Renault Clio 2006 1.5 DCI - Not starting with key, but push start easy enough

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Fri 6 Dec 2019 17:36
Renault Clio 2006 1.5 DCI - Not starting with key, but push start easy enough - Marco Guttner

I bought the car a few months back, reasonably priced and drove like a dream, until now. For some reason it won't start when turning the key, but it will push start easily enough. No error lights showing on the dash board, but when driving, the check engine light will at times come on when accelerating suddenly, usually when on an upward inclination, but lasts a few seconds then turn off. Any advice please.

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Fri 6 Dec 2019 22:00
Renault Clio 2006 1.5 DCI - Not starting with key, but push start easy enough - elekie&a/c doctor

when you say it won't start on the key, do you mean the starter does not operate?

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Sat 7 Dec 2019 08:17
Renault Clio 2006 1.5 DCI - Not starting with key, but push start easy enough - Marco Guttner

Sorry, should have added it. The starter turns and sounds fine, the engine just don't want fire up. But on push start it takes. I am baffled and I had it at the mechanic, whom cant find the problem. He changed some sensor on the fuel pump as I understand. i am fetching the car at 9 to find out what precisely he has done.

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Sat 7 Dec 2019 10:24
Renault Clio 2006 1.5 DCI - Not starting with key, but push start easy enough - elekie&a/c doctor

I wonder if the fuel injection system is losing voltage on the supply or earth return under cranking?

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Sat 7 Dec 2019 10:50
Renault Clio 2006 1.5 DCI - Not starting with key, but push start easy enough - Marco Guttner

The weird thing is, that at times(very few though), it does start normally as you would expect. I spoke to the mechanic and he said that on the diagnostics it showed that the fuel pressure when starting didn't reach its target. So they decided to change the sensor as it initially assumed to make a difference, but at the end not. I've read about a lazy starter...could that be the culprit? The mechanic said he didn't find much air in the fuel lines. He also said that I might need to look at the diesel pump...?

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Sat 7 Dec 2019 10:57
Renault Clio 2006 1.5 DCI - Not starting with key, but push start easy enough - elekie&a/c doctor

Looks like your mechanic has been using the "guess-o-meter" method. A lazy starter motor could certainly cause this issue, as could bad battery and engine earth connections. What's with the diesel pump, the engine runs?

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Sat 7 Dec 2019 11:24
Renault Clio 2006 1.5 DCI - Not starting with key, but push start easy enough - Marco Guttner

The guess-o-meter already cost me £120...but he did said beforehand that he wasn't sure of the problem. My next step would be to get a new starter then? I had to call the breakdown on Wednesday night and they connected a jump starter to the battery, with no luck. This might remove the battery and earth as a suspect?

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Sat 7 Dec 2019 14:21
Renault Clio 2006 1.5 DCI - Not starting with key, but push start easy enough - bathtub tom

I had to call the breakdown on Wednesday night and they connected a jump starter to the battery, with no luck. This might remove the battery and earth as a suspect?

I would suspect not, as the problem could still be a poor connection downstream of the battery. A no cost investigation of all your battery and earth connections away from your battery may prove worthwhile (if you've got the time and ability).

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Mon 9 Dec 2019 09:39
Renault Clio 2006 1.5 DCI - Not starting with key, but push start easy enough - Marco Guttner

I took it in today to change the starter motor and check the wiring, hopefully its the solution. I have to mention that the car starts when you spray a little quick start at the air intake, but I don't want to keep using that as it damage the engine on the long run.

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Mon 9 Dec 2019 13:54
Renault Clio 2006 1.5 DCI - Not starting with key, but push start easy enough - bathtub tom

I took it in today to change the starter motor and check the wiring, hopefully its the solution. I have to mention that the car starts when you spray a little quick start at the air intake

That indicates to me it's absolutely nothing to do with the starter motor and more to do with the fuelling. I suggest you take it to a diesel specialist before having parts replaced at random.

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Wed 11 Dec 2019 14:34
Renault Clio 2006 1.5 DCI - Not starting with key, but push start easy enough - Marco Guttner

The car all of a sudden started without any issue for a couple of days, then started giving problems again. I was told that it might be the diesel pump as it doesn't give enough pressure through to the injectors to open. But in the same sentence was told that I might need to change all the injectors as well, and that it might be best to sell the car. I don't want to go that route, but the diesel pump alone is going to cost me £300 at least...any opinions will be appreciated.

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Thu 12 Dec 2019 00:10
Renault Clio 2006 1.5 DCI - Not starting with key, but push start easy enough - Avant

Time to flog it I think.

This is a 13-year-old French diesel, and we get a great many people on here with bad experiences of cars like this. Even if you can sort out this problem easily, there could be other expensive failures just round the corner.

Unless you do a very high mileage, petrol power is a better bet: either Japanese (a better chance of getting a good one, even on a restrcted budget) or a Ford Fiesta or Focus with the 1.25 or 1.4 engine (lots of them around to choose from).

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Thu 12 Dec 2019 12:33
Renault Clio 2006 1.5 DCI - Not starting with key, but push start easy enough - Gibbo_Wirral

Sounds like the same problem I had. Wouldn't start on key but bump / push started easily. Next few days it would work fine then stop again.

Starter sounded strong. A new starter sorted it straight away.

I normally would never throw parts at the problem, but there was no problems with the electrical system, no fault codes, all live data normal. A google showed me that it was a fairly common problem, so I just chanced it.

Edited by Gibbo_Wirral on 12/12/2019 at 12:35

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