Yes we Kangoo camping
Discussion
I was in two minds in creating a thread on this - but as the AX thread was supposed to not have much content and has ended up at 24 pages, I thought I better create a diary for this one....
This isn't mine but belongs to my Mother in Law - bought to replace the combination of a Volvo estate and a Renault Trafic camper van so that she could at the time still have day trips out with my late Father in Law. They toured all over in the Trafic when he was well, but never really managed the same adventures in this and it has been relegated to light car duties since his passing.
Safe to say that neither of them were car people - my wife was bought up on a succession of sheds with her family being the last owners before the great scrapyard in the sky. Maintenance was.....sporadic and usually prompted by failures that weren't too expensive to prompt another car. My attempts to gently steer the ship with a Rover 75 estate and warnings about checking the coolant on a weekly basis prompted nods, smiles, murmured assurances and head gasket failure. I took a step back at this point....until various AX and Shogun issues meant that a car was needed urgently for work and the Renault became an occasional feature in our lives.
Driving it for the first time in a while I noticed some....issues. Gently enquiring when the last oil change was, the answer was 'when the head gasket was done' - by my estimate 2 years ago. Gulp. I had quietly planned 'borrowing' it for some errands and servicing it by stealth, but hadn't got round to it until I was sent a photo of the engine warning light towards the end of last week with an enquiry as to what it might mean....
So firstly - what have we?
It's the base 1.2 petrol (well not quite base - it has 16v don't you know) - seen here with bonnet up as I tightened the squealing alternator belt that was causing problems:
The interior has had work done.... Someone prior to its current keeper had spent a lot of time, love and effort converting it into a 'micro camper.' It has a pull out bed arrangement - hand made blackout blinds that attach to the windows with suckers, a PV cell on the roof, leisure battery and inverter:
I'm glad to say at least adjusting the alternator was easy as you can open the bonnet and then reach through the front bumper to undo the relevant bolts (13mm ratchet spanner and a 13mm socket):
The servicing....well I'm not finished yet as I have to return it later today, but have crossed off some of the to-do list. I managed an oil change yesterday, and a brief investigation of the warning light which I'll post up later. Still on the list (that I know about) are:
Spark plugs
Engine mounts (one is definitely shot)
Airbag light
Change the stereo
Flush the cooling system and change the coolant
Change the brake fluid
Check the suspension (although the garage changed a track rod end after I hinted that the suspicious banging might need looking at...)
It's entirely possible that my wife might be using this more and more for work, so I'd like to make it as reliable as I can. In our care, it's also had a load of Dipetane and Super Unleaded, along with some higher revving than it is used to. Coincidentally, the starting problems when warm have reduced, although, given the fault code, I suspect we're not out of the woods yet....
This isn't mine but belongs to my Mother in Law - bought to replace the combination of a Volvo estate and a Renault Trafic camper van so that she could at the time still have day trips out with my late Father in Law. They toured all over in the Trafic when he was well, but never really managed the same adventures in this and it has been relegated to light car duties since his passing.
Safe to say that neither of them were car people - my wife was bought up on a succession of sheds with her family being the last owners before the great scrapyard in the sky. Maintenance was.....sporadic and usually prompted by failures that weren't too expensive to prompt another car. My attempts to gently steer the ship with a Rover 75 estate and warnings about checking the coolant on a weekly basis prompted nods, smiles, murmured assurances and head gasket failure. I took a step back at this point....until various AX and Shogun issues meant that a car was needed urgently for work and the Renault became an occasional feature in our lives.
Driving it for the first time in a while I noticed some....issues. Gently enquiring when the last oil change was, the answer was 'when the head gasket was done' - by my estimate 2 years ago. Gulp. I had quietly planned 'borrowing' it for some errands and servicing it by stealth, but hadn't got round to it until I was sent a photo of the engine warning light towards the end of last week with an enquiry as to what it might mean....
So firstly - what have we?
It's the base 1.2 petrol (well not quite base - it has 16v don't you know) - seen here with bonnet up as I tightened the squealing alternator belt that was causing problems:
The interior has had work done.... Someone prior to its current keeper had spent a lot of time, love and effort converting it into a 'micro camper.' It has a pull out bed arrangement - hand made blackout blinds that attach to the windows with suckers, a PV cell on the roof, leisure battery and inverter:
I'm glad to say at least adjusting the alternator was easy as you can open the bonnet and then reach through the front bumper to undo the relevant bolts (13mm ratchet spanner and a 13mm socket):
The servicing....well I'm not finished yet as I have to return it later today, but have crossed off some of the to-do list. I managed an oil change yesterday, and a brief investigation of the warning light which I'll post up later. Still on the list (that I know about) are:
Spark plugs
Engine mounts (one is definitely shot)
Airbag light
Change the stereo
Flush the cooling system and change the coolant
Change the brake fluid
Check the suspension (although the garage changed a track rod end after I hinted that the suspicious banging might need looking at...)
It's entirely possible that my wife might be using this more and more for work, so I'd like to make it as reliable as I can. In our care, it's also had a load of Dipetane and Super Unleaded, along with some higher revving than it is used to. Coincidentally, the starting problems when warm have reduced, although, given the fault code, I suspect we're not out of the woods yet....
