colin4255
Sr. Member
Posts: 119
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« Reply #1 on: August 05, 2009, 12:45:56 am » |
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I own a 2002 Grand Espace 2.2 Dci. Driven over 40,000 mils in it since I bought it. Excellent vehicle, BUT there are some serious issues with these things with regard to the Exhaust Gas Recirculation System ( EGR system) and on older models (1998 - 2000 or thereabouts) very expensive and apparently largely unsolvable issues with diesel fuel injectors. There is an EGR valve on the front of the engine (see numerous other posts on this forum) that can stick, causing all sorts of mayhem so be prepared for that.
In terms of cam belt change, this is very costly and should be done every 75,000 miles(not sure of an exact price but upwards of £600 at a UK renault dealers) Don't let any old fool try and change one either - they are not at all easy to do and very easy to do wrong causing serious engine damage!
Spongy brakes could be any number of things, many of which will be dear to put right. Best to let the current owner pay for that to be fixed and properly, before you buy the thing. As these things have discs all round, it would be obvious if any fluid leaks from caliper seals and the brake piping is all easy to view under the car too. Could be a brake servo or master cyclinder seal issue, but make sure he gets it professionally looked at, brake fluid dosn't go off so badly in modern cars that it would fail like that so there is obviously something amiss.
The dash noises are not that uncommon. All these things were litraqlly hand built by matra, and you won't find any two screws in the same place on any car where the interior is concerned! My dash rattled and it turned out to be a broken prong on a front speaker cover plate, but they are a bugger to get the dash apart on, and there are no books to help - even my renault dealer couldn't find me anything of any use - so make sure its not engine related - espaces do suffer from RHS front upper engine mountings breaking - I know of four owners including me that have had this happen and that creates all sortts of odd noises, especially under acceleration.
Many people also complain of turbo failure, so before you buy it, make sure it has a decent service record, that it has been properly serviced and that it has been run on fully synthetic engine oil. These common rail diesels are quite fussy engines, they do not go well on cheap sub standard supermarket diesel, they do not wear well if the service intrvals are above 10,000 miles, they need clean oil, clean air (regularly replacd air filters) and decent fuel. I change the oil on mine every 8,000 miles and the air filter every 5,000 miles. Fuel filters need regular atttention too.
Though the petrol ones tend to have less engine problems, they are not bullt-proof. Bottom line is if he has not looked after the brakes or the cam belt, maybe he hasn't looked afte the car very wlell at all, in which case, find anothr one to buy. Service history is key, epecially if you are after a diesel one!
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