EddardStark Posted May 17, 2017 Share Posted May 17, 2017 My wife has an 08 Reg Clio. The headlights won't go off so I took it to the garage the other day. They said it was the fuse box had blown and it would cost £220 plus vat for the box alone. I laughed and said you are joking right ? Does anyone know anything about electrics? I keep hearing this is a common thing with Renaults. This is basically the only thing that has gone wrong with this car in the 7 years we have had it. We were just about to part exchange as well. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Alibi Posted May 17, 2017 Share Posted May 17, 2017 (edited) Prices for spare parts are outrageous. Try a breaker's yard for a second hand part. If the lights won't go out, it would suggest a fault in the light switch rather than a fuse problem or maybe a fault in the headlight relay if there is one. If a fuse itself has blown, the component affected would not work. To get the lights to be on, you need the circuit to be complete and if either the fuse is blown or the switch is not in the on position and functional, you won't get any lights on. Try pulling the individual fuse out and see if that makes a difference. Some headlights are wired up through a relay (basically an electrically operated switch where a small current through the light switch is used to trigger a device that passes the higher current needed by the powerful light bulbs). If that is the case in your Clio, possibly it is the relay that is malfunctioning and sticking on. Changing the relay should solve that one, and it might even be possible to open it up and clean the contacts etc. to get it working again. ETA: have a look at this link: http://howtomendit.com/answers.php?id=179822 which suggests it may indeed be the headlight relay. the most relevant post is probably this one: ********************************************************** The cure for Clio 2008 onwards - both dipped headlights or both head lights not working or will not turn off.. Fuses all OK and 'dipped beam' or 'full beam’ illuminated as normal on dash board. I traced the fault to a relay. The relay/fuse box sits on the top of the offside wing. right hand side of the battery. Not the fuse box in front of the battery. Access by unscrewing the two 'star headed' screws, the lid can then be removed. I advise the use of a Haynes Manual fuse/relay-box diagram to identify the correct relay, since inside the box are two bank of relays and two banks of fuses. Each relay has a part number indented on its top surface - take care not to obliterate the part number! Each relay is very difficult to pull vertical. It proved easier to pull all out in turn from the rows end. Place them so they can be returned in the correct order. Tip …. Check the water gulley is clear below the windscreen. If blocked water tends to overflow onto the relay/fuse box. Apparently access of damp getting into the relay/fuse box can blow a relay. ********************************************************* I can vouch for the problems caused with electrics by water getting into components due to the windscreen drain being blocked. Major problems with a lot of Volkswagen, Audi, Seat and Skoda models due to leaves blocking the rubber drain pipe under the battery and eventually getting into the cabin once the water level rises enough. Edited May 17, 2017 by Alibi Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Charlie Endell Posted May 17, 2017 Share Posted May 17, 2017 French cars are notorious for dodgy electrics. Despite my best efforts to persuade him otherwise my old man always bought Peugeots and Renaults. I take it the garage wasn't a franchised dealer? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Big Col Posted May 17, 2017 Share Posted May 17, 2017 15 hours ago, EddardStark said: We were just about to part exchange as well. pull the fuse/relay of the headlights. Part exchange it in daylight. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
G-Man Posted May 17, 2017 Share Posted May 17, 2017 Got my Clio new in 2013 and I replace headlights and rear lights every 3-4 months. Indicators last about 9 months. I love my wee car but detest the lights. Bloody Bluetooth is knackered now too. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
andymac Posted May 17, 2017 Share Posted May 17, 2017 32 minutes ago, G-Man said: Got my Clio new in 2013 and I replace headlights and rear lights every 3-4 months. Indicators last about 9 months. I love my wee car but detest the lights. Bloody Bluetooth is knackered now too. You have a driving licence? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
they've_been_suckered Posted May 18, 2017 Share Posted May 18, 2017 Had a Clio (07 Reg) from 2011 to 2015. Was a good wee car but I agree, the electrics are really poor. Was always buying fuses and bulbs and the fan resistor went too. Guy I sold it too wrote it off I believe its a shame they're let down by the electrics because the engine is great. We have a Fiesta as our second car and it's significantly better in build quality. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dandydunn Posted May 18, 2017 Share Posted May 18, 2017 21 hours ago, Big Col said: pull the fuse/relay of the headlights. Part exchange it in daylight. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
