Megane coils

Ronnie Beck

The mothers car seems to spend alot of time running on three cylinders. It's a 2003 megane 2 1.4 16v. She reckons she has had all of the coils replaced twice. Car is only used once a week and does about 3k a year. Her mechanic works for renault and replaces them individually with OEM coils as they go. I got a beru coils to replace the one that's currently out. Is there any way to lengthen the life of the coils?

Should they all be changed at once? Do old spark plugs shorten the life of the coil?

Thanks

wonski

You only need to change faulty coil.
Checking all spark plugs and coils to confirm if one of them is a reason for misfiring is a good idea, too.
You mentioned coils have been replaced twice, but what timeframe are we talking about?

Ronnie Beck

She's had it about about 7/8 years or so. Very low mileage though. I changed the faulty one today. It had been done before as it was marked by the mechanic. Looks like its been there a few years. Seems to be damp dirt, leaves etc. gathering on top of the engine particularly above cyl. 3 and 4. I sealed the new one with silicon grease.

wonski

Since it was replaced twice in such a long time, i wouldn't worry about it.
You may want to find cheaper ones on ebay or elsewhere, to have them ready to replace.
I think it is the sealing that cause the problem. Water/dump gets through the seal...Nothing you can do really, and Beru coils are decent enough, you may want to try different brands, but don't think they will last much longer.

BTW regarding silicon grease, make sure it is high temperature proof, if not, i am not sure it is such a great idea...

Ronnie Beck

Thanks I wasn't sure what sort of lifespan they have.

I'll fully service it next week clean out the dirt and seal all the coils. There was definetely dirt and moisture getting past the seal. The beru looked a better unit than the renault ones. The seal looked a better design anyway. It was 40 quid in the local MF.

Thanks.

Ye, its high temp grease. This stuff.
http://www.ebay.ie/itm/271102546181?ssPageName=STRK:MEWNX:IT&_trksid=p3984.m1497.l2649

Ronnie Beck

Thanks for the ebay tip. Lots of spurious ones there for 15 quid each.

These look good. 4 OEM for 90 quid, delivered.

http://www.ebay.ie/itm/GENUINE-GREEN-TOP-UPGRADE-VALEO-IGNITION-COILS-RENAULT-MEGANE-LAGUNA-PCVAL-4-/251178400461?pt=UK_CarsParts_Vehicles_CarParts_SM&hash=item3a7b663acd

Mar4ix

Ronnie Beck wrote: »

Thanks for the ebay tip. Lots of spurious ones there for 15 quid each.

These look good. 4 OEM for 90 quid, delivered.

http://www.ebay.ie/itm/GENUINE-GREEN-TOP-UPGRADE-VALEO-IGNITION-COILS-RENAULT-MEGANE-LAGUNA-PCVAL-4-/251178400461?pt=UK_CarsParts_Vehicles_CarParts_SM&hash=item3a7b663acd

thats good deal, they offer 2 years warranty on them also, just find out T/C , like does have to be qualified mechanic to install, with receipt .. etc...

wonski

Mar4ix wrote: »

thats good deal, they offer 2 years warranty on them also, just find out T/C , like does have to be qualified mechanic to install, with receipt .. etc...

I bought cheap ones off ebay (grey top, not branded) for 40 euro, and they served me well for almost 2 years. I am pretty sure Valeo coils can do better.
Still worth to have a look at T&C, but it is a good deal even without an extra warranty.
The car in question had the coils replaced twice in 7/8 years, even the cheaper ones can work for 2 years+...
Ronnie, if this is the only problem your mother has with the car, i would tell her to keep it for as long as possible. My friends 2004 reg Megane developed so many faults over last year...

Ronnie Beck

It's a grand car. Very comfortable. The back windows don't open and the tyre pressure display has a mind of it's own, but that is about it at the moment which isn't bad. Windows and the boot not opening have been the main problems. The passenger window mechanism broke altogether a few years ago and it wouldn't close. The usual stuff :pac:.

wonski

Ronnie Beck wrote: »

It's a grand car. Very comfortable. The back windows don't open and the tyre pressure display has a mind of it's own, but that is about it at the moment which isn't bad. Windows and the boot not opening have been the main problems. The passenger window mechanism broke altogether a few years ago and it wouldn't close. The usual stuff :pac:.

The boot opening is typical fault, took a while to fix,but don't remember what it was exactly. Some wires i suppose. Those little things can give a headache sometimes.

Ronnie Beck

Corroded contacts in the switch on hers. I think I popped it out and sprayed it with wd40, stuck it back in and it worked grand. They didn't really get the whole keeping water away from electrics concept right on that car.

I try not to get too involved with fixing the renaults. They'll break your heart if you try to fix everything. Take a few hours just to get a door card off. My dad has a 00 laguna 2 too. The keycard buttons don't work on both keycards. He has to open and lock it with the little key. Renault are looking for ridiculous money to replace. I think the rear suspension needs looking too. Tyres are rubbing on the arches all the time.

I've to put new front pads and discs and bleed the brakes on my VW van. Also have to replace a coolant flange and a hose.

