Initially, Renault Sandero was positioned on the market as relatively budget cars accessible to most potential buyers. Analyzing the sales statistics of Renault Sandero, we can conclude that the most popular model due to its performance characteristics was the model with a 1.4 liter engine.
Advantages
The main advantage and advantage of Renault Sandero is certainly their availability. The basis was taken on the platform of another budget representative of the Renault brand, the Logan model.
Numerous reviews from Renault Sandero owners emphasize the spaciousness of the interior and luggage compartment of this car. Convertible second-row seats allow you to increase the standard luggage compartment to 1200 liters, which is quite convenient when transporting large cargo. The Sandero's interior is also quite spacious, especially the front part. The second generation models, even in the basic configuration, are equipped with a large amount of useful additional equipment and accessories.
It is also necessary to note the reliable suspension of the Renault Sandero. This positive quality has long been attached to almost all representatives of the model range of the French brand Renault, and the Sandero model is no exception. Chassis parts have a long service life, however, this indicator largely depends on the operating conditions of the vehicle and other external factors. Despite the fact that many experts note some flaws in the design of both the front and rear suspension, the constituent elements of these vehicle components themselves are of high quality and reliability, and their malfunctions mainly appear after a regulated period of use.
The car is quite dynamic. The technical characteristics of the engine, for example, Sandero with a volume of 1.4 liters, have certain advantages over cars from other manufacturers with the same volume - 1.4, which belong to this vehicle segment. Gasoline consumption is within the statistical average for similar models, however, as many owners note, one of the advantages of the power unit design is that the operation of the air conditioner or other additional devices has virtually no effect on its productivity. By the way, the air conditioning system is also quite effective.
Special attention should be paid to repair work and maintenance of these vehicles. Most of these activities can be carried out independently, with at least minimal experience in such work. Spare parts, accessories and other parts are readily available and replacement or installation is relatively simple.
Minuses
Most of the shortcomings that were inherent in the Renault Sandero were eliminated as updated versions and restyling were released. Representatives of the second generation of these popular hatchbacks had fewer various shortcomings, although they were not completely free of them.
Thus, the most frequently mentioned weak point among owners of these models is insufficient sound insulation of the body. Moreover, this feature applies to both first-generation and second-generation cars. Many car enthusiasts resort to independent tuning in order to improve the level of sound insulation.
Representatives of the first generation Renault Sandero have an inconvenient location of the horn button, which the owners of these cars still cannot get used to. It is worth noting that the designers took into account negative customer reviews and in the second generation car the signal is activated in the usual way - by pressing the central part of the steering wheel.
The quality of wheel bearings in the first models also causes criticism among specialists. According to statistics, these parts are among the most frequently replaced at service stations.
Also, the weak point of cars that were produced before 2010 can be called the crankshaft oil seals, which allowed them to leak. This problem mainly appeared in models with an engine capacity of 1.4 liters.
To summarize, it is worth noting that the malfunctions in the described cars, by the nature of their occurrence or their frequency, are no different from other cars of the same class. The model is quite reliable and has shown its best performance during long-term use. Most faults can be fixed with your own hands, which will not greatly affect the budget and will not require much time.
The French sedan based on the Megane began to be produced in 2004 in Romania under the Dacia brand in order to meet the needs of the not-so-rich segments of the population of Europe and Asia. But, despite the poor equipment and cheap finishing materials, there were more than enough people willing to purchase a reliable and durable car for relatively little money. Therefore, it was decided to organize the release of Logan in Russia, plus a hatchback appeared under its own name Dacia, as well as an MCV station wagon, a VAN cargo van and a pickup truck, which is called Pick-Up.
Renault Logan's budget also lies in the fact that its affordable and simple design allows it to be repaired in any garage without spending money on service centers and installing expensive anti-theft systems, since car thieves are absolutely not interested in it. Taxi drivers loved Logan for its high ground clearance, which allows it to force curbs and a smooth ride, especially since the build quality was excellent. The interior is very spacious, practical and quite comfortable, the only annoying thing is all kinds of squeaks. The level of practicality is reduced by a non-folding rear seat and very dirty upholstery, but there is no need to talk about comfort, since there is not even a cabin filter, the budget is the budget.
