm now getting CHECK INJECTION warnings. Looks like new brake pads and discs are the least of my worries.

[Deanxm]

I think the car is trying to tell you somthing
But seriously, i hope it is something cheap and or simple to sort out and you can still get the brakes sorted.

D

[Citroenmad]

Yes, your car not wanting to go is probably a good thing! No doubt it will be a niggling electrical gremlin somewhere. There must be a Renault version of Lexia which will tell you all about it?

[R9UKE]

I think the car is trying to tell you somthing

LOL!!

Yes Chris, Renault CLIP tool. Just need to find somebody with one! It's behaving very odd, engine sounds a lot more clattery than before, and slightest touch of the throttle has the same effect as stamping it to the floor - send the revs flying up.

Which to dispose of? Vel Satis or Mégane. Horrible decisions ahead. But I'll say nothing until this is diagnosed.

Thanks

[Citroenmad]

We bought a 1.6 Megane on an 04plate when it was 6 months old. As soon as you so much as blew on the accelerator the revs flew round, making it almost un-drivable. It only lasted two weeks before we chopped it in for a Scenic II 1.9DCi. I thought that was how they were! lol, though ive since driven others which were fine.

CLIP Tool, i didnt know that.

If its a sensor then it could make the engine sound different, hopefully its something simple.

Well, i think id choose the Vel as a daily, how can you give up that luxury!? Though there is no doubt an infinity number of things which could go wrong with that over the Megane. I thought your Megane was a keeper?

I always get a bit down hearted with my car when its playing up, but its never let me down and when fixed I find it hard to find something id prefer.

[R9UKE]

No it's not meant to be like that, the car you had was in emergency mode, as mine is at the mo... basically indicates a less severe fault than if it were in full limp home mode!

I know, the Mégane has always been the keeper, but I'm wondering if the 2.2 dCi in the Vel would make more sense for my high mileage. Then again, don't think I could ever watch my Mégane being driven away by somebody else! It just hates winter. EVERY winter things just stop working or go mad! Love it in the summer though haha.

Dropped into my mechanic today. He said it's likely to be failure of the engine coolant temperature sensor. It's giving the engine too much fuel - thinking that it's still cold and subsequently it's flooding. The average MPG has dropped from 33 to 26, so this makes sense.

I'm off to source one, lets hope this solves it all!

[Citroenmad]

Well, thats the strangest emergency mode ive heard of. Instead of having a limp home mode, its a get home as fast as possible mode? Only Renault ...

Probably not the idea behind it, but i cant see why the accelerator would get sharper when its found a fault. Though for a 6 month old car, there was a whole load of problems with it.

Im sure a Vel with a 2.2 diesel engine would make a cracking daily cruiser, especially for high miles. Id have one to replace my C5, though getting hold of them isnt that easy it seems ... only 34 on autotrader, they are going to become scarce in no time.

Though i always wonder what can go wrong with them. Do you know anything about the 2.2 DCis? Any better than the 1.9s? Any common faults?

Id possibly keep the Vel, but i do like both Meganes and Vel Satis. Have you got any pics of your most recent Vel? I wouldn't mind seeing it ..

SInce having our three Renaults (Scenic RX4, Megane and Scenic II) and having the problems with them. They never let us down but they did have design faults and the dealers were worse than useless. Ive been put off Renaults a bit, but they do make some of my favourite cars, the Megane and Vel being two of them. Avantime is brilliant too. I was talking to an Avantime owner last weekend, he didnt have anything bad to say about it.

Looking at the figures 33-26 MPG from a Megane, im glad i have a diesel! Especially with my highish miles.

[CitroJim]

It's a no-brainer....

Keep the Vel!

[Citroenmad]

Just went onto autotrader to look at Vels, how good value are they!?

[Deanxm]

I thought they were good value a couple of years back, now they must be bargain of the century.

D

[Citroenmad]

Definitely, thats an awful lot of car for little money.

Just found a nice 52 reg 2.2 Privilege with only 60K for £2995!

[pug_owner2002]

I can see Citroenmad's signiture growing again soon.