EddardStark Posted May 19, 2017 Author Share Posted May 19, 2017 Appreciate the comments. Unfortunately my location limits choices in terms of breakers yard and dealerships and due to being officially in between jobs we are limited to one car at the moment. I bit the bullet and forked out the cash. We are part exchanging for Nissan Juke (awaits shaking heads ) The Clio was a great little car and we were very lucky with it. Only done 23,000 miles as well. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
EddardStark Posted May 19, 2017 Author Share Posted May 19, 2017 On 5/17/2017 at 10:27 PM, Big Col said: pull the fuse/relay of the headlights. Part exchange it in daylight. Ha ha that's what we done to keep it on the road. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Big Col Posted May 19, 2017 Share Posted May 19, 2017 2 hours ago, EddardStark said: part exchanging for Nissan Juke FFS, ugliest car on the road Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
they've_been_suckered Posted May 19, 2017 Share Posted May 19, 2017 2 hours ago, Big Col said: FFS, ugliest car on the road I take it you're not familiar with the Nissan Cube? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dan cake Posted May 19, 2017 Share Posted May 19, 2017 nicole never had any trouble Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RenfrewBlue Posted May 20, 2017 Share Posted May 20, 2017 On 2017-5-19 at 4:59 PM, EddardStark said: Appreciate the comments. Unfortunately my location limits choices in terms of breakers yard and dealerships and due to being officially in between jobs we are limited to one car at the moment. I bit the bullet and forked out the cash. We are part exchanging for Nissan Juke (awaits shaking heads ) The Clio was a great little car and we were very lucky with it. Only done 23,000 miles as well. There's a site where you can get breakers across the country to offer you parts. They are pretty good but you do need to know what you are looking for. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
G-Man Posted May 22, 2017 Share Posted May 22, 2017 On 17/05/2017 at 11:07 PM, andymac said: You have a driving licence? Sort of. It's about time I started one of my, 'I've not seen my driving licence for years and moved home lots of times, how do I get a new licence without getting into trouble?' thread Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Neady Posted November 2, 2019 Share Posted November 2, 2019 Hi I have an issue with my clio 2013 the headlights aren't working looks like the stick to control them is not working side lights and spots are grand but not a kick out of my head lights I have changed the bulbs does anyone have any idea what could be wrong? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ger intae them Posted November 2, 2019 Share Posted November 2, 2019 Needs petrol? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ger intae them Posted November 2, 2019 Share Posted November 2, 2019 I meant ..... neads petrol? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jim Beem Posted November 3, 2019 Share Posted November 3, 2019 11 hours ago, Neady said: Hi I have an issue with my clio 2013 the headlights aren't working looks like the stick to control them is not working side lights and spots are grand but not a kick out of my head lights I have changed the bulbs does anyone have any idea what could be wrong? Have you tried sticking it in a bowl of rice ? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Alibi Posted November 5, 2019 Share Posted November 5, 2019 Might just be a blown fuse, but could be a faulty switch. As both headlights are out, it's unlikely the fault is within the actual headlight itself. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Neady Posted November 5, 2019 Share Posted November 5, 2019 2 hours ago, Alibi said: Might just be a blown fuse, but could be a faulty switch. As both headlights are out, it's unlikely the fault is within the actual headlight itself. Ok think it's the switch on it as fuses have power going to them Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Orraloon Posted November 5, 2019 Share Posted November 5, 2019 1 hour ago, Neady said: Ok think it's the switch on it as fuses have power going to them Having power going to the fuse doesn't tell you very much. You need to find the headlight fuse and check if there is power going through it. The easiest way to check is to change the fuse and see if the lights work. My money is on a fuse. If it keeps blowing fuses you will need to find out why and fix that. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Neady Posted November 9, 2019 Share Posted November 9, 2019 On 11/5/2019 at 3:56 PM, Orraloon said: Having power going to the fuse doesn't tell you very much. You need to find the headlight fuse and check if there is power going through it. The easiest way to check is to change the fuse and see if the lights work. My money is on a fuse. If it keeps blowing fuses you will need to find out why and fix that. Got it sorted was the switch thanks for all the comments Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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