2019 Renault Trafic auto... anyone got one?
Discussion
A word of warning!
I have been buying and running Renault Trafic vans since 2003 and all have been purchased new form the local dealer until the new shape which I purchased second hand almost one year ago to the day. It's a 66 plate 2016 145hp twin turbo sport SWB and I have been very happy with this vehicle although the 1.6 engine definitely is down on torque compared to the old shapes engine but you just have to change gear more often and it is fine.
However, I did want to warn people that mine suddenly overheated a couple of weeks ago and I immediately stopped and let it cool down. Engine oil and coolant levels were fine and after 20 mins (and a McDonalds coffee) I started the van again and there was no warning lights and drove it round the corner to my local independent garage where it stayed over night until they had chance to investigate the problem. They found some coolant leaking from a hole in one of the main pipes at the bottom of the engine and I asked them to go ahead and order this part from Renault Poole and change it and I would pay the bill. The van is still under warranty but I did not want to risk driving it for the sake of a hose.
They phoned Renault and gave them my registration number and the part was delivered. They fitted the hose taking most of the front of the vehicle off to get to it and refilled the coolant system to find that the engine had already been damaged.
I called the dealership who told me to call Renault Assist (the RAC) who towed me to the dealer in Poole. The dealer then said that the van needed a new engine and that there would be no help from my warranty as I had used a garage outside of the dealer network and 'That's why you have a warranty sir!'. This was only a hose change and it was a genuine part supplied by the very dealership who were now refusing me help.
I now have Renault UK looking into this case to say whether or not they will help as a 'good will gesture'. The independent garage who changed the hose told me that it was damaged due to being fitted badly in the factory. One of the spring clips from another hose had been left pointing forward and had rubbed a hole in the hose causing it to leak. They also told me that they had happened to spot another hose which was also being damaged the same way so they have turned the clip round on that one before that too rubs through.
I have the old hose and the garage will make a statement but Renault still make it sound like it is unlikely they will help. The dealer told me they want £7,689.19 incl VAT for a new engine and now they have shut down anyway because of COVID-19 and so I cannot work as my van is stuck in Renault unrepaired.
Lastly, when I went back to the independent garage to pickup the old damaged hose they had another new shape Renault Trafic on the ramps with the front off with exactly the same problem.
If any of you have one of these vans and you get an 'overheating' light stop and get recovered. This van did no distance and lost such a tiny amount of coolant it was just off the line in the header bottle yet I now need a new engine.
It seems highly likely that this is a more common issue if a small independent garage has seen this on two separate vehicles in the same week. Please comment if you have experienced this yourself.
I have been buying and running Renault Trafic vans since 2003 and all have been purchased new form the local dealer until the new shape which I purchased second hand almost one year ago to the day. It's a 66 plate 2016 145hp twin turbo sport SWB and I have been very happy with this vehicle although the 1.6 engine definitely is down on torque compared to the old shapes engine but you just have to change gear more often and it is fine.
However, I did want to warn people that mine suddenly overheated a couple of weeks ago and I immediately stopped and let it cool down. Engine oil and coolant levels were fine and after 20 mins (and a McDonalds coffee) I started the van again and there was no warning lights and drove it round the corner to my local independent garage where it stayed over night until they had chance to investigate the problem. They found some coolant leaking from a hole in one of the main pipes at the bottom of the engine and I asked them to go ahead and order this part from Renault Poole and change it and I would pay the bill. The van is still under warranty but I did not want to risk driving it for the sake of a hose.
They phoned Renault and gave them my registration number and the part was delivered. They fitted the hose taking most of the front of the vehicle off to get to it and refilled the coolant system to find that the engine had already been damaged.
I called the dealership who told me to call Renault Assist (the RAC) who towed me to the dealer in Poole. The dealer then said that the van needed a new engine and that there would be no help from my warranty as I had used a garage outside of the dealer network and 'That's why you have a warranty sir!'. This was only a hose change and it was a genuine part supplied by the very dealership who were now refusing me help.
I now have Renault UK looking into this case to say whether or not they will help as a 'good will gesture'. The independent garage who changed the hose told me that it was damaged due to being fitted badly in the factory. One of the spring clips from another hose had been left pointing forward and had rubbed a hole in the hose causing it to leak. They also told me that they had happened to spot another hose which was also being damaged the same way so they have turned the clip round on that one before that too rubs through.
