Renault 5 cold starting problems

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Mon 1 Dec 2003 14:34
Renault 5 cold starting problems - R5Alex
Hi All,

I have a '94 Renault 5 with a 1.4L petrol injection engine. it's on 80K of mixed use milage.

My problem is that recently it has been suffering the following problem when starting:

Turn on ignition, engine turns over but fails to start. This has to be repeated a few time until engine eventually fires. Engine sounds "rough" - like it's not firing on all cylinders. By increasing throttle the engine picks up and sounds fine.
After this everything is OK.

It is serviced in accordance with the manfacturers spec.

Does anyone have any tips on what I could look at - as you may guess I don't know too much about cars but don't want to take it to a garage until I have tried commonsense things first.

Thanks in Advance

Al.
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Mon 1 Dec 2003 15:03
Renault 5 cold starting problems - PhilW
I will repeat the advice given by Adam Going to me when my son's Clio (with 1.4 injection engine)suffered similar problems - replace the "Coolant Temperature Sensor", it costs about £25 from Renault and is easy to do if you have some basic spanners and some new antifreeze, took me about 20 mins. This after a garage had diagnosed a new part/s which would have cost £600! My son's car has started first time ever since (about 18 months?). If you want more detail on how to do it post again. I think Adam reckons that replacing the CTS cures about 90% of Renault starting probs and is cheap so start with this. If this doesn't work, you will have to wait until Adam (or some other expert) comes along 'cos I have just given you the full extent of my mechanical knowledge!!!
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Mon 1 Dec 2003 15:17
Renault 5 cold starting problems - R5Alex
Thanks PhilW! I'll give it a go and hope it does the trick.
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Mon 1 Dec 2003 18:22
Renault 5 cold starting problems - PhilW
Good luck! Let us know how you get on!
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Mon 5 Jan 2004 14:32
Renault 5 cold starting problems - R5Alex
PhilW - Thanks! changing the sensor has definately helped. On very cold mornings it still turns over a few times before firing but it\'s much, much better than before.
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Tue 6 Jan 2004 20:22
Renault 5 cold starting problems - PhilW
Glad it helped - it's the only thing I know about Renault engines! And even then, as I said above, I got it from Adam Going!
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Tue 6 Jan 2004 20:33
Renault 5 cold starting problems - Adam Going (Tune-Up)
Glad to see that you are keeping an eye on things here Phil !!

Regards, Adam
Whatever is rightly done, however humble, is noble.
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Tue 6 Jan 2004 23:04
Renault 5 cold starting problems - PhilW
Adam,
Certainly am! Unfortunately the only help I can give on the technical forum is how to cure Renault starting problems - and it only crops up every few months!
Still owe you those (virtual) pints!
PhilW
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Sun 11 Jan 2004 18:24
Renault 5 cold starting problems - SteveH42
Don't suppose you know if this also applies to Saab engines? My Mum was saying recently that she is having problems with getting hers started sometimes. It's a 91H (I think) 900i. Apparently she'd had the battery and plugs checked and they are OK and she *thinks* she had the HT leads changed fairly recently as well.

I was thinking leads if not changed, coil or distributor but I've not seen under the bonnet of this one and I'm told it's a newer engine than in the old 'E' reg 900i they had.

She also reckons it sometimes takes a while to pick up if that helps the diagnosis...
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Sun 11 Jan 2004 19:44
Renault 5 cold starting problems - PhilW
Sorry Steve - haven't a clue about Saab engines but since the other obvious (to me!) things seem to have been done it may be worth a try. It is at least a simple and cheap job on the Renault and may be similar on a Saab?
Why not try a new thread on it - it would at least attract the Saab specialists
Good luck
P
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