I have to service the two renaults too.

Fun christmas

wonski

Ronnie Beck wrote: »

Corroded contacts in the switch on hers. I think I popped it out and sprayed it with wd40, stuck it back in and it worked grand. They didn't really get the whole keeping water away from electrics concept right on that car.

I try not to get too involved with fixing the renaults. They'll break your heart if you try to fix everything. Take a few hours just to get a door card off. My dad has a 00 laguna 2 too. The keycard buttons don't work on both keycards. He has to open and lock it with the little key. Renault are looking for ridiculous money to replace. I think the rear suspension needs looking too. Tyres are rubbing on the arches all the time.

I've to put new front pads and discs and bleed the brakes on my VW van. Also have to replace a coolant flange and a hose.

I have to service the two renaults too.

Fun christmas

Have Renault too - so know exactly what you mean. Mine is faultless, apart from rear wiper being posessed...
Funnier Christmas than mine, to be honest. Got ill on first day, and yet to recover. Internet Christmas i call them - hope by the New Year eve i will get better... Bloody viruses all over the place:mad:

Mar4ix

on one mates renault megane, car was flooded couple times and we replaced door seal with no success at the end we figured out..... sunroof rubber gave a leak. it was hard to figure out, as when we was pouring water over car, it was leaking in to car through drivers door seal near accelerator pedal.

Ronnie Beck

Mar4ix wrote: »

on one mates renault megane, car was flooded couple times and we replaced door seal with no success at the end we figured out..... sunroof rubber gave a leak. it was hard to figure out, as when we was pouring water over car, it was leaking in to car through drivers door seal near accelerator pedal.

Been there too. I couldn't find where the water was coming from. The whole floor was soaked. Puddles in the little storage things. Her mechanic sorted it out. A blocked drain somewhere. Up around the wipers I think.

wonski

Mar4ix wrote: »

on one mates renault megane, car was flooded couple times and we replaced door seal with no success at the end we figured out..... sunroof rubber gave a leak. it was hard to figure out, as when we was pouring water over car, it was leaking in to car through drivers door seal near accelerator pedal.

Mine is leaking too, but only 3-4 times a year. Probably sunroof, but hard to locate. Drops fall straight on my head through the overhead console (the one with lights). I gave up on fixing it as it happens very rarely. Would have to replace rubber seals i suppose, and as there are some electrics involved, i am not going to touch it...

Mar4ix

wonski wrote: »

Mine is leaking too, but only 3-4 times a year. Probably sunroof, but hard to locate. Drops fall straight on my head through the overhead console (the one with lights). I gave up on fixing it as it happens very rarely. Would have to replace rubber seals i suppose, and as there are some electrics involved, i am not going to touch it...

Id say deffo sunroof rubber seal. I wouldnt say that electronics are so complicated there, or nor high voltage there.

Id advice you get it fixed, as where electronics meet water, results quiet often finish with fire blaze, ...... maybe in your case it wont be so bad, but if rust comes there, nothing will help you anymore.

wonski

Mar4ix wrote: »

Id say deffo sunroof rubber seal. I wouldnt say that electronics are so complicated there, or nor high voltage there.

Id advice you get it fixed, as where electronics meet water, results quiet often finish with fire blaze, ...... maybe in your case it wont be so bad, but if rust comes there, nothing will help you anymore.

I didn't mean it is complicated, just worried that as soon as i touch it, problems with central locking and sunroof will appear.
I would definitely fixed it, but it happens so rarely so doesn't bother me yet...
Thanks for advice.
We run this bit off topic - from coils, through keys up to leaking roof. Joys of having Renault on your driveway...

Mar4ix

wonski wrote: »

I didn't mean it is complicated, just worried that as soon as i touch it, problems with central locking and sunroof will appear.
I would definitely fixed it, but it happens so rarely so doesn't bother me yet...
Thanks for advice.
We run this bit off topic - from coils, through keys up to leaking roof. Joys of having Renault on your driveway...

I doubt there could be any problems with other electronics, but decisions to make is car owner priority .

yea.... well off topic from coils, but overall renault problems been reviewed, unless OP and mods dont mind.

wonski

Mar4ix wrote: »

I doubt there could be any problems with other electronics, but decisions to make is car owner priority .

yea.... well off topic from coils, but overall renault problems been reviewed, unless OP and mods dont mind.

I intially thought i would have to dismantle overhead console, but why i thought so?
No need for it. I mentioned central lock, as the receiver is there, too. Friends Clio remote isn't working anymore due to water leaking through the roof. It is an older type IR remote from 99-03, which they later replaced with cards.

Will have a look anyway and see what is involved - have Haynes manual so it should be covered there.

Ronnie Beck

http://www.keyrepair.co.uk/

This seems like a good deal. Has anyone on here used them?

I gave his key a shake and it rattles. That website says if it rattles that the switches have broken off the circuit board.

wonski

Ronnie Beck wrote: »

http://www.keyrepair.co.uk/

This seems like a good deal. Has anyone on here used them?

