Renault Safrane Update | Together in Electric Niggles

A brief update on the £200 Safrane and the ‘beer money’ Safrane. Contains waffle and a bobble hat. Other less rubbish KZbin channels are available.
Competition winner Russell Wallis: / russelljwallis
www.PetrolBlog.com

[@markonmotoring]

Always nice to see content on the Safrane. French executive chic in an otherwise dull sector. A friend had a phase 2 with the 2.5 five cylinder engine. I actually like the phase 1 interiors with the very 80s style hifi stack with graphic display, reminds me of the 25 before it. Reminds me of a time where more buttons meant more cool. Hate how modern cars are increasing controlled by a large touch screen.

[@Petrolblog]

I like elements of both phases, but the ultimate would be the BiTurbo. Failing that, a five-cylinder would be lovely.

[@markonmotoring]

@@Petrolblog I've only ever seen pictures or video of the Bi Turbo. Did we get them in the UK?

[@Petrolblog]

Sadly not. Antony Ingram managed to drive one on a Renault heritage media day. Gutted to have missed that one!

[@markonmotoring]

@@Petrolblog That would have been good. The only such events I've ever been invited to were a dealership launch evening for the Mégane 2 and Clio 172 Cup. And an event at Hardwood House where I test drive a Mégane Coupe 2.0 IDE and an early MK2 3.0 V6 Laguna.

[@MrGoneTroppo]

My dad had a 25 V6i & a Safrane V6. The climate control blew my mind in those days! Big sofa of a car

[@paulie-Gualtieri.]

I would love a black Safrane V6 Bi-turbo Baccara.

[@Petrolblog]

Snap!

[@paulie-Gualtieri.]

@@Petrolblog It would have to be a trip to France for one, if any are still around.

[@dontcare32123]

I used to own a V6 RXE around 2002, which I seem to remember was an M reg. Same colour as yours, height adjustable suspension, power rear seats and front seats with adjustable air pockets. I was in my 20s at the time and bought it to commute across/around London to work. It replaced a V6 605 and proved very reliable apart from a leaking heater matrix. I ran it for two years, sold my Chimaera 4.0 HC weekend car and replaced both with an 840 Ci M Sport Individual. Loved the Safrane, so thanks for the videos. Such a shame the French/Italian barges disappeared over time as I always loved anything slightly left field.

[@Matteo_Licata]

Two weekly updates! Now that's great news!

[@Petrolblog]

Ha. Not sure everyone will agree! Hope you're well, Matteo - loving your videos.

[@Matteo_Licata]

@@Petrolblog I'm fine, thank you! Glad you keep enjoying my content... I think I'll never tire of making videos, it's so enjoyable!

[@seeyouinmist3924]

My dad had a 94L Phase 1 Safrane 2.2RT in dark green. Wonderful car. Sold it for a 523i in 1997. Later in life wanting to re-create those memories, I bought a 97P Phase 2 Safrane 2.0 RTE in dark green. Totally awful car with more electric niggles than a knackered train set. These cars are a huge risk, were not built to last...still love them though. Phase 1 was best by a country mile.

[@Petrolblog]

Yep, a huge risk, which explains why so few were bought and even fewer are left. Gotta keep them alive!

[@annes.5358]

Red Safrane: there's a temperature switch in a lower corner of the radiator which turns on the coolant fans. There's probably no coolant flow there because the radiator is clogged up (does the radiator get warm at all?). This explains why the fans aren't kicking in. So flush the radiator or replace it.

[@Petrolblog]

Thanks Anne. Coolant flush is next on the list.

[@michaeljohnson1006]

We had to disconnect the Renault alarm on my dads r plate it was interfering with the computer. I think they were fitted at the port in the UK to get the correct level of thatchman for the insurance. Also we had condensation getting into the circuit board for the remote control that's located next to the sunroof so the remotes stopped working.

[@Petrolblog]

I'll be getting the electrics sorted ASAP. The less time the wires are exposed to moisture the better.

[@shaydevlin5557]

Love the sefranes you got a good deal considering the both cost under £250 for both Need a update on the xsara aswell please

[@Petrolblog]

Xsara coming soon.

[@Ribeirasacra]

I think you perhaps should think about a sticker "Warning, Refer to Handbook" Now you have got me look at Safranes on the Spanish Ebay , The milanuncios website. Nothing there for beer money

[@Petrolblog]

GREAT idea for a t-shirt. On the list!

[@charliejohnson4037]

Keep these mega updates coming!

[@Petrolblog]

Will do!