I have the old hose and the garage will make a statement but Renault still make it sound like it is unlikely they will help. The dealer told me they want £7,689.19 incl VAT for a new engine and now they have shut down anyway because of COVID-19 and so I cannot work as my van is stuck in Renault unrepaired.
Lastly, when I went back to the independent garage to pickup the old damaged hose they had another new shape Renault Trafic on the ramps with the front off with exactly the same problem.
If any of you have one of these vans and you get an 'overheating' light stop and get recovered. This van did no distance and lost such a tiny amount of coolant it was just off the line in the header bottle yet I now need a new engine.
It seems highly likely that this is a more common issue if a small independent garage has seen this on two separate vehicles in the same week. Please comment if you have experienced this yourself.
I don't understand why you'd take your vehicle to an independent garage and want to pay yourself when you get free recovery and a free repair..? I can hardly blame Renault for not wanting to pay if someone else has interfered with it. How are they to know if it's poor assembly in the factory or a poor repair by your garage? Hopefully Renault will help you out but this may be a very costly lesson for you.
So the van overheated, you let it cool down for 20 mins and then you continued to drive it to a garage?
For it to overheat it must have lost a significant amount of water, the level couldn't have been fine afterwards or it wouldn't have overheated in the first place. It probably didn't register any more warnings after your 20 minute stop off because there was no water in it to register the temperature.
I'm not surprised it's knackered.
For it to overheat it must have lost a significant amount of water, the level couldn't have been fine afterwards or it wouldn't have overheated in the first place. It probably didn't register any more warnings after your 20 minute stop off because there was no water in it to register the temperature.
I'm not surprised it's knackered.
And to answer my OP, I bought a 70 plate 2.0 145ps auto Trafic 2 weeks ago.
Advice to others... don’t get one ! The auto box was programmed by a 12 year old with ADHD. Pulling out of junctions is dangerous at the least. On a bone dry day it will wheel spin like hell and then cut the power at the point you are about halfway across the junction , this happens no matter how gently you try eek out. First gear is stupidly aggressive then the rest are just sort of ok.
If you are in drive and on the slightest of inclines, it will roll back about 3 feet before holding itself, and the same again in reverse gear, van will roll forwards before you apply enough rpm to wake up the box (and then lurch back !). It also doesn’t feel anywhere near as perky as my 1.6 125ps I’ve just got rid off. And the absolute cherry is the bonkers fuel consumption, average MPG currently sitting on 29.3mpg and that’s after driving like ms daisy.
All in it’s pretty feckin s
te. I’ve done a 1000miles from new now so will give it a few more miles and then see if Renault think it’s acceptable and working as it should be... I don’t think so but expect they will say it’s all spot on lovely jubbley
Advice to others... don’t get one ! The auto box was programmed by a 12 year old with ADHD. Pulling out of junctions is dangerous at the least. On a bone dry day it will wheel spin like hell and then cut the power at the point you are about halfway across the junction , this happens no matter how gently you try eek out. First gear is stupidly aggressive then the rest are just sort of ok.
If you are in drive and on the slightest of inclines, it will roll back about 3 feet before holding itself, and the same again in reverse gear, van will roll forwards before you apply enough rpm to wake up the box (and then lurch back !). It also doesn’t feel anywhere near as perky as my 1.6 125ps I’ve just got rid off. And the absolute cherry is the bonkers fuel consumption, average MPG currently sitting on 29.3mpg and that’s after driving like ms daisy.
All in it’s pretty feckin s
te. I’ve done a 1000miles from new now so will give it a few more miles and then see if Renault think it’s acceptable and working as it should be... I don’t think so but expect they will say it’s all spot on lovely jubbley Edited by fastbikes76 on Sunday 1st November 09:56
Having read the above posts I seem to have dodged a bullet. I have run Trafic vans since about 1985, bought them new and run them for about 10 years then bought another. I have run other vans alongside the Trafic vans but none have been as good.
In 2010 I bought my current LWB Sport had it re-mapped etc and have not had many issues apart from replacing MAF and EGR.
Last year it was up for replacement but I didn't like the new look/designof the new model so didn't bother, looks like that was a good decision, think I'll just keep it for maybe 15 years as it's fine.
