Back in the middle of the 2000s, the Renault Clio was looking a bit old hat. So, Renault consigned both Nicole and Papa to the bin marked ‘naff 1990s stuff’ and set about making a Clio that would appeal to a cool, younger generation. And the third-generation Clio appeared, with more space, more safety kit and neat styling.
It sold in large numbers, which means there are thousands out there at bargain prices. And buying a bargain-priced motor means it makes much more financial sense to undertake any work on it yourself, thereby saving yourself the costs of expensive garage labour charges.
That’s where Haynes is right by your side, because we have a couple of manuals, both online and in print, that cover the third-generation Clio. So, we can help you diagnose any issues that your French hatchback is suffering, and we can guide you through how to carry out an effective and inexpensive repair. Just buy the new parts, gather together your tools, and follow the procedures in the manual. You’ll save hundreds of pounds and get a huge sense of satisfaction into the bargain.
What recalls has the Renault Clio Mk3 been subject to?
The good news is that the Renault Clio Mk3 hasn’t been recalled very often at all.
Early models fitted with the 1.2-litre petrol engine were recalled because of valve cotters that were not to spec, and which could cause the engine to be written off. This affected 3308 cars.
Then, following reports of smoke in the cabin, 4234 examples of the third-generation Clio were recalled because of a faulty brake light switch. In extreme cases, the switch could melt.
Then 217 Clios fitted with an automatic gearbox were recalled because the gearbox could randomly switch to manual mode, and could suddenly decide to use third gear. A gearbox warning also appeared on the dashboard. The solution was the renewal of the transmission control unit.
And that’s it! Three recalls. Pretty good.
What common problems does the Renault Clio Mk3 have?
The Renault Clio Mk3 can suffer an issue that causes the engine idle speed to surge and wane, and for the engine to stall. It can be difficult to start, too. A dirty throttle body is the cause.
A number of owners have also reported Renault Clio problems with the electric windows, which can become noisy during operation.
There have also been reports of the Clio’s rear brake lights failing. It’s just a faulty switch at the pedal.
Then the steering can become heavy on the Clio mk3, and a dodgy front strut bush is the source, while a squeaky engine noise can be traced to an deteriorating alternator pulley.
Is your Renault Clio Mk3 running poorly?
There you are, jumping into your Clio to head to work. Seatbelt on, turn the key and… churn, churn churn. That’s not ideal. And when the engine does eventually fire up, it idles lumpily, surging and dying away, surging and dying away, before finally dying altogether. Not good.
Try again, and the same thing happens. And even if you do manage to keep it running, progress is not smooth.
The good news is that the likely cause is an easy fix, and only involves the purchase of a new gasket.
That’s because the issue is that the throttle body has become slightly clogged by carbon deposits, so you ned to remove it then clean it using a cloth and solvent cleaner, before refitting it with a new gasket.
It’s an easy repair that is well within the scope of the home mechanic, and it’s fully covered in the Haynes Clio manual.
Are your Renault Clio Mk3 windows noisy?
Aren’t electric windows great? No more having to frantically turn a handle as you approach a car park ticket dispenser, or a toll booth. Wonderful. Except when your windows start to make a horrible rattling noise when you press the button to lower and raise them, and unfortunately, the list of Renault Clio problems includes the electric windows.
The issue lies with the electric window regulator mechanism, which can develop excessive play at its mounting bolts. The solution is pretty straightforward – just follow the procedure in your Haynes Clio manual to remove the regulator from the door, and fit extra washers (part number: 77 03 053 951) to take up the excess play.
Then just refit the regulator according to the procedure in the manual. Cheap fix.
Why aren’t your Renault Clio Mk3 brake lights working?
You’re a good driver, so you tend to reverse into car park spaces, but when checking behind there doesn’t seem to be the usual red glow when you stop. Yup, your brake lights have packed up.
If you get someone to check, they’ll tell you that all three brake lights (including the high-level light) are inoperative, which tends to indicate that the problem lies elsewhere, because it’s highly unlikely that all the bulbs would fail at once.
The usual cause of this is a dodgy brake light switch (part number: 82 00 276 361), and it’s pretty straightforward to replace. It’s located on the pedal bracket beneath the facia, so just remove the right-hand lower panel from the face, then disconnect the wiring plug before turning the switch 90 degrees anti-clockwise. Refitting is simply a reversal of this process.
The full procedure, complete with images, can be found in your Haynes Clio manual, so don’t hesitate to get cracking.
Does your Renault Clio have heavy steering?
One of the joys of owning a small, nimble car such as the Renault Clio is that it’s light and easy to park. Except when it isn’t. You see, the Clio Mk3 can suffer an issue that causes its steering to become heavier than normal, and this sensation is accompanied by an untoward noise from the front suspension.
The issue is that the shock absorber top bushes can wear out or become damaged, so the only way to resolve the issue is to replace them.
To do this, you’ll need to remove the front strut from the vehicle before removing the bush from the top of the shock absorber. Both procedures are covered in your Haynes Clio manual, so just spend the money on the new bush (part number: 82 00 948 647) and get those spanners twirling.
What’s that squeaking noise from your Clio Mk3’s engine?
Starting up your Renault Clio and hearing an incessant chirping noise is undeniably going to take the shine off your day.
The issue is either a faulty alternator pulley or a faulty alternator. So, first things first, you’ll need to remove the auxiliary drivebelt, then you’ll be able to tell if the pulley is the cause of the issue. If it is, you’ll need to remove and replace it (part number: 77 01 476 465, 77 01 477 689, 77 00 110 616, or 82 00 113 636).
If the pulley isn’t the source of the issue, then the alternator itself will need to be replaced.
The procedures to replace the alternator and to replace the auxiliary drivebelt are both covered in depth in your Haynes Clio manual.
