Renault Kangoo Van Speedometer/power loss problem

[paintycait]

Hi there, wondered if any of you guys could shed light on a problem we have with our Kangoo van that we love ....we recently started to notice the speedometer would stop working and at the same time there would be a loss of power...a bit like a blockage in the fuel line...it drives a bit jerkily, but if you put the clutch in and revved the engine, then that would ease but fuel consumption goes up and the speedometer continues not to work, then all of a sudden the speedo works again...then it might stop and no power loss. Our local mechanic cannot get to the bottom of it on it as it is an intermittent problem. It seems to be getting worse, wondered if this was a Kango "thing"...I have dound one instance of it on a Renault forum, but no conclusive result and no report of power loss alongside the speedo problem. Renault said it coulod cost up to £200 to diagnose (love the van, hate Renault)

[kellys_eye]

Sounds like the speed sensor pickup needs adjustment. This is usually located on the clutch bellhousing and is 'supposed' to be adjusted to a specific distance from the flywheel teeth (where it senses the speed). It may even be a loose wire.....

You could take a chance and (CAREFULLY) wind it in half a turn to see what happens. Providing you get a speedo reading the rest should sort itself out.

[paintycait]

Cheers Dave,
Behaves like a loose connection...maybe better get a Haynes forst before I go fiuddling around. Agreed that if the speedo works all other problems are solved....it's like the girl with the curl; when she's good she's verr very good, when she's bad she's horrid

[kellys_eye]

....it's like the girl with the curl; when she's good she's verr very good, when she's bad she's horrid

I must admit to thinking the opposite - when she's bad, she's GREAT!!!!

[paintycait]

Dave that's a completely different and much older girl....

[Simon Site Manager]

On my Merc, there's a sensor on the clutch housing which tells the management system to pump petrol to the injectors as the engine turns on the starter. Sometimes, it gets dirty and just needs taking out and cleaning, although it's an absolute pig to get at and you need gyneacologists fingers!

[paintycait]

This isn't a fuel injection Simon...presuming that makes a difference

[kellys_eye]

Modern vehicles are largely controlled by the engine management unit (EMU) which makes continual adjustments 100's of time per second based on information received from numerous sensors positioned all over the place. Air mass, rpm, gear, load, ambient temperature(!), oxygen content - you name it, it will have a sensor. And thereby lies the problem for most mechanics - you need to have more than a modicum of electronics knowledge to understand/diagnose faults.

Most manufacturers adhere to a 'standard' whereby you can plug in a special unit that will display a fault 'code' based on the measurements it receives from the EMU and you can narrow down the problem. Such test devices are actually available on eBay but mainstream garages base a LOT of their income on keeping such information 'in-house' and relying on the punter forking out £75/hr+ for diagnostic/repair work.

All this in the name of 'emmission control' or, to you and me, CO2 reduction..... institutionally (EU) enforced on everyone whether they like it or not.

I've often thought of purchasing an older (70's or 80's) vehicle just to AVOID the electronic madness that modern cars include. For the most part modern cars are remarkably reliable but, when they go wrong, they go wrong EXPENSIVELY and this is the reason why manufacturers accepted the EU rulings regarding emmission control - it's a cash cow.

PS - oops, I should have preceeded this post with "beware, rant on its way" !!!

[Simon Site Manager]

Hi,
My local mechanic doesn't have a computer diagnosis machine, so when my car goes in, he gets a mate round and charges me around £30.

S

[Raf]

yes i would get the error codes read first. there will be a number of faults logged.

[paintycait]

Modern vehicles are largely controlled by the engine management unit (EMU) which makes continual adjustments 100's of time per second based on information received from numerous sensors positioned all over the place. Air mass, rpm, gear, load, ambient temperature(!), oxygen content - you name it, it will have a sensor. And thereby lies the problem for most mechanics - you need to have more than a modicum of electronics knowledge to understand/diagnose faults..............

................. and relying on the punter forking out £75/hr+ for diagnostic/repair work.

Which presumable is why Renault suggested it may cost about £200 to find an intermittent fault. grrrrrrr they are really the most unhelpful dealership and they over charged for everything so far....we found genuine parts through factors at a fraction of their quoted rates and they are totally unapologetic. I really don't want to use them

Hi,
My local mechanic doesn't have a computer diagnosis machine, so when my car goes in, he gets a mate round and charges me around £30.

S

I am going to ask my mechanic to recommend someone who will do the same, I saw recently someone advertising mobile diagnostics for Renault...wish I could remember where I saw it. OK, well at least I know where I am going rom here.

Thanks guys

[Simon Site Manager]

The worst problem I had at a main dealership was when I took my VW LT35 into VW at St John's Wood in London. As I remember, there were a couple of bits that needed doing and a full service. I turned up with a couple of my guys on the day they said, after they having the vehicle for over a week. I could see the van in the shop with the seats removed (how you get the the engine bay). Said, come on guys I need the vehicle now, they pulled out a bill for £2500, I nearly fell over and told 'em b*llox, I'm not paying that. In the end, we stood outside the showroom telling people who were coming in how expensive they were and that they had had my vehicle for ages. In the end, the VW staff cracked and got us in and got my bill down to £1800!

S

[paintycait]

That kind of money is replacing the engine
I used to like VW...maybe it's just St John's Wood...that's one sassy overpriced area for EVERYTHING