rudolfkrause1

SM3 VANOS Solenoid Issue

Alright, gearheads, I'm tearing my hair out! My 2003 Renault SM3, gasoline engine, is throwing a fit. Check engine light's on, and it's guzzling fuel like there's no tomorrow. The mileage is only 46906 km! I'm pretty sure the inlet VANOS mechanics are busted. Anyone else wrestled with this gremlin? I suspect a dodgy camshaft solenoid valve or maybe a power supply issue. Is my timing chain gone?

4 comment(s)

I had something similar happen on my SM3. The increased fuel consumption and check engine light are dead giveaways. It sounds like it could be the VANOS solenoid. It's like a tiny gatekeeper for your engine's timing, and when it fails, things go haywire. Have you noticed any weird idling or a loss of power at certain RPMs?

Weird idling? Yes, sometimes it feels like the car is about to stall at the traffic lights. Loss of power? Maybe a little bit in the lower range, but nothing too dramatic. Was it definitely the VANOS solenoid for you? And did it affect the timing chain?

Yep, that sounds exactly like what I experienced. The rough idle is a classic symptom. I would bet money on the VANOS solenoid. It didn't affect my timing chain, thankfully, but get it checked out ASAP. I would go to the workshop: it's best to get it sorted before it causes more damage. It will probably be around 250€, it's not the end of the world.

Thanks a million! You've saved me a ton of guesswork. I'll book it in at the workshop next week and tell them to check the VANOS solenoid and the power supply. I really appreciate your help! It was indeed the VANOS solenoid!

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