Renault Clio 2000

PJ4

Hello,

I have a Renault Clio 2000, recently I've noticed a red light appearing on the dashboard when driving. This morning the dial was dangerously pointing at the top and I was concerned the car was going to overheat.

Can anyone help?

2012 Rio

Lets start simple.

Is there enough coolant in the system?
Are there any coolant leaks?

Does the car overheat only when going slow or sitting in traffic or does it also overheat when driving along fairly fast?
If its only when slow or in traffic and OK when on theopen road then it's most likely the cooling fan is not working.
Check the connecting wires to the fan and the temp switch are in place and not damaged. The switch is normally on the radiator somewhere.
If thats OK then check that the apropriate fuse is not blown.

If thats all OK you can check that current is going to the fan by putting a multimeter of the plug going to the fan when the engine is hot enough such that the fan would operate under normal circumstances. If you have voltage there, then the fan is likely at fault. If you have no voltage, then your temperature switch on the rad may be faulty.

You can check the fan itself by disconnecting it and jump wiring it onto the battery to see if it works.

If you find that the switch is at fault you can by pass it temporarily by putting a jump wire intot he plug to short it and have the fan on constantly until you get a new switch.

Now, if all that is checking out as it should and you can't find any faults and the car is overheating while driving on the open road then something else is up. It could be an airloock in the system or a blocked up radiator or a dodgy thermostat.

have you ever had the coolant replaced at service? if it's not changed every 2 years or so it can get dirty and block the radiator.

Another thing. is the cabin heater working? If no, it could be an airlock is the problem.

and FFS, stop the car if that light comes on or you'll ruin the engine. When driving at the moment you can keep it some way from overheating by turning on the cabin heater and blasting it at full heat to help dump some of that excess heat. you might want to open the windowws if you don't want to overheat yourself.:D


It should be simple enough but at worst case it might be the head gasket. Is there oily foamy "muck" in the coolant when you look inside? if yes its the gasket. It could be a broken off water pump impeller but that's very unlikely.

Nissan doctor

PJ4 wrote: »

Hello,

I have a Renault Clio 2000, recently I've noticed a red light appearing on the dashboard when driving. This morning the dial was dangerously pointing at the top and I was concerned the car was going to overheat.

Can anyone help?

This is why we need basic drivers education in this country.

Red lights mean stop! The symbol of a thermometer in water means that your having a ....water temperature issue...i.e overheating. First and most obvious thing is to check your coolant level, which will almost certainly be very low or empty.

If it is then you likely have a leak that you'll need to get checked out before you do more damage to the engine, assuming you've been lucky enough not to do any damage already.

PJ4

Thanks for the feedback, please excuse my lack of car knowledge. I've just checked under the bonnet and the coolant is empty. So my next question is are there a specific type of coolant for Renualt?

2012 Rio

To find the correct type look in the car's manual or ring a renault dealer who will tell you. In any case, a 50/50 mix of water/antifreeze should be quite satisfactory.

Before you refill it with good coolant, it is a good idea to clean out the cooling system thoroughly. There are radiator flush chemicals available at motor factors. This is a wise step to take and ensures there is no dirt or scum floating around in there.

Then you need to find the source of the problem, if there is a leak somewhere. Just fill it with water for now, ensure the cap is tight down. then run the engine for a few minutes and top up the water if necessary. Then run the engine up to full temperature so that the system is under pressure. DO NOT undo the cap at this stage as you will get burnt.
Ensure the cooling fan is operating and cutting in/out. Check for leaks around the system and inside the car aslo as sometimes the heater can leak. Obviously fix any leak you find.

Once your happy there are no leaks and the fan is working as it should, fillup with coolant or water/antifreeze mix. You might need to bleed the system of air. Not sure about this or how it's done as i've never worked on a clio.
Recheck the coolant level and top up if needs be.

Note: look out for smelly oily scum in the coolant reservoir/radiator as this indicates that the head gasket is the cause of the problem and this should be adressed before any action is taken.

for the moment just get some cooling medium in there, even just plain water will do for the minute until you get things organised.

Nissan doctor

PJ4 wrote: »

Thanks for the feedback, please excuse my lack of car knowledge. I've just checked under the bonnet and the coolant is empty. So my next question is are there a specific type of coolant for Renualt?

Well the main thing to consider is that the coolant has to have gone somewhere so I'd have it checked out for leaks or head gasket issues etc before you much more driving.

PJ4

I added water to the coolant system and run the engine looking for leaks. There appeared to be no leaks. I drove the car to work this morning (20 mins drive) and the car was fine, the termo dial never went above half way and no sign of the red termo light on the dashboard. I contacted the Renualt dealer at Liffey Valley, they recommended a premixed antifreeze which I could buy from any local motor store by telling the store assistant the make and model of my car. They also suggested I take the car to my local garage to bleed/drain the current water in the coolant system rather than attempt it myself.

2012 Rio

Thats good theres no leak. You could save yourself a lot of money by flushing the system yourself, it's quite straight forward.
Just unto the bottom hose on the radiator and drain it.
Then refill and drain it twice
Then put in the cleaner stuff and fill up with water. Run the car for half an hour.
Drain it out and rinse it out twice more.

Then tighten up the jublee clip on the hose and fill it up with the right coolant.

PJ4

It appears there could be a leak afterall. The water was empty on Sunday, so I topped it up with water to the max level line again. Last night I checked the water level and it was empty and I could clearly see the water stain below the car in my parking space. Also the speed dial has started to drop to zero when I'm driving and the car feels like it's chugging/kicking when I change gears. I've decided to take the car to the garage for a review and quote. In your experience, do all these issues sound connected to one big issue?