Operation and malfunction of Renault Logan engines
The most common engine in the Renault Logan is the 1.4 liter K7J with a power of 75 hp. and 1.6 l K7M with 87 hp. Both are simple, reliable and absolutely problem-free, they work happily on the A-92, and the fuel pump has a service life of 200 thousand km. Replacement, however, is quite expensive, since it is only replaced as an assembly.
The more powerful K7M is also quite high-torque and economical, fuel consumption does not exceed 7 liters on the highway and 10 liters in the city per 100 km. But it also has some unpleasant features. Firstly, the throttle assembly is not durable, the service life of which rarely exceeds 70 thousand km, and secondly, to replace the timing belt, you need to hang the engine and remove the support, which results in additional costs. In addition, the spark plug wells are not protected from dirt, and when replacing spark plugs, all debris tends to get into the cylinders. To avoid this, it is strongly recommended to put felt rings on the candle tips. And when replacing the spark plugs themselves, you need to be very careful, since the collector screen is all covered with burrs and it’s not difficult to get hurt. Among the disadvantages of gasoline engines, I would also include the absence of a fuel filter on them since 2008; based on the quality of our fuel, this decision is quite controversial.
The engine oil is changed every 15 thousand kilometers, naturally with a filter. If after 40 thousand km a hum appears on a cold start, then most likely this is due to the tension roller of the V-ribbed belt; usually, when the engine warms up, the extraneous hum disappears. Replacing the timing belt is provided after 60 thousand km, and after 70 thousand km a crankshaft oil seal may leak. On cars manufactured in 2007, there was often a problem with cold starting, which was to blame for the engine ECU. In such cases, only re-flashing the “brains” helps. Even on a Romanian-assembled Logan, you will have to constantly monitor the rear engine mount, which is not durable.
Renault Logan gearbox problems
The transmission on the Renault Logan is not original, since the gearbox and clutch were taken from, but this did not affect the reliability and durability. The only things that can upset you are the unclear gear shifting of the five-speed manual transmission and the grinding noise when you try to engage reverse gear without completely stopping the car. Some people forget that there is no synchronizer on it. The clutch life is about 80 thousand km, which is relatively good.
You shouldn’t mess with an automatic transmission, it’s very problematic and unreliable. Although its service life reaches 200 thousand km, before that, after a run of 80 thousand km, it is quite likely that the hydraulic valve block will break down and the clutches will wear out.
Disadvantages and problems with Renault Logan electrical equipment
Electrical equipment is also not encouraging, mainly due to poor protection of harnesses, connectors and electrical wiring. Particular attention should be paid to electrics when washing a car, since the poor location of electrical appliances allows water to flood the electronic units, sensors and ignition coils. In particular, the heater control unit and the engine ECU are located near the battery, so the likelihood of the ECU failing increases with each wash. Many Logan owners are upset by the inconvenient access to the headlights, which is why they have to remove the battery to replace the lamps. The odometer lies shamelessly, it shows 1000 km, although in reality the car has traveled 925 - 930 km. The window lift keys are located very inconveniently, since the designers decided to place them on the center console, what the trick is is unclear. After 30 thousand km, the fuse box cover located at the end of the panel becomes loose and begins to creak. To eliminate the squeak, it is enough to put a durite hose on the pin of the steel frame. At the same mileage, you will have to replace the spark plugs and headlight bulbs, which, as a rule, burn out the low beam. The short-lived ignition coil requires constant monitoring, and the license plate lamp usually burns out after 40 thousand kilometers.
Steering wheel Renault Logan
The steering of the Renault Logan came from, so it is reliable and problem-free, but the steering column turned out to be too high, and there are no adjustments. Steering ends are replaced after 100 thousand kilometers, but steering rods are not so durable; they will have to be replaced much earlier.
Malfunctions in the drive, suspension and brake system of Renault Logan
In the braking system, the most short-lived are the front brake pads, the service life of which rarely exceeds 30 thousand km; the rear drum brake pads can withstand up to 100 thousand km of vehicle operation. Brake discs can withstand three pad changes, and the caliper guides will require constant monitoring; regular lubrication is essential for them. The suspension is generally comfortable, energy-intensive and problem-free, providing a smooth ride. The front one came from , so it’s quite durable, and the rear one is also reliable. First of all, after 60 thousand km, the bushings and stabilizer struts will require replacement, followed by the end of the shock absorber life around 110 thousand km. Ball joints take the longest to work out; they will have to be changed after 120 thousand km, but replacement will result in financial waste, since they are pressed into the levers and can only be changed with them. In the chassis, only the wheel bearings turned out to be short-lived, the rest of the parts were problem-free.
