R9UKE's French Car Blog...

[robert_e_smart]

T MET!

[R9UKE]

A little clip of why never to buy a Renault 2.2 dCi. I'm glad somebody finally caught this on cam. It's a pretty traumatic experience to go through - your beautiful Frenchie committing suicide right in front of yours eyes and there's very little you can do.

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In other news, the Mégane has been SORNed. I've decided it didn't really make sense to re tax it at the moment. The Avantime will be back soon. Plus I have a Volvo S70 and two Renault Clios which are all taxed and MOTd.

The alternator belt snapped on the Clio Auto the other day. Didn't take anything else out with it and it managed to limp home - what a soldier! £3.50 and it's fixed.

[Dommo]

If it's a manual you can just stall 'em, but if it's an auto as you say, very little you can do

[robert_e_smart]

Nice! Renaults self destructing, theres a new one!

Well You could pull the airbox out and throw a jumper into the air intake and starve the car of air to stop it.

[CitroJim]

Well You could pull the airbox out and throw a jumper into the air intake and starve the car of air to stop it.

That would take a bit of bravery Robert Have you practical experience of such a feat?

[robert_e_smart]

Nope, but a mechanic told me about doing this. I think he told me that some of the transits do the same thing.

I remember a few years ago that a Renault DCi was self destructing when the car was on on the motorway in France. The car was going full tilt until it expired.

[R9UKE]

I've heard plenty of stories! Most have the sense to stall it. The IT company my uncle worked for had a fleet of about 5 Laguna dCis at one point. 3 of them ended that way. It happened to one of his colleagues in rush hour on the M6 and she just got out and ran!!! That car ended up catching fire and completely burning itself out.

[Dommo]

What fails on them then, the turbo oil seals?

[R9UKE]

Yup. And the engine starts sucking in its own oil.

[Dommo]

Yeah, that'll do it... What makes those DCi engines so susceptible to that problem? Surely it's a problem with the turbo-charger manufacturer rather than the actual car?

[Citroenmad]

Interesting video

Ive heard of a good few Vectras drowning on their own oil too, as the diesel fills up the sump! Brilliant designs

Now thats a car Luke, A nice Volvo S70, not bad for an old brick

[R9UKE]

I think it's due to Renault's poor service recommendations. They advise every 18000 miles, but this is FAR too long for the turbo to cope with the same oil. Obviously an owner who isn't very mechanically minded will just get the car serviced when it tells them, which is usually too late. The turbo is made by Garrett.

You like your Swede's, don't you Chris!? A months MOT and tax and it cost me £250. It's a pov spec so no leather, alloys or AC... but the 2.5 Petrol is keeping me entertained

[Citroenmad]

I think it's due to Renault's poor service recommendations. They advise every 18000 miles, but this is FAR too long for the turbo to cope with the same oil. Obviously an owner who isn't very mechanically minded will just get the car serviced when it tells them, which is usually too late. The turbo is made by Garrett.

You like your Swede's, don't you Chris!? A months MOT and tax and it cost me £250. It's a pov spec so no leather, alloys or AC... but the 2.5 Petrol is keeping me entertained

Yes, that seems to be the main cause of turbo failures, even the 1.6HDi can suffer similar if the extended services are chosen, worse if they are missed.

I do like a good Volvo! Sadly current Volvos are not quite as 'Volvo' as they used to be. They use French diesels for one thing, not really a bad thing mind. I like the solidness of the 1990s Volvos, I like their interiors, the dash layout, the extra little things you get in a Volvo interior etc. Plus they are dirty cheap, £250 for a road going S70, that is a bargain, id have bought that. Not scrapping it after I hope?

[R9UKE]

I agree. The brick-like quality has gone!

I'm afraid it may HAVE to go to scrap. ABS light is on and there's an intermittent immobiliser fault, however I think I've found the cure to that from the Volvo forums. A shame, I might whack it through the auction instead.

[Citroenmad]

That would be a real shame, if only you lived here, I'd most likely have it off you!

Well, enjoy it while it lasts