In 2010 I bought my current LWB Sport had it re-mapped etc and have not had many issues apart from replacing MAF and EGR.
Last year it was up for replacement but I didn't like the new look/designof the new model so didn't bother, looks like that was a good decision, think I'll just keep it for maybe 15 years as it's fine.
Leptons said:
If it’s anything like the auto box they fit to the Master, don’t bother. It’s difficult to comprehend how bad they are.
Literally the worst thing I have driven in my life... but I’m £20k into it now and have 2100 miles on the clock. Who knows, maybe it will catch fire !!BIRMA said:
Having read the above posts I seem to have dodged a bullet. I have run Trafic vans since about 1985, bought them new and run them for about 10 years then bought another. I have run other vans alongside the Trafic vans but none have been as good.
In 2010 I bought my current LWB Sport had it re-mapped etc and have not had many issues apart from replacing MAF and EGR.
Last year it was up for replacement but I didn't like the new look/designof the new model so didn't bother, looks like that was a good decision, think I'll just keep it for maybe 15 years as it's fine.
Yup, we have run Trafic’s for 10years now and never had any issues . Even the new van is nice, it’s just the stupid gearbox I hate. Worst thing is I really really wanted the auto so wired a year before ordering one, little did I know how shocking it was. In 2010 I bought my current LWB Sport had it re-mapped etc and have not had many issues apart from replacing MAF and EGR.
Last year it was up for replacement but I didn't like the new look/designof the new model so didn't bother, looks like that was a good decision, think I'll just keep it for maybe 15 years as it's fine.
MPG is horrific too, if I drive like a granny everywhere I might just about sneak 32mpg, drive normally and I’m high 20’s. Drive like I stole it and it will average low 20’s over a full tank !!!!
fastbikes76 said:
Yup, we have run Trafic’s for 10years now and never had any issues . Even the new van is nice, it’s just the stupid gearbox I hate. Worst thing is I really really wanted the auto so wired a year before ordering one, little did I know how shocking it was.
MPG is horrific too, if I drive like a granny everywhere I might just about sneak 32mpg, drive normally and I’m high 20’s. Drive like I stole it and it will average low 20’s over a full tank !!!!
I'd never considered an auto van but glad again I wasn't tempted. That fuel consumption is shocking, mine has been re-mapped, is the LWB and is fully racked out both sides. with loads of tools and equipment carried all the time and I get 40 mpg according to the computer. On the odd occasion I've done a few fill to brim checks on the consumption and it's spot on with the computer.MPG is horrific too, if I drive like a granny everywhere I might just about sneak 32mpg, drive normally and I’m high 20’s. Drive like I stole it and it will average low 20’s over a full tank !!!!
I had a brand new Transit years ago that did about 25MPG and failed its first MOT so that didn't stay long
The Rotrex Kid said:
It’s a Dual Clutch auto. We haven’t used a that type of auto for many years. Maybe 2011 IIRC.
Surprised you’re not getting on with it OP. That EDC box has been pretty faultless IME.
Once going it’s ‘ok’ at best, but the getting going is just dire and downright dangerous. Surprised you’re not getting on with it OP. That EDC box has been pretty faultless IME.
When you select drive from cold you have to Rev to around 1500rpm before it starts moving as if it needs to build fluid pressure or something. It’s better when warm.
Pulling away from junctions, you try to accelerate as normal and there is at least a second of nothing, then it goes like a stabbed rat and wheel spins , shortly after traction control says no and cuts the power at the point you are finally halfway across the road. By this point the car that was 1/2 a mile away is now bearing down on you at a rate of knots while the gearbox decides what it’s going next !!
If you just mash the pedal it will rev out in first and then stay on the limiter in 1st for about 2 -3 seconds before changing up.
Selecting drive when on a slight incline will still allow the van to roll back several feet before holding the van, same in reverse.
Once actually driving it’s ‘ok’, the gear changes are as crisp as my 1990 automatic car and certainly nothing like I would expect a dual clutch to be.
Also for a 145hp 2.0L I find it painfully slow compared to my 1.6L 125hp one I just gave to my other engineer. All in it was the biggest disappointment I’ve ever experienced in a vehicle.
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