Renault Megane

boardsuser1

Query regarding the above car belonging to a relative.

In recent days the engine management/service light came on, fault reader said throttle position sensor, this was cleared and the light hasn’t come on since.

The car is going for the nct next week, will this impact it?

The car is a 2004, 1.4 Petrol.

EPAndlee

No it shouldn't be a problem

boardsuser1

EPAndlee wrote: »

No it shouldn't be a problem

Won’t cause emission problems?

boardsuser1

Just out of the nct.

The car needs a small bit of work.

My local indie is closed until Monday so i can't get a quote for the repairs.

The following is what is needed;

Front right ball joint
Repeat side slip test
Brake pipe in front of the petrol tank
re test Brake test
Front left tie rod i was told, it is on the sheet under the heading 'Steering linkage (43) Rack & Pinion'

I haven't even started looking at the price of the Ball joint and Tie rod.

The brake pipe is only a minor thing (price wise) if memory serves me right as i had one done before.

11214

There's a chap in the exchange business park up in Churchfield that specializes in Renault stuff, might save you a few bob.

boardsuser1

11214 wrote: »

There's a chap in the exchange business park up in Churchfield that specializes in Renault stuff, might save you a few bob.

Cheers for that

I live nearby so that is a huge benefit.

Does he only supply parts or does he also repair Renault's?

11214

Cork Truck Driver wrote: »

Cheers for that

I live nearby so that is a huge benefit.

Does he only supply parts or does he also repair Renault's?

He's fitted a few parts for me, I think he usually just supplies but just ask and he should sort you out.

boardsuser1

11214 wrote: »

He's fitted a few parts for me, I think he usually just supplies but just ask and he should sort you out.

legend

rex-x

You don't need a Renault specialist for that, prob 2-300 depending on brake line difficulty, will also need wheel alignment

boardsuser1

rex-x wrote: »

You don't need a Renault specialist for that, prob 2-300 depending on brake line difficulty, will also need wheel alignment

The pipe is in front of the petrol tank and corroded he said.

Will upload a bit of the report shortly.

boardsuser1

The report from today

rex-x

Cork Truck Driver wrote: »

The pipe is in front of the petrol tank and corroded he said.

Will upload a bit of the report shortly.

Yes bit the pipe will be one piece from the brakes to the front of the car (master cylinder) so the fix is to cut off the corroded part and splice in a new bit, if the pipe is routed above the petrol tank for instance and totally inaccessible the labour cost will be significant. Its not a particularly fun job tbh

boardsuser1

rex-x wrote: »

Yes bit the pipe will be one piece from the brakes to the front of the car (master cylinder) so the fix is to cut off the corroded part and splice in a new bit, if the pipe is routed above the petrol tank for instance and totally inaccessible the labour cost will be significant. Its not a particularly fun job tbh

Ah crap.
Big labour costs are something I hate.

rex-x

Cork Truck Driver wrote: »

Ah crap.
Big labour costs are something I hate.

I'd also be forewarned you may not have a tie rod end problem, often it is the rack itself that needs replacing, won't know until it's inspected. The whole area is under a rubber boot so the nct tester can't see it, hence the rack and pinion generic fail

boardsuser1

rex-x wrote: »

I'd also be forewarned you may not have a tie rod end problem, often it is the rack itself that needs replacing, won't know until it's inspected. The whole area is under a rubber boot so the nct tester can't see it, hence the rack and pinion generic fail

What kind of money are we talking worst case?

He did say it was a tie rod but that was the only system option available for it.

rex-x

Cork Truck Driver wrote: »

What kind of money are we talking worst case?

He did say it was a tie rod but that was the only system option available for it.

Would depend on your mechanics skill and labour rates, I have a special flaring tool that allows me to get into spaces other mechanics would need to drop the tank for etc. Lots of variables, no point thinking about it until you get it inspected

boardsuser1

rex-x wrote: »

Would depend on your mechanics skill and labour rates, I have a special flaring tool that allows me to get into spaces other mechanics would need to drop the tank for etc. Lots of variables, no point thinking about it until you get it inspected

My regular guy is a Citroen/Peugeot specialist so Renault is more or less along the same lines.

