Hi
Driving on my way to work this morning and suddenly a warning light comes on in my car (Renault Clio 2003, 1.2 16v) which I believe is the engine management light, also the car slowed and then became very hard/slow to drive and wouldnt go above 3000 revs.
Does anyone know what this can be? Does it sound like a problem with the spark plugs?
I also have intermittent problems starting the car - is this part of the same problem?
Hope someone can help, thanks

Suzanne, July 2007

You can buy a diagnostics tool for around 15 us dollors. Install the software on your laptop or computer and plug into cars diagnostics port below ashtray when car is on but not running and check for faults. Most oftenly you will have some corrosion or earth that is not making good contact. do not let a Renault dealer charge you more than the car is worth because they never get the problem either.

Andre, May 2014

get another car Renault is not a car it is a money makin scheme

Andre, May 2014

Hi my Clio won't go passed 4000 revs it's a 1.2 16v the engine management light come on about 2days ago and then the light under the petrol 1 come on any ideas??

Beano, May 2014

I have the engine managment light on and the car drives pretty jumpy. Hopefully the guys at the garage will be able to sort it.

Leroy, April 2013

Hi, I just had the same thing today. I know this blog is pretty old. However. I was driving to college and just in the end the engine management light started flashing and it was running very slow. I pulled up on a side street, luckily I have road assistance provided by my insurance. So I had to ring the road assistance. They arrived in 15 minutes considering it's snowing today. And the reason is that one of my coils had failed so now they're fixing it. They quoted me 160 inc. vat and 4 new coils and plugs as well.
So im happy at the moment, hopefully nothing will break anymore.

Madli, January 2013

Hi,
I have had the same problem. Generally on a hot day ill have this problem. I have done fair bit of research on it. It appears this is not the problem, this is the indication. Different people have had success with different things. Obviously the car goes into the limp mode when ecu detects a fault. This sometimes is easy as connecting Fault code reader and matching the error. Alot of time computer will suggest different thigns which is where I think it goes wrong and no one will no what is wrong. This could by anything ranging from poor socket connection in the electrical or sometime throttle body.
Hope this helps. My car still needs to be look at by the mechanic will have them to have a look on sat.

AMS, February 2011

hi there just woundering if eny one could please help me i have a 1.2 clio 16v the engine manage ment light as just came on about two days ago as eny one got eny ideas how to get it off would be realy nice of you if you could help me thankyou jamie

party, November 2010

have u tryed the rockercover gasit coz i had vectra and it was the same as ur car coz wot happens is that the oil is stoping the car get a spark coz if u take out the ht ledes ur see the iol coz ur rockercovers gone

sam, December 2009

HAD THE SAME PROB. TRIED THE TDC, NEW THROTTLE PEDAL, CARB ETC, ETC.
TURNED OUT TO BE A PROBLEM WITH THE SENSORS GOING TO THE CARB. (LOCATED ON TOP OF THE ENGINE AT THE BACK). MAIN SENSORS ARE INSIDE A SOLID METAL CASE. REMOVE THE CASE, FLICK OPEN THE THIN METAL CLIPS AND PULL SENSOR FROM HOUSING. (TWO OF THEM). DROWN BOTH ENDS IN WD40 AND REPLACE. DO THE SAME WITH THE OTHER PULL APART CONNECTIONS IN THE VACINITY FOR GOOD MEASURES. SHOULD SOLVE YOUR PROBLEM.

neil, March 2009

I bought a new dCi 1.5 model, having SO MANY electrical problems ranging from invalid output voltage on the throttle potentiometer to invalid engine management and ABS warnings.

The problem you are experiencing is the ECU (Engine Management) going into "limp mode". A deliberate mode that will slow the car down to a safe speed that will get you home without a problem becoming fatal.

When this happens, a fault code or fault codes will be recorded in the ECU's NVRAM.

Get a decent car electrician to hook the ECU up to a diagnostic reader via the ODB Port (under the ash tray).

It should give you some insight as to what problems you're getting.

Or, like me, it'll reveal some complete random crap that bares no relevance as to why your car is broken.

ChrisR, December 2008

Hi,

My Daughter has the same car, same year and it started just stopping occasionally about 2 months ago.
She turns the engine off, waits 10 minutes and it starts again. Just recently it has started suddenly slowing down to 20mph from 50. 2 specilaists have tried to identify the problem but so far no luck. We will watch for answers to your question with interest.

ChesB, October 2008

I had the same thing a couple of months ago - the engine management light came on and it wouldn't go any faster than about 20mph with my foot on the floor! Called the RAC out and it was the Coil pack - had to have a whole new coil pack fitted which cost about £130. Hope this helps!

lplum, October 2008

Hi, my girlfriends exact same car has the same problem. After investigating the fault, the diagnostic reader says its the Throttle Potentiometer. I intend to replace this part this week.

Soaking Socks, April 2008