Honda FR-V replacement

josh

josh

Moderator/IT Guy
We have a Honda FR-V for a few years now and it's been a great car. Unfortunately the header tank on the radiator cracked a little while back and the radiator is not available new either genuine or spurious. I've tried all the breakers that have one listed and the radiators are all gone. It's a real pity as it's a great car, so practical with the 3x3 seating arrangement.

It's looking like we might have to replace it. Any ideas on what to get? We value reliability and parts availability.
 
candor said:
We have a Honda FR-V for a few years now and it's been a great car. Unfortunately the header tank on the radiator cracked a little while back and the radiator is not available new either genuine or spurious. I've tried all the breakers that have one listed and the radiators are all gone. It's a real pity as it's a great car, so practical with the 3x3 seating arrangement.

It's looking like we might have to replace it. Any ideas on what to get? We value reliability and parts availability.
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The first option would be to get the likes of Carlow Radiators to repair the rad for you. We were trying to find an FRV years ago