I gave his key a shake and it rattles. That website says if it rattles that the switches have broken off the circuit board.

Do they offer Money Back Guarantee? Wouldn't like to spend money only to find out it is not working.
Your card is still working when pushed into the slot? If so there is a big chance they can fix it. It may be only a buttons not working on yours.
Never used them, and never heard of, but if you use paypal, it should be safe enough to get a refund if it won't work out.

Ronnie Beck

Ye the card works perfect, just the two buttons are broken. You can feel when you press them there is no switch.

They get good reviews here apart from the first one.

http://www.reviewcentre.com/reviews200930.html#Reviews

http://www.renaultforums.co.uk/showthread.php?t=124814

wonski

Ronnie Beck wrote: »

Ye the card works perfect, just the two buttons are broken. You can feel when you press them there is no switch.

I would go for it then. I assume you have more than one, if not you are immobilized until they fix and send it back to you.

wonski

Ronnie Beck wrote: »

Ye the card works perfect, just the two buttons are broken. You can feel when you press them there is no switch.

They get good reviews here apart from the first one.

http://www.reviewcentre.com/reviews200930.html#Reviews

http://www.renaultforums.co.uk/showthread.php?t=124814

Loads of users on Renault forums recommend them, nothing to worry about then.
Another daylight robbery at Renault dealers, new key is 200 euros, if i remember correctly?

visual

wonski wrote: »

Mine is leaking too, but only 3-4 times a year. Probably sunroof, but hard to locate. Drops fall straight on my head through the overhead console (the one with lights). I gave up on fixing it as it happens very rarely. Would have to replace rubber seals
i suppose, and as there are some electrics involved, i am not going to touch it...

The sun roof rubber is not a water proof sea there is a catch tray with two drains that run from sun roof to just behind front wheels. The drains block with mud and water backs up to sunroof. causing leaks.
Pop out the inner wheel well protector at bottom next to door to expose bottom of drain hose

wonski

Thanks, i actually checked on some forums and you are right, there is also a chance the water gets through aerial. Will have a look as it looks like easy fix.

Ronnie Beck

New plugs and air filter in today. The old plugs were bosch. Renault forums and a few other places recommended getting the OE plugs from renault, so there gone in now. Something to do with the resistance of the system. The seal on the new beru coil is great. It actually pops loudly when you pull it out.The sagem renault coils have no seal at all(top one in pic, beru on the bottom).



A serious amount of dirt builds up around the seals of the 2 and 3 cylinders.




This is the blocked hose that flooded the car before. It appears to connect the bottom of the window wipers tray thing to a drain above the passenger wheel arch. It was completely blocked with dirt. I didn't try to reinstall it.




Car is running really well now with plenty of power. The air filter was manky. It still hunts at idle a small bit. Throttle valve or MAF sensor maybe. Parked up if you rev the engine to 2500 say, it comes back down past 800rpm to about 650 then back to 850 and then settles at 800 and is smooth enough then. When you first start it up the idle is a bit all over the place as it warms up .

galwaytt

Ronnie Beck wrote: »

New plugs and air filter in today. The old plugs were bosch. Renault forums and a few other places recommended getting the OE plugs from renault, so there gone in now. Something to do with the resistance of the system. The seal on the new beru coil is great. It actually pops loudly when you pull it out.The sagem renault coils have no seal at all(top one in pic, beru on the bottom).



A serious amount of dirt builds up around the seals of the 2 and 3 cylinders.




This is the blocked hose that flooded the car before. It appears to connect the bottom of the window wipers tray thing to a drain above the passenger wheel arch. It was completely blocked with dirt. I didn't try to reinstall it.




Car is running really well now with plenty of power. The air filter was manky. It still hunts at idle a small bit. Throttle valve or MAF sensor maybe. Parked up if you rev the engine to 2500 say, it comes back down past 800rpm to about 650 then back to 850 and then settles at 800 and is smooth enough then. When you first start it up the idle is a bit all over the place as it warms up .

Renault used to recommend changing all 4 coils simultaneously, as 1 x 1 just prolonged the issue.

And some brands of coil don't seem to last. Beru didn't for me. OEM Sagem troublesome. Hitachi better. None perfect. The issue is heat buildup causing coil to breakdown eventually.

Never an issue on old fashioned coils located in the fresh air ! Buried deep in the cylinder head means overheating is easy and common - and not just in Renault's btw .

Ronnie Beck

http://www.micksgarage.com/proddetails.aspx?pid=1637971&pk=B59D6

Ordered 12 litre of this Champion 5w40 today. 25 quid for 4 litres.
spec:
RENAULT: RN 0700
RENAULT: RN 0710

The RN 0700 is the spec for N/A petrols I found out up to '07. RN 0710 for the turbo diesels.

Had a good look around MF's for the last while and found it was a pretty expensive grade to get. 45 euro for 5 litres of valvoline was a good price. Could of gotten a 20 litre drum for the same price/litre as the champion but it had no spec's at all on the label and I'd never heard of the brand before. The smaller carton are handier anyway