What could be causing the starting problems in my 2003 Renault Clio?

I have a 2003 diesel Renault Clio 1.9. The engine turns over, but there is no ignition. There is a strange whirring noise coming from the engine bay. So far I've discovered that it isn't the battery, there is plenty of oomf in the turning over of the engine. Further to this, I had a friend drive over to try a jump start. It doesn't seem to be the immobiliser, that is working as expected. The yellow glow plug warning light used to show at all times, but now never illuminates at all.
You say the engine turns over okay, but the whirring sound is somewhat odd. As for starting, check the engine bay fuse box/relay plate, as there is a known fault of water getting into there and corroding the connections. If all of that is okay then the next thing to check would be the CKP (crankshaft position sensor) because it is another known fault. Other than that, you may need to carry out a diagnostic to see if you have any fault codes.

Answered by Alan Ross on

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