Renault Clio - Electrical problem-

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Tue 19 Apr 2016 10:17
Renault Clio - Electrical problem- - concrete
My son lives in Sheffield, I live in Kent. He knows nothing about cars. He bought a 2002 Clio 1.4 petrol saloon. He had some trouble starting it but now the battery is flat. Not a glimmer from it. The car has stood immobile now for 3 months. I am coming to visit and he wants me to bring some tools and a new battery..
I am wondering if I replace the battery and the fault is elsewhere the new battery will simply drain. Has anyone any ideas of any particular fault with Renault clio's or could it be just an old battery worn out by age and recent overuse for starting problems. Comments please a sap because I am setting off in an hour. Cheers Concrete
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Tue 19 Apr 2016 10:26
Renault Clio - Electrical problem- - elekie&a/c doctor
Without a good battery ,there is no way of knowing what else may be wrong with it.Make sure you take an 8 and 10 mm spanner for the terminals and a 13 mm socket and long extension bar for hold down clamp.
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Tue 19 Apr 2016 10:39
Renault Clio - Electrical problem- - concrete
Without a good battery ,there is no way of knowing what else may be wrong with it.Make sure you take an 8 and 10 mm spanner for the terminals and a 13 mm socket and long extension bar for hold down clamp.

Thanks Doc, I was wondering about the clamp. From memory it engages a recess at the base of the original battery. Will a new battery have a similar groove for the clamp? Also if I buy the battery here from my local Halfords is there a certain type I need? Cheers Concrete
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Tue 19 Apr 2016 10:54
Renault Clio - Electrical problem- - elekie&a/c doctor
I think a standard 063 will do the job.It will have the correct base that will lock onto the hold down bracket.
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Tue 19 Apr 2016 11:00
Renault Clio - Electrical problem- - concrete
Many thanks Doc. I owe you one. Concrete
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Tue 19 Apr 2016 13:41
Renault Clio - Electrical problem- - Peter.N.

If you have a multimeter take that with you as well, firstly check that its charging correctly by connecting the meter across the battery on the 'volts' range, with the engine running it should read about 14.4 volts.

You can then check for excessive leakage by setting the meter to 'amps' and connecting it in series with the battery ie: remove the + lead and connect it to one meter lead and connect the other one to the battery, with everything turned off for about 3 minutes, it shouldn't read more than about 50ma, very much more than that and you have a fault, if its an amp or two try disconnecting the alternator, otherwise try pulling one fuse at a time until the load drops.

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Sun 24 Apr 2016 14:35
Renault Clio - Electrical problem- - concrete

Thanks Peter.N. My daughter-in-laws' father has such a meter and is coming over this weekend, so we will do all the checks then and replace the battery if necessary. Great advice from the forum. Cheers Concrete

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Wed 18 May 2016 18:27
Renault Clio - Electrical problem- - concrete

Hello everyone, thanks for all the contributions. All the checks were done and the battery replaced and the car is up and running again.

Thank you all, especially elekiea/cdoctor so we could source the right tools.

Cheers Concrete

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