Sores and problems on the Renault Logan body
The body will please you with a large trunk and cheap body parts, but the paintwork turned out to be weak, especially in the area of the windshield frame. Most often, paint swells here on cars produced before 2006; on later releases of Logan, this defect was most likely eliminated. Many people will not like the large trunk hinges, which eat up a decent amount of luggage space, as well as the short-lived trunk lid locks. Corrosion resistance turned out to be quite low, especially for cars produced before 2008. First of all, the roof, the upper edges of the windshield and rear windows, gutters and rear wheel arches are affected, chips on which instantly become covered with rust. In addition, the windshield wears out very quickly. Particular attention should be paid to mats, which tend to shrink due to temperature changes and reagents, after which they no longer adhere to the bosses and slide under the pedal assembly. The danger is that the accelerator pedal begins to stick in the pressed position with all the ensuing consequences. And finally, when reversing out of a snowdrift, check the front mudguards, whose internal pistons simply break off during such maneuvering. It is best to install composite VAZ ones with a fungus core instead of the standard ones.
Renault Sandero is a compact budget car, produced since 2007, available in a five-door hatchback body. This car is inexpensive, and vehicle maintenance is also affordable. Externally, the Sandero resembles the Renault Logan, but the hatchback design is more attractive.
The French model was first presented in Brazil, and a little later shown at the Geneva Motor Show. In Romania, Sandero is known under the Dacia brand; in 2009, the car began to be sold in Belarus and Ukraine.
At the end of 2009, the assembly of the hatchback began to be carried out at the Moscow automobile plant "Renault Russia", the car created on the Nissan B platform. There is also a version of the Renault Sandero Stepway, which differs from the standard model in increased ground clearance (by 20 mm), more impressive wheel arches and roof rails.
Many of the parts installed on the Sandero were borrowed from the Logan, so they are typical characteristic diseases the hatchback took over from its prototype. In 2012, an updated version of the Sandero Stepway was presented to the world, and the second generation Sandero debuted at the Paris Motor Show.
Body and paintwork
The body of the Renault Sandero is galvanized, and the body iron itself is quite durable. These cars rarely rust; corrosion mainly occurs if the car has been in an accident. The paintwork on the body is not bad, chips primarily appear on the wheel arches, in the area of the sills.
What disadvantages do engines have?
There are no powerful engines in the Sandero line of power units, and you can’t count on sportiness here. The most popular is a four-cylinder engine with a volume of 1.4 liters and a power of 72 or 75 horsepower (8 valves).
The car is also equipped with a 1.6 liter internal combustion engine in two modifications:
16-valve – 84 l. With.;
8-valve – 106 l. With.
The 1.4 liter engine is somewhat weak, its thrust is not enough for a relatively heavy car. Often this motor works at the limit, and from the load power unit resource is noticeably reduced. The 1.6 liter 8-valve internal combustion engine is also not very powerful, but it is enough for city trips. With a 16-valve engine, the Sandero has enough dynamics, but the car consumes noticeably more fuel.
Timing belt for 16th grade It is recommended to change the internal combustion engine of the K4M model every 60 thousand kilometers; it is better to replace parts of the gas distribution mechanism as a set (belt, water pump, tension rollers).
The Renault Sandero engine range also includes a 1.5 DCI diesel engine; depending on the modification, its power ranges from 80 to 90 hp. With. The K9K diesel power unit is characterized by high efficiency and good traction, but in Russia cars Sanderos with diesel engines are rare.
The gasoline engines installed on Sandero are quite reliable, but they still encounter some problems. One of the characteristic "diseases"– jamming of the thermostat; with such a defect, the motor may overheat or, conversely, operate at low temperatures. They don’t “live” too long yet spark plugs and high voltage wires, they often break through due to dampness.
Sandero gasoline engines have a very good service life, with proper care and careful operation serve 500 thousand km and more until major repairs.
