1 reviews | Active since May 2016

23 Oct 2023, 19:28

Does Renault properly train their technicians?

In January 2023 I bought a 2019 Renault Duster from Renault Newcastle. I went through hell just to get the right OTP for the right car. They even fired a sales person after all the mess. Then after this they even failed to finalise my licencing. I had to drive around Estcourt - Ladysmith - Bergville, to put my car through the test AGAIN. And do my own licencing after paying R6500 (attached to the finance) and it took 2 months for them to pay the licence fees and testing money back. Still not a cent for diesel seen. Now after owning the car for 9 months and 25000km later. On the 23rd of September I was driving to Pretoria to visit family, a whole array of errors and warnings flashes on the dash. The car is down on power, feels like driving a naturally aspirated 1.5 diesel, I stopped at Renault Menlyn for NO HELP at all, they did a diagnosis and said the care has a "breathing" problem and they sell me a R500 air-filter. After Renault Menlyn had done the service in March 2023. Tell me it should be fine now. Drive to family, same error, no power lights everywhere. The next day I go back to Renault Menlyn and they do a diagnostic again. No they can't find the error, sorry. When I get back in the car, ECU error, power steering warning, check hill start assist, traction control error. Once again they plug in 10 min later. Everything should be fine, it isn't. Long weekend starts, I find out that dealerships are open on the Monday. Decided that I can't trust Menlyn anymore and try Hatfield. After lengthy diagnostics, and leaving my car in Pretoria and returning home in my Mom in law's car to the Drakensberg the trouble starts. They decide it's the diesel filter and replace that. Problem not solved, they decide it's the feul pump after testing the injectors. And the warranty spat starts. Renault South Africa, refuse to approve the warranty claim without a clause indicating that of it isn't the feul pump, the dealer will be held liable for the price of the part. The service manager Deon at Hatfield then calls me to let me know he just wants to have 'my' and his best interest at heart and the rejects Renault South Africa's clause. All while I have to phone them daily for updates. A week and bit has now passed. Eventually a Renault South Africa technician is dispatched to Hatfield to go verify Hatfield's diagnosis. They collectively decide it is the feul pump however they refuse to approve the claim if I don't do the timing chain as well. Another part for me to buy just to get the car. Eventually the car is picked up by my parents in law on the 10th of October. 17 days later. All while Renault refuses to give me a courtesy car. On the 19th my parents in law drive our car down to the Drakensberg, when they hit Warden, the dashboard lights up again. Check Injection, Check anti-pollution system. Cruise control won't engage, car has no Turbo boost, limp mode. Back to same issue, different array of Christmas lights on the dash. The next day October 20 I take the vehicle to Renault Ladysmith. Their technician is unfortunately on training at Renault Menlyn, I almost pass out. Today I find out that a sensor on the boost **** has severed wires. Their diagnostic indicates much deeper issues. The Ecu is not functioning like it must, plenty of past errors just cleared and never configured correctly. And I am still without a vehicle. The short of this is just that I have lost absolutely every ounce of trust in Renault as a brand. No help. Just more problems.

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