[@charliejohnson4037]

@@Petrolblog Thanks for the unexpected mention :-)

[@seeyouinmist3924]

this one is a phase 1.5 model - v6 alloys on the 4cyl model and they removed the glovebox to fit a passenger front airbag!

[@shaydevlin5557]

😩 that leather

[@paulie-Gualtieri.]

A light sand and dye it would look good again.

[@Petrolblog]

On the list for the spring clean, Shay!

[@CarsofGlasgow]

Great update video, cheers :)

[@Petrolblog]

Thank you.

[@grayfool]

Old plastic is the cration of the deveil.. Loads of tat this week, cool. Thanks

[@Petrolblog]

More to come this week...

[@jngf100]

Really like these videos!

[@Petrolblog]

Thank you.

[@geotesmadencilik8256]

now i see . radiator pipe 14:35 second check this moment on video . right side uppper hose sensor is first step cooling fan sensor . around 75 c degree it starts to work . second step cooling fan sensor at radiator under side right melted to radiator after 80*90 degree let get start second fan . and engine cooling sensor at 14.35 video you can see with white/yellow connection that sensor is ect . please change that s sensor it s very important to drive lean or rich .

[@geotesmadencilik8256]

safrane phase 1 thermostat is under/near exhaust manifold . in the pipe it s hard to take it off out . second steel pipe you show one of ect sensor top right . left side i don t know . but ect sensor data and resistance i have if you need some pdf please check google for safrane phase 1 manuel you can find . ect sensor very important to drive smooth you know . good luck

[@jaydee2559]

Hi, i've had 3 of the 2.5s... one has been nothing but trouble (but ironically the one i've kept - and learnt a lot from).. 1) Dead cooling fans (on the ph2). Check your engine block for voltage. Get a multimeter, black probe on the battery negative terminal. Red one on the engine block. If you have ANY voltage there, it will upset the ECU and the cooling will drop dead. Check the engine earth strap to the chassis - behind that big engine mount at the top of the engine. The fault on mine wasn't the strap but the actual bolt holding the strap to the chassis. The bolt head was fine but the threads on the bolt and in the hole were badly rusted up. As soon as i dealt with that and power could flow, the voltage on the engine vanished (now properly grounded) and the ECU started to operate the fans again. A symptom of this is the temperature gauge going up quicker than normal but the engine being cooler than normal (volvo lumps generate a LOT of heat). 2) You've got the wrong coolant - it's supposed to be red not blue. 3) I'm not sure if i still have a spare rear washer bottle but if not i know where to find one - local scrappy has a safrane sat there (was his dads). On some 2.5s the bottle's filling spout opens out right over the CD changer... and it's a real pain! 4) Bonnet tug is a bit of a problem on them when they get stiff.. i like your workaround but try adjusting the metal catches under the hood. 5) Central locking can be a bit grumpy however beware of the plastic lock barrels as they can also stop working with age (they're anti drill). If you can, fix the locking before needing to use the barrels full time. 7) Fuel level - don't worry when you hit red, the needle can go two more dots below it (you have to imagine them) before you're really in trouble. Even then, i got 8 litres out of a safrane tank that was below red when i dismantled the car. 8) Never lift the boot by the opening handle - it will start to rust at the top left of the handle (trust me). Release the lock using the opening handle but then lift by the spoiler. 9) Air vents.. try to find some from a Ph1 safrane - they have a two position solid 'click' and won't fall down. 10) Front washer bottle.. remove wheel, remove front wheel arch cover, then remove the filler neck from the bottle in the engine bay (it just pulls out - held in place by a snug fit). You should then be able to unbolt the bottle and pull out out via the wheel arch. Don't give up oin your ph2! Mine was off the road 12 years. I've just got it MOT'd 3 days ago. They are amazingly great cars when they're roadworthy. Very lovable and every Safrane owner i've known (many) will tell you the same thing. Any questions, send me a PM.

[@bunter6]

Perhaps you should ask the Martians if they have a rear washer bottle, for still they come!

[@Petrolblog]

Genius!

[@jamesellison780]

I have the same problem with my black mk2 Safrane , the central locking locks all the doors but only unlocks the rear doors so you have to reach in and open the doors from the inside !!

[@Petrolblog]

Haha. All part of the car's charm and character! Bit of a pain with your front door - at least that's the one consistent door on my car!

[@sandwichbar8226]

Argh!! The green around the taillights 😬

[@Petrolblog]

I know, right! It's in its post-winter condition - wait until it's had its spring clean.