Weaknesses in transmission units
Only two types of transmission are installed on the hatchback:
5-speed manual transmission;
4-speed automatic transmission.
The automatic transmission is paired with a 16-valve 1.6-liter engine, while the manual transmission is paired with an 8-valve engine.
Mechanical box quite noisy, but at the same time no defects are detected in it - gears are switched smoothly, without jerking, speeds do not slip. Even at engine speeds of three thousand or more, vibration appears on the body, it comes precisely from the manual transmission.
The manufacturer does not provide for changing the oil in the “mechanics”; the lubricant should be enough for the entire service life of the gearbox. But if the transmission has already covered 100 thousand km, it’s better to change the oil in the unit, it won’t make things worse.
Four-speed automatic transmissions are not particularly reliable; automatic transmissions are mostly fail due to overheating. An automatic transmission often requires repairs after a mileage of about one hundred thousand kilometers; the oil in an automatic transmission should be changed after 50 thousand km.
Chassis and sores in the suspension
The rear suspension on the Sandero is a beam type, the front is a standard MacPherson strut. The design of the car's chassis is quite simple, so suspension elements generally fail rarely. Spare parts for the car are relatively inexpensive, and repairing the chassis is not very difficult.
First to use Renault Sandero bushings and stabilizer links are “surrendered”, they serve on average 50-60 thousand km. Rear and front shock absorbers are sensitive to the quality of the road surface and begin to leak quickly if the car is often driven on bad roads. But in any case, the service life of these parts is at least forty thousand kilometers; the original shock absorbers last longer (70-80 thousand km each).
Steering rack not very “tenacious”, first of all the plastic bushing wears out. The manufacturer did not provide repair kits for the rack, but parts can be supplied from another car model, for example, from BMW. Before repairing the steering mechanism, you should check the play in the tips and rods, the service life of which is 60-70 thousand km.
Life time front brake pads are standard - on average about 30-40 thousand km. If you lubricate the guides of the front calipers, the pads may last longer, and the service life of the parts largely depends on your driving style.
Vehicle interior
The interior of the Renault Sandero is nothing special - the interior looks gray and somewhat dull. But there is enough space inside the car, but the trunk of the car is small (320 liters), although if you fold out the rear seats, it becomes quite roomy (1200 liters). The plastic interior is not of very high quality, but the Sandero still belongs to the budget class, and therefore you should not expect the best from the interior trim here.
All modifications of Renault Sandero are equipped with an on-board digital system capable of diagnosing errors and malfunctions in all components that have integrated sensors. The first series of the car are equipped with electronic firmware with code 6001, on later models with an on-board computer the firmware code is 6002. As for the engine, fuel supply system, ABS, the malfunction indicator is located in the dashboard light display in the instrument cluster. In this case, no explanation of the malfunction of a specific node is provided.
Diagnostics can be done in two ways: using an on-board self-diagnosis program or an external test device.
Entering diagnostic mode
The self-diagnosis mode is blocked by the program. Before checking, you must insert the key into the ignition. Activation of the diagnostic mode of any Renault Sandero model (except for the “Prestige” configuration, where it is always active) is done by pressing the pin button on the dashboard. Without releasing the button, turn the key to the ignition switch position (position “M”). Keep the button pressed for several seconds until the numbers appear on the dashboard screen. After the information appears, the button should be released. In this case, while the test mode is active, the speedometer and tachometer needles will make a constant movement from the zero position to the extreme points.
Information display
Information is displayed through four sequential screen images. Images are changed by briefly pressing the button.
Instrument testing
If desired, you can obtain more complete information about the status of Renault Sandero systems. The fact is that the occurrence of malfunctions is signaled by standard warning lights on the dashboard. Data about what kind of breakdown is taking place is not displayed on the display. In order to get a full picture, you need to use a professional tester (adapter, scanner) or a special computer program compatible with the Windows package, which can be installed on a laptop. There are also special applications for smartphones and tablets. The main thing is to choose the appropriate type of connecting cable.
As for the scanner, as a rule, a certain type of adapter is designed for each car model. Some testers transmit information directly to a computer via Bluetooth.
The external diagnostic device is connected to the Renault Sandero electronic system via a 16-pin OVD-2 connector. It is located in the front panel glove box and is closed with a plastic plug.
