Problems with Renault Clio 2010: Engine indicator light, loss of power and strong exhaust odor

Hi, I have some experience with cars and had a similar problem with my 2008 Renault Megane, something similar to your Clio. In my case the engine control unit was faulty. To fix the problem, I had to go to a garage and have the ECU replaced. The cost of the repair was around 1000 euros. However, as you have a different model, the exact fault could vary. Could you please share some information about your vehicle - mileage, condition, previous repairs etc. so that I can help you better?

(Translated from German)

Hey, thanks for the quick reply. My Clio has now covered almost 43530 km. The last inspection was only recently, but nothing special was found. Apart from the usual wear parts and an oil change, nothing has been repaired yet. The condition is generally pretty good, at least that's what I would have said, except for this current problem with the engine. The MOT has always passed without any defects. But maybe I really need to have the control unit checked. What exactly did you have replaced? Was it the entire control unit or just part of it? And how did you realize that this was the problem?

(Translated from German)

Hello again! In my case, the entire engine control unit was replaced. However, it is not always necessary to replace the entire block. Sometimes it can also be a small sensor on the engine control unit that leads to such symptoms. In my case, there was a specific error code that the diagnostic device read out. However, as your Clio still seems to be in very good condition overall and has been driven relatively little, I could well imagine that it could be something else. Ultimately, however, you probably have no choice but to have the fault memory read out if you want to know exactly what's wrong. Hopefully it's nothing serious and can be fixed quickly. Good luck!

(Translated from German)

Thank you for your reply and the helpful information. Yes, that makes perfect sense. The problem with the engine is really annoying and I hope it's nothing too serious. I will definitely make an appointment at the garage as soon as possible and have the fault memory read out. Hopefully the problem will be found and fixed quickly. I will keep you up to date. Thanks again for your help and good wishes, it really means a lot to me!

(Translated from German)