MatraSport Forum

Each model => Espace => Topic started by: smouty on August 03, 2006, 08:18:36 pm



Title: Electronics again
Post by: smouty on August 03, 2006, 08:18:36 pm
Hi all,
It's great to at last find a forum of like minded people  ;D
I have a 1998 3.0 RXE. Having only just completed 60,000 and I am again having electrical problems.
When I first bought the car it had had a new ECU fitted and it failed again after 18 months and was again replaced under warranty.
I have checked the connector now and find it has started to corrode again which I'm guessing is causing my problems, (lumpy running at start, warning light as gearbox goes into safe mode, alarm going off intermittently etc).

Are these models prone to this problem or have I been unlucky?
If it is common why isn't it checked at major service intervals?
I'm pretty sure a Renault dealer will 'fix' the problem by fitting a new ECU at £x00 when I'm hoping a good clean to ensure conductivity will resolve this.

Thanks

Anthony


Title: Re: Electronics again
Post by: Lennart Sorth on August 03, 2006, 10:57:10 pm
I would be lying if I said I had no problems with connectors, - however that has mainly been with my Murena.

The ECU in the Espace is normally fairly well protected from the elements, so since you have such problems, maybe there is a leak than can bring moist air, or maybe even water near it ? - worth checking.

Otherwise, I'll second your plan for a good cleaning, and then apply some acid-free grease or whatever product that will keep the corrosion away AND importantly not act as an insulator.

/Lennart


Title: Re: Electronics again
Post by: Anders Dinsen on August 04, 2006, 07:57:19 am
The ECUs in the V6 24v are themselves completely sealed and water cannot get into them, but as smouty points out, the connectors may be a problem. The engine ECU sits almost horisontally and is fitted under the place where you pour on water for the wind screen washers. Spillage there has to occur.

The gearbox ECU sits in front of the battery and is mounted vertically. I would think that this is a better mounting position, although it's almost impossible to access.

Yes, a garage will just replace the ECU.

A good cleaning of each connection in the connectors individually followed by good greasing with ordinary non-acid grease to keep water away will help. This will not insulate since the contacts press against each other and make connection anyway. This works in old Espace's too ;)

Please let us know your experience with this!

- Anders :)



Title: Re: Electronics again
Post by: smouty on August 04, 2006, 09:29:36 am
Cheers guys for the tips.
I didn't know the right hand side one was for the gearbox so I'll whip that one out as well at the weekend as it's impossible to remove the connector in situ.
Keep you posted.


Title: Re: Electronics again
Post by: smouty on August 05, 2006, 01:16:01 pm
OK cleaned up contacts and great the engine ran great and no immobiliser problems.
Gearbox still in safety until warmed up.

Checked again this morning engine still fine at start and then reverts to running badly again. A quick blast down an A road sorts this out as previously.
Anything else I could check before taking to a dealer?

Also what is the plastic box above the ECU with quick release pipes connected to it?

(http://www.daisypie.co.uk/images/IMAG0124b.JPG)


Title: Re: Electronics again
Post by: Anders Dinsen on August 06, 2006, 07:16:50 am
Smouty, it could be a couple of problems beside the computer itself.

Since the car starts well, then goes bad, and finally you can make it good again by running it hot, I would suspect the lambda sensor (oxygen sensor) to be bad. A garage *may* be able to diagnose that by putting the tester on. Otherwise just replace it!

I'm not sure about the gearbox problem, but since it helped slightly to clean the connectors on the engine ECU, I suggest you go through the struggle to get the gearbox ECU out for a connector cleaning.

I'm taking my 24v to my local Mr Transmission ;) (it's the name of the garage!) next week for a gearbox oil change, and I can ask what he would do. Oil change on these gearboxes is not prescribed in the service book, but I would never run it without doing so. This is a very reliable gearbox (a ZF unit, also used in Mercedes Vito), but oil that has been run hot kills it.

Oh, yes the box. It's a canister for filtering toxic gases from the return fuel. It cannot affect the way the engine runs.

- Anders


Title: Re: Electronics again
Post by: smouty on August 14, 2006, 10:14:18 pm
Oil change on these gearboxes is not prescribed in the service book
- Anders

So the gearbox problem could be simply an oil level low? It would make sense that it works when hot. If it is I will be annoyed as the car has been dealer serviced from new.
I've exhausted my time and patience now so it's off to the dealer...again.
I can feel the pain of the bill already.


Title: Re: Electronics again
Post by: smouty on August 21, 2006, 06:32:28 pm
OK.  Update.

Engine problem was due to a coil pack.
Gearbox was a hydraulic distributor (?).

Total bill £700 ish

Less than I thought but still more than enough.
That's this weeks overtime gone.. Oh well.


Title: Re: Electronics again
Post by: Anders Dinsen on August 22, 2006, 06:51:07 am
Good to hear that the problem seems fixed, Smouty. The coil pack is a well known source of problems. We can only guess why, but I suspect bad electrical connections can make it unreliable. I don't know what a hydraulic distributor is either, but as long as you didn't need a full gearbox rebuild, it must be a small thing ;) These gearboxes are quite reliable.

- Anders