Renault Automatic gearbox problem

[rosalan]

Driving in rush hour Boulogne the gearbox when I moved from N to A1 could not find a gear (embarasing) after several minutes trying I managed to get into A1 and drove away. Any ideas apperciated. We looked for a Renault dealer but saw none so kept driving. Now 3 days later, it is still working normally and we are neart Bordeaux. No mechanical sounds so assume it is an electrical fault.

 

[Lenny HB]

A few weeks ago in Spain we had a problem with our Ducato. Just coming out of a hairpin bend on a 1 in 6 and no drive message on dash "no gears available". A quick change of underpants, turned the ignition off & on, all back to normal & not gone wrong since.

 

[ivorantony]

Are you putting it in neutral every time you come to a stop? If you are it’s totally unnecessary and creates extra wear on the electro/ hydraulic actuators,
all of it is controlled by an ECU in the engine compartment so can get a bit warm and could probably exacerbated your problem,
mine goes into drive at start of journey and into neutral at end, ever time the handbrake or foot brake is applied the clutch is fully disengage,
turning the ignition off and back on will often sort out a glitch on the Gearbox ECU,but generally the Renault Robotised auto gearbox is very reliable,
hydraulic fluid change may be the way to go but unfortunately can only be done with an expensive piece of software, but at least you could download any fault codes if you go down that route,

 

[rosalan]

Thank you both for your reassurance. Once before I had the same problem, again when going into and out of neutral. Thanks again Lenny. Change of underpants fully understood as I occupied the main road into Boulogne just long enough for evil build up of traffic, your solution of ignition off will not be forgotten.

 

[DBK]

Are you putting it in neutral every time you come to a stop? If you are it’s totally unnecessary and creates extra wear on the electro/ hydraulic actuators,
all of it is controlled by an ECU in the engine compartment so can get a bit warm and could probably exacerbated your problem,
mine goes into drive at start of journey and into neutral at end, ever time the handbrake or foot brake is applied the clutch is fully disengage,
turning the ignition off and back on will often sort out a glitch on the Gearbox ECU,but generally the Renault Robotised auto gearbox is very reliable,
hydraulic fluid change may be the way to go but unfortunately can only be done with an expensive piece of software, but at least you could download any fault codes if you go down that route,

I can't agree with that advice. If you leave it in gear while you wait at traffic lights it is the same as depressing the clutch and not selecting neutral in a manual car. Unless the Renault gearbox works in a different way to other robotized 'boxes of course.

The amount of wear induced by selecting neutral is also negligible, the thing is changing gear all the time you are driving.

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[ivorantony]

The clutch isn’t the problem, It’s the electro hydraulic actuators that select the gears, ( with ECU help) if the gear is selected as auto it makes no difference to the clutch because with your foot on the brake or hand brake on the clutch is fully disengage,
so putting it in neutral with the brakes on and engine running doesn’t change what the clutch does, all that happens
is the Hydraulic actuators are being put into neutral then back into gear for no good reason other than creating more mechanical wear unnecessarily,
the Renault quick shift clutch are normally very reliable but the valve block/ pump that drive the actuators have been known to have problems when running hot, tempting provident I know but I have run one for the last 12 years with no problems with just the normal maintenance,

 

[EuroTrotters]

Driving in rush hour Boulogne the gearbox when I moved from N to A1 could not find a gear (embarasing) after several minutes trying I managed to get into A1 and drove away. Any ideas apperciated. We looked for a Renault dealer but saw none so kept driving. Now 3 days later, it is still working normally and we are neart Bordeaux. No mechanical sounds so assume it is an electrical fault.

Has the Fuzzy Logic re-set ?

 

[ivorantony]

Easier said than done, only authorised Renault dealers have the right kit ( Can Clip) and knowledge to operate it correctly, so it will cost, I personally wouldn’t go down the many knock off clone types out there or you could be looking at a fried ECU,

 

[Ejaydee]

I had a Dethleffs (a lovely van) on a Renault Master base with the robotised gearbox and I am sad to say it was nothing but trouble. Eventually I had to have the robotic part replaced at an eye watering £2500 and although it was then reliable, I couldn’t trust it not letting me down at roundabouts, lights and junctions. It was sold on with the Renault warranty on the box still having several months cover, and as far as I know, it is still going strong.

 

[dunnah01]

Are you putting it in neutral every time you come to a stop? If you are it’s totally unnecessary and creates extra wear on the electro/ hydraulic actuators,
all of it is controlled by an ECU in the engine compartment so can get a bit warm and could probably exacerbated your problem,
mine goes into drive at start of journey and into neutral at end, ever time the handbrake or foot brake is applied the clutch is fully disengage,
turning the ignition off and back on will often sort out a glitch on the Gearbox ECU,but generally the Renault Robotised auto gearbox is very reliable,
hydraulic fluid change may be the way to go but unfortunately can only be done with an expensive piece of software, but at least you could download any fault codes if you go down that route,

If the Quickshift is anything like the Comfortmatic then putting in neutral will engage the clutch and take the strain off the release bearing and diaphragm springs and remove any possibility of drag

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[ivorantony]

no it won’t, with the engine running and ether the foot or handbrake on the clutch will be fully engaged, ( meaning you can change gear)
switch the engine off in neutral then and only then will the clutch disengage

 

[rosalan]

Again thanks for any updates on my problem, if it is a problem. Now in Palencia Spain with (fingers crossed) no repeat failure to engage gears. To date nobody has said do not drive, so I am hoping to return in three months to the UK when I will attempt to find a Renault agent who will work on a Renault Master. To date this has not proved possible, having already dealt with one in north London who wiped out my warranty. So if there is a better agent within 50 miles of Bedfordshire, I will knock on their door.