Car is going in next Thursday to be done.

miketheDIYman

while we have megane experts watching - my neighbour keeps running battery down then asks me to jump start her but car is up against her house - is there any way to push it back off driveway - her handbrake and other items seem to lock up !

rex-x

miketheDIYman wrote: »

while we have megane experts watching - my neighbour keeps running battery down then asks me to jump start her but car is up against her house - is there any way to push it back off driveway - her handbrake and other items seem to lock up !

Electric handbrake?

miketheDIYman

don't think so

boardsuser1

Just in the door from the guy in the exchange business park in Churchfield.

My heater blower is working on settings 2&3 only.

Both back regulators need doing,€75 each to fix.

He offered to do it there and then only for I had no cash on me.

boardsuser1

Got my Megane through the NCT this evening.

What alarmed me was the mechanic told me that the opposite tie rod and ball joint were badly worn and he'd be surprised if the car were to pass.

Now it did pass but i'm wondering was the mechanic trying to pull the wool over my eyes.

He dismissed them as a bad car and only Japanese stuff of that year is any good.

He had a Corolla outside the door for sale conveniently.

I've been using his garage for over 10 years now but am questioning my future custom.

rex-x

Cork Truck Driver wrote: »

Got my Megane through the NCT this evening.

What alarmed me was the mechanic told me that the opposite tie rod and ball joint were badly worn and he'd be surprised if the car were to pass.

Now it did pass but i'm wondering was the mechanic trying to pull the wool over my eyes.

He dismissed them as a bad car and only Japanese stuff of that year is any good.

He had a Corolla outside the door for sale conveniently.

I've been using his garage for over 10 years now but am questioning my future custom.

They are a pretty terrible car to be fair but many of the jap yolks of the same vintage are no better. Sounds like he just has a bit of a bias

EPAndlee

I wouldn't take the nct word for it. Had a customer in a few weeks ago we told her she'd need a ball Joint and two shocks which she actually did need. They passed the test then accused us of trying to get money out of her for parts she didn't need. They are an awful car in fairness

boardsuser1

rex-x wrote: »

They are a pretty terrible car to be fair but many of the jap yolks of the same vintage are no better. Sounds like he just has a bit of a bias

For someone who is a specialist in Citroen and Peugeot he's probably sick of French cars :pac:

EPAndlee wrote: »

I wouldn't take the nct word for it. Had a customer in a few weeks ago we told her she'd need a ball Joint and two shocks which she actually did need. They passed the test then accused us of trying to get money out of her for parts she didn't need. They are an awful car in fairness

I see your point, that is what many people think, i might take it to another garage tomorrow for a second opinion on the area's he mentioned.

She cost me less than the price of the repairs and has almost 1 years test on her,if i can even get 6 months out of it i'd be happy.

I'm only using it to keep the mileage down on my main car which is a family wagon.

So far between the Megane and The 306 i recently scrapped still with 6 months test left on it i've kept about 5k off the main car in mileage.

EPAndlee

I can see why people get that idea into their heads but speaking for ourselves we don't want to be wasting garage time doing unnecessary work. If there's plenty of test on it you may aswell keep driving until it completely gives up

boardsuser1

EPAndlee wrote: »

I can see why people get that idea into their heads but speaking for ourselves we don't want to be wasting garage time doing unnecessary work. If there's plenty of test on it you may aswell keep driving until it completely gives up

That's the plan now.

It is almost exclusively used on city runs as the main car has a DPF and i don't want the hassle of it getting clogged.

when i'm going from Cork to Mitchelstown for work purposes i take the diesel.

boardsuser1

This car has puzzled me since the start.

When on the motorway at 120km/h it’s revving at almost 4000rpm.

Going up hills it sometimes feels underpowered so much I have to drop a gear.

It’s the 1.4 16V engine.

I’m half wondering did it ever have a gearbox change.

On motorcheck.ie it says the car is 6 speed, the car has 5 forward gears and reverse obviously.

My interpretation of a 6 speed is 6 forward + reverse.

It passed the nct like this so I’m not too bothered now, but just curious as to what the problem may be if at all.