Hoofy said:
Interesting. Do love to read about people doing the campervan thing. Out of interest, what size is the leisure battery? That's not a very big solar panel.
Apologies for a) not replying (I forgot to click the 'email me' button) and b) getting it wrong. I only get to see the car sporadically, and thought it had the fully setup. A quick poke around reveals a lot of wiring, some remote controls for interior lighting but no obvious leisure battery. When I get it back to change the plugs (and a few other things), I'll have a more detailed looks, but I suspect I incorrectly assumed a double battery setup.In it's brief time in my care, I did manage to get it into the traditional 'working' spot in the back yard and up on ramps. I must keep repeating to myself 'it's not mine' as I look at the mismatched tread patterns on the tyres....
The bonnet hinging the 'other' way has confused me when in a hurry, but does make access and work easier. Yes that's a bread bag stuffed in the fluid reservoir. It's on the list....(if anyone can tell me thread size I'd be very grateful).
On the ramps, access isn't too bad and the underside looks clean of too much grot - probably as there is some oil seepage.... The sump plug shares it's annoying traits with it's Citroen brethren - an 8mm square bit - fortunately I have one.
At this point, I recall the words of Cambs_Stuart of this parish about the inaccessibility of Clio oil filters:
Funnily enough, I'd been listening to an episode of the Goon show where Son of Houdini Neddie Seagoon spent the entire episode contorting his body to try and escape the chains. No chains, but similar contortions.... If I can just get my left arm around the subframe and over the top of the driveshaft.... I can eventually get the old one off, and this new one on.
Nearly 5l of 10w 40 semi-synthetic to replace the black, petrol smelling, 2 year old fluid that came out, and while that was settling, onto the air filter.
Here Renault have it over Citroen - this required only two bolts to undo, and the were right there and easy to access:
I'm glad I changed this as well:
I don't think it was entirely psychological that the 116,648 mile engine sounded immediately happier with fresh oil it - and it meant I could investigate the fault code that had prompted my Mother-in-law to ask about what might be wrong (and me to take action on the servicing). The ODB2 port is on the passenger footwell in RHD cars - nice and easy to get at:
Reading the fault gave me a relatively generic P0170 Powertrain Fuel Trim fault:
A little research shows it could be a number of things, but that the most likely candidate is the Mass Airflow sensor leading to it over-fuelling. Rather than go crazy on parts, I'll start with the planned service items (plugs next), and clearing the code to see if it comes back. It may be partly down to the use it gets, and the fact I suspect it undergoes a lot of cold starts and short distances.
stevemcs said:
Smoke test it before you replace the maf,
Excellent advice, thanks. Who knows what leaks might be present. At least it's over-fuelling.... fooman said:
I can't help but just to say thanks for posting I always find this kind of thread interesting
Thanks, as I said, I was in two minds, but it's a useful diary to refer back to! Mr Tidy said:
That looks like it could be fun if you can "borrow" it for a weekend!
Absolutely, we'd kitted out the back of the Shogun for camping purposes, but this is more suitable to spend time in the middle of nowhere! Screenwash said:
Shame to see such a useful vehicle being slowly killed by simple neglect. Hope you have caught it in time OP!
Fingers crossed! It's not willful neglect, just like most of the population, not something my MIL is interested in. I'm sure her views on my approach to gardening are similar.... 
I'll try and get it into reasonable shape as it's really useful to have just across town.
Looking at the leaves on the scuttle grill, if you haven't already, it is worth having a look underneath that panel to check for muck build up and blocked drains.
I ran a Partner many years ago and it suffered some electrical gremlins when rainwater had been dripping onto the fuse box! It also had a leaking screen seal.
After that episode I put a polythene shield above the fuse box just in case!
These are really nice to drive, and as others have said, thanks for posting this thread detailing your fettling!
I ran a Partner many years ago and it suffered some electrical gremlins when rainwater had been dripping onto the fuse box! It also had a leaking screen seal.
After that episode I put a polythene shield above the fuse box just in case!
These are really nice to drive, and as others have said, thanks for posting this thread detailing your fettling!
The airbox on the clio has about 10 screws holding it shut, and I always drop at least one of those into the engine bay. But it's still preferable to the 308.
I've always like the Kangoo and Berlingo, they're a properly useful, functional vehicles. I've no need or space for one, but I've frequently been temped.
Good work giving this some TLC. Hope it responds nicely and doesn't do the usual car thing of responding to time and money being spent by breaking.
I've always like the Kangoo and Berlingo, they're a properly useful, functional vehicles. I've no need or space for one, but I've frequently been temped.
Good work giving this some TLC. Hope it responds nicely and doesn't do the usual car thing of responding to time and money being spent by breaking.
I recently posted in the French car forum about what a hateful job it was to change the water cooled oil cooler as a seal had gone and sent engine oil into the whole water system. Fortunately not the other way round. Made a right mess of the water bottle etc.
Handy cars though.
I’m running 16 hdi Berlingo at the moment and it’s nice and punchy!
Handy cars though.
I’m running 16 hdi Berlingo at the moment and it’s nice and punchy!
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