Renault is a fairly common car brand in Russia. These machines are well established in the market due to their low cost, low cost maintenance and reliable engines. The French company produces a lot of car models, among which there are sedans, hatchbacks and crossovers. But today we will pay attention to the Renault Symbol. Owner reviews with photos, as well as other features of the machine - further in our article.
Appearance
The car has a very modest and unremarkable appearance. According to the reviews of the owners, Renault Symbol is a kind of gray mouse in the stream. Noticing her is very difficult. In the front of the car, you can see triangular halogen headlights and a two-part radiator grill with a compact hood. On the sides and on the bumpers there are black decorative moldings. Depending on the configuration, the car was on stamped or cast 14-inch wheels. How the car looks externally, can be seen in the photo below.
Reviews about the car Renault Symbol are generally positive. But you should understand that this car is not distinguished by a bright and stylish design. This is one of the main disadvantages of this model.
What do owners reviews say about the Renault Symbol body? Disadvantages on the body are not observed. The metal is well protected against corrosion, owners say. However, on the very first models, slight rust may appear in the area of the front edge of the hood. Corrosion on the wheel arches does not appear, despite the fact that they are not equipped with wing flaps. In most cases, the presence of rust on the body elements of the Renault Symbol suggests that the car has previously been in an accident and poorly painted. Machines that are not involved in the accident have been preserved to this day quite well.
Renault Symbol: dimensions, clearance
Judging by the size, the car belongs to the B-class. So, the body length is 4.17 meters, width - 1.64, height - 1.44 meters. The wheelbase is 2.47 meters. The clearance of the Renault Symbol is almost 16 centimeters. According to reviews, the Renault Symbol car has a good ground clearance. Along with a short base, this car moves well on roads outside the paved surface and in snowy areas.
Specifications
Different engines were installed on this car. However, in Russia you can find only two power units. These were engines with the same displacement of 1.4 liters. The base had an eight-valve head and developed a capacity of 75 horsepower.
The top-end unit with a 16-valve cylinder head developed a capacity of 98 forces with the same volume. In terms of fuel consumption, these engines are economical. So, on the highway the car spends 5.5 liters per hundred, and in the city up to 10. The injection system on both engines is multi-point. Acceleration to hundreds takes from 11.2 to 12.5 seconds, depending on the engine and gearbox.
Engine Features
Let's start with the pros. Unlike the 1.4-liter engines that were installed on the Logans, these units do not “suffer” oil leakage from under the gaskets and oil seals. As for the cons, there are several. First of all, reviews note the unreliability of the ignition coils and the four-output module. The latter may suddenly crack, and the car will troit.
The timing system has a belt drive. It requires replacement every 60 thousand kilometers. However, there is no key in the connection of the pulley with the crankshaft. After unscrewing the central bolt, it is very difficult to set the drive correctly on the marks. Therefore, the procedure for replacing the belt is best left to professionals. By the way, the belt changes with the rollers. In addition, it is advisable to check the condition of the water pump and the alternator pulley. Usually, after 120 thousand kilometers, the bearings of the pump are destroyed.
According to reviews, Renault Symbol has problems with the idle speed control. This usually happens on motors with a mechanical throttle. As a result, the machine does not keep idle speed. The solution to the problem is the treatment of the element with a carburetor cleaner. According to the owners, the Renault Symbol with a 16-valve engine is sensitive to tar formation. As a result, the valves clutched in the guides.
Transmission
Two boxes were installed on this machine. This is a five-speed mechanics and a four-speed automatic. The first does not cause problems for the owners. According to reviews, Renault Symbol with manual transmission is a fairly reliable car. Among the nuances can be noted except that the left drive cover. It cracks over the years and oil begins to ooze through it. According to reviews, Renault Symbol has a fairly hardy clutch disc. Its resource reaches 180 thousand kilometers.
The DP0 Series automatic transmission is also reliable, reviews say. Renault Symbol automatic transmission has one drawback - it is increased fuel consumption. In technical terms, the box does not cause problems. The gears shift smoothly, clearly and without kicks. However, in order to keep the box in good condition, it is recommended to change the ATP-liquid in it every 80 thousand kilometers.
Electrician
This is worth talking about separately. There are a lot of pitfalls. First of all, it is worth noting the tendency of the car to sour contacts in the connectors. Because of this, the “Check Engine” light may suddenly light up on the dashboard. But after stripping the contacts of the crankshaft position sensor, the problem goes away. And if not, you still have to revise the coolant temperature sensor. After that, the machine works again as expected. By the way, there are several temperature sensors. One goes to the instrument panel, the second to the engine ECU, and the third is shared.
Also, owners do not advise holding the brake pedal in a traffic jam for a long time. The brake light switch is not designed for continuous operation. As a result, contacts burn out in it. To save the element, during long downtimes, you need to use the handbrake, and in the case of automatic transmission, move the lever to the "parking" position.
Chassis
In front of the suspension four steering joints are applied. Their resource is about 80 thousand kilometers, after which they begin to knock. The outer steering tips can be replaced separately. But if the internal ones became unusable, you will have to buy a whole traction assembly. True, you can cope with the replacement at home, which pleases.
Silent blocks of levers, shock absorbers and ball bearings have a resource of 150 or more thousand kilometers. The same goes for the anti-roll bar bushings. Hub front bearings nursing 100 thousand kilometers. Resource rear depends on the degree of congestion of the car. But usually they walk 150 thousand kilometers. Also note that on cars until 2002, there were situations with the appearance of cracks on the levers. But after that year, the problem was eliminated at the production stage.
Now about the rear suspension. It is quite simple. Here stands an elastic dependent beam with telescopic shock absorbers. The resource of silent blocks is approximately 200 thousand kilometers. They change separately from the beam.
Brakes - disc front and drum rear. The resource of the front pads is about 30 thousand kilometers, the rear - 90. Together with replacing the pads in the drum, experts recommend inspecting the brake cylinder. By this time, it may jam or leak.
Steering - a rack with the hydraulic booster. Over time, the pressure tube of the amplifier flows. But you can’t trim it - just change to a new one. Otherwise, the steering wheel will become very tight.
How does this car behave on the go? Unfortunately, you should not expect high smoothness from it - reviews say. But the suspension is difficult to penetrate, and this car does not "goat" on bumps.
Conclusion
So, we found out what a Renault Symbol car is. As you can see, this machine has its pitfalls and features. But in general, we can say that the best for such a cost in this class is difficult to find. This is the cheapest and most reliable car for the money. And you can buy it for only 100-180 thousand rubles. This car will not endure the brain with its breakdowns, since there are a minimum of complex components and mechanisms. Most maintenance work (with the exception of replacing the timing belt) can be done with your own hands, with a minimum set of tools.