During testing, the device display will not display information about damage, but a so-called error code.
Basic fault codes
DF 002 – malfunction of the throttle potentiometer.
DF 003 - damage to the temperature sensor of the air mass meter (air meter).
DF 004 - failure of the engine cooling system sensor.
DF 006 - malfunction of the detonation channel.
DF 014 – failure of the fuel vapor recovery system valve.
DF 017 - failure of the crankshaft position control system.
DF 018 - clogged oxygen sensor.
DF 022 - control unit failure.
DF 032 - failure of the cooling system overheating warning lamp.
DF 038 - the heater is clogged.
DF 044 - immobilizer has failed.
DF 061 – ignition modules (coils) I and IV are damaged.
DF 062 – the same II and III.
DF 064 - failure of the speed sensor.
DF 106 - catalyst damaged.
DF120 - the bot diagnostic indicator has burned out.
DF 253 - there is no full contact between the engine and ground.
DF 261 – leakage of the fuel pump relay.
DF 052 – DF 055 - damage to injectors I, II, III and IV, respectively.
A complete list of Renault Sandero error codes can be found by following this link.
When independently repairing or replacing damaged components, the error code will remain in the system memory. Its removal is carried out using the same scanner.
Complete list of Renault Sandero error codes
P3500 Immobilizer circuit
P3501 Climate communication error
P3502 Communication error with BVA (cruise)
P3503 ABS communication error
P3504 Coolant Pressure Sensor Circuit
P3505 Fuel system error
P3506 Ignition coil circuit of cylinders No. 1 and No. 4 is shorted to ground
P3507 The ignition coil circuit of cylinders No. 2 and No. 3 is shorted to ground
P3508 Error Ignition coil circuit of cylinders No. 1 and No. 4
P3509 Error Circuit of ignition coils of cylinders No. 2 and No. 3
P3511 Actuator relay control circuit shorted to ground
P3515 Canister purge solenoid valve circuit is shorted to +bat
P3517 OBD Warning Lamp Circuit
P3518 Emergency coolant temperature warning lamp circuit shorted to +bat
P3519 Emergency coolant temperature warning light circuit shorted to ground
P3520 Emergency coolant temperature warning light circuit open
P3521 Coolant Temperature Warning Lamp Circuit
P3522 Idle speed control circuit shorted to +bat
P3523 Electronic pedal circuit open
P3524 Electronic pedal circuit short circuit to +12 Volts
P3525 Electronic pedal circuit short to ground
P3526 Electronic pedal circuit malfunction
P3527 Climate control circuit open
P3528 Climate control circuit short circuit to +12 Volts
P3529 Climate control circuit short to ground
P3530 Climate control circuit malfunction
3500 Electronic immobilizer system circuit
3501 Climate communication error
3502 Communication error with BVA (cruise)
3503 Communication error with ABS
3504 Refrigerant pressure sensor circuit
3505 Fuel system error
3506 The ignition coil circuit of cylinders No. 1 and No. 4 is shorted to ground
3507 The ignition coil circuit of cylinders No. 2 and No. 3 is shorted to ground
3508 Error Ignition coil circuit of cylinders No. 1 and No. 4
3509 Error Circuit of ignition coils of cylinders No. 2 and No. 3
3511 Actuator relay control circuit is shorted to ground
3515 The canister purge solenoid valve circuit is shorted to +bat
3517 OBD warning lamp circuit
3518 The emergency coolant temperature warning lamp circuit is shorted to +bat
3519 Emergency coolant temperature warning lamp circuit is shorted to ground
3520 The emergency coolant temperature warning lamp circuit is open
3521 Emergency coolant temperature warning lamp circuit
3522 Idle speed control circuit is shorted to +bat
3523 Electronic pedal circuit open
3524 Electronic pedal circuit short to +12 Volts
3525 Electronic pedal circuit short to ground
3526 Electronic pedal circuit malfunction
3527 Climate control circuit open
3528 Climate control circuit short to +12 Volts
3529 Climate control circuit short to ground
3530 Climate control circuit malfunction
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No idle speed
To determine the causes of this malfunction, special diagnostic equipment is required, so in this case, contact a service station that specializes in repairing cars with injection engines.
Most often, this malfunction is caused by a failure of the idle air regulator or air leaks through loose connections of the throttle body hoses.
If replacing the regulator and tightening the hose clamps fails to restore idle speed, contact a specialist.
Engine interruptions
During interruptions, the engine idles unevenly, does not develop sufficient power, and consumes gasoline increased.
Interruptions are usually explained by a malfunction of the injectors or electric fuel pump; spark plugs of one of the cylinders, air leakage into one of the cylinders. It is necessary to find the fault and, if possible, eliminate it.
Start the engine and let it idle.
Go to the exhaust pipe and listen to the sound of the exhaust.
You can bring your hand to the cut of the exhaust pipe - this way the interruptions are felt better.
The sound should be even, “soft”, of the same tone.
Popping noises from the exhaust pipe at regular intervals indicate that one cylinder is not working due to a failed spark plug, lack of a spark, an injector failure, a strong air leak into one cylinder or a significant decrease in compression in it.
Popping noises occur at irregular intervals due to dirty injector nozzles, severe wear or dirty spark plugs.
If popping noises occur at irregular intervals, you can try to replace the entire set of spark plugs yourself, regardless of mileage and appearance, but it is better to do this after contacting a car service center to diagnose and repair the engine control system.
If the popping noise is irregular, stop the engine and open the hood.
Check the condition of the ignition system wiring harness and the fastening of the wire blocks on the ignition coils.
If there is damage to the wires, replace the entire ignition system wiring harness.
Remove the spark plugs. Carefully inspect the candles and compare their appearance with the photographs in the article below.
If all the spark plugs look good, reinstall the spark plugs and coils and connect the wiring harness connectors to them.
Disconnect the wiring harness connector from the cylinder 1 coil.
Start the engine.
If engine interruptions do not worsen, replace the spark plug in cylinder 1 with a known good one.
Attach the high-voltage wire and start the engine.
If the interruptions intensify, repeat the procedure sequentially with all cylinders to identify the faulty spark plug.
If, as a result of the measures taken, engine interruptions are not eliminated, check the compression in each of the cylinders. Normal compression is more than 1.0 MPa (10 kgf/cm2), a difference in compression values in the cylinders of more than 0.2 MPa (2 kgf/cm2) indicates the need for engine repair.
Diagnostics by the appearance of spark plugs
Normal candle
Brownish or grayish-yellowish color and slight wear on the electrodes.
Correspondence of the thermal value of the spark plug for the engine and operating conditions.
Soot deposition
Dry soot deposits indicate a rich mixture or late ignition.
Causes misfires, difficult engine starting and unstable engine operation
Oily electrodes and spark plug insulator
The reason is oil getting into the combustion chamber.
Oil enters the combustion chamber through valve guides or piston rings.
Causes difficult starting, cylinder misfires and jerking of the running engine.
Carry out the necessary repairs to the cylinder head and piston group of the engine.
Replace spark plugs.
Deposition of brownish-red iron oxides on the insulator skirt from anti-knock iron-containing additives (ferrocenes) to gasoline.
They are deposited in an even, dense layer.
When the engine operates under heavy load with high temperature and pressure in the combustion chamber, the oxides are converted into conductive tracks of pure iron, shorting the central electrode to ground.
This causes misfires and a drop in engine power.
This may cause damage to the catalytic converter.
Plaque is practically not removed mechanically and does not fade when moving at high speed.
If it is not possible to immediately replace with new spark plugs, then place the spark plug in a rust converter, then clean the spark plug with a wire brush, rinse with water and then with gasoline.
Melted electrodes
Early ignition. The insulator is white, but may be contaminated due to missed sparks and deposits from the combustion chamber.
May cause engine damage.
It is necessary to check the suitability of the spark plug type, the cleanliness of the injector nozzles and fuel filter, and the operation of the cooling and lubrication system.
Insulator with cracks or chips
Damage caused by detonation.
May damage the piston.
Occurs when the knock sensor is faulty.
Make sure the gasoline meets the requirements.
Mechanical damage to the spark plug
Damage can be caused by foreign objects getting into the combustion chamber, and if a spark plug with a long skirt is used, its electrodes can catch the piston.
We remove the foreign object and replace the spark plug.
