My old Clio II 2 has a problem ..

[RobertArthur]

Electrical problems, intermittent contact somewhere, almost broken wire inside a cable, connector with problems, dirt, this is the engine wiring loom in question:

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/182163766568

The French car forum mentions several other related issues.

[Hotrodder]

I have just read through all four pages of this thread and I can imagine Sue's frustration with the whole situation. Even with the advantage of mechanical experience (?) and maybe a Pro version of the OBD2 scanner it seems the garages still like to play parts roulette at the customer's expense. I have to say I have had no real problems with all this newfangled electronic management crap on either of our 2001 Peugeots. Just brakes, suspension, and usual maintenance items that are easy to diagnose. At one point I became aware of the OBD2 thing but assumed our cars didn't have any of that nonsense but I may be wrong on that score. If I can locate a connector on ours I might have a punt on a cheapo unit to see what its all about. Not a bluetooth one because I'm not getting involved in smartphones.

[Trelawney]

One on eBay costs about £340 but the labour charge is going to be high even if someone is willing to find a way to fit it. I would like to spend some time checking the existing loom for obvious damage or simply worn sections. Maybe that is just wishful thinking and distant memories of older cars.

[Nomoss]

One on eBay costs about £340 but the labour charge is going to be high even if someone is willing to find a way to fit it. I would like to spend some time checking the existing loom for obvious damage or simply worn sections. Maybe that is just wishful thinking and distant memories of older cars.

I totally agree.

The only real solution is to first examine the plugs and sockets, particularly those for the faulty circuit, for obvious damage or corrosion, which is quite common, then, if no damage is found, check each wire from plug to plug until the broken wire is found.
Scanning the OBD system can not do this, it just gives a clue where to start.
Even a new loom will not cure the problem if the connections it plugs into are damaged or corroded.

I have cleared many intermittent problems simply by cleaning connectors, or even just exercising them by disconnecting and reconnecting.

I have also found intermittent contact being due to the pins not being properly seated, so that they move when a plug and socket are pushed together.

[suein56]

Thank you to everyone who has contributed so far .. it has been heartwarming to read.
I am hoping to find someone (preferably a mobile someone) who will spend the time looking at my car instead of simply looking at a screen of OBD results and suggesting swapping bits of her out just in case that's the problem.
She is a great car and I have a gut feeling that what is wrong is not major but I am no expert.

[Nomoss]

Thank you to everyone who has contributed so far .. it has been heartwarming to read.
I am hoping to find someone (preferably a mobile someone) who will spend the time looking at my car instead of simply looking at a screen of OBD results and suggesting swapping bits of her out just in case that's the problem.
She is a great car and I have a gut feeling that what is wrong is not major but I am no expert.

Good thinking!
But the problem is paying someone to do what I suggested at an hourly rate, with a possibility of not finding the problem.
Much more a DIY solution, and disconnecting and looking at automotive connectors is not rocket science.

[suein56]

Much more a DIY solution, and disconnecting and looking at automotive connectors is not rocket science.

Maybe not, but we are not capable of leaning over the insides of the engine compartment to check connections .. arthritis is a bu**er and we both have it in spades .. it affects all the bits that we would need to do the checking i.e. fingers, wrists and shoulders.
Hence the need to pay someone to do it on my behalf.

[Hotrodder]

That is the case for many of us who have routinely done our own repairs over a lifetime. Bending over under a bonnet and fettling something deep in the engine bay does take its toll over time. I started this destructive process at the age of 16 and although I do a lot less of it today I am still on pain killers full time just to get through a "normal" day. If/when fortune shines on us I will happily pay someone else to get their hands dirty. Meanwhile I sit and watch the older cars that don't depend on electronic sensors, etc. to operate get more and more expensive.

[suein56]

Before I picked up Clio from Renault yesterday afternoon the chef d'atelier and I had a long discussion about the problem. He could only propose trying somehow to find the 2 relevant cables which are particular to the 1.4 variant. The 1.2 does not have the same configuration. These 2 cables work in tandem .. if I have completely understood what he said. They are connected to the top of the engine.
After driving home I am still in agreement with suggestions on here .. it's smthg like a poor connection which happens intermittently and causes the odd symptoms the cars then suffers from.
The next CT is due in February .. so I have 5 months to find a solution.
.

[L Austin France]

Before I picked up Clio from Renault yesterday afternoon the chef d'atelier and I had a long discussion about the problem. He could only propose trying somehow to find the 2 relevant cables which are particular to the 1.4 variant. The 1.2 does not have the same configuration. These 2 cables work in tandem .. if I have completely understood what he said. They are connected to the top of the engine.
After driving home I am still in agreement with suggestions on here .. it's smthg like a poor connection which happens intermittently and causes the odd symptoms the cars then suffers from.
The next CT is due in February .. so I have 5 months to find a solution.
.

If 'it' didn't happen on the way home maybe all the fiddling about by garage folk has 'cleaned' up a problem connection, or maybe it's just healed up
Always best to live in hope.
Did you ask him for a wiring diagram? Car wiring is usually identified by numbers & not colours,(at least most French PSA stuff is) which can make it awkward to identify wires when buried in a loom. If he knows what 'two wires' (cables?) are the likely problem it shouldn't be that difficult to identify 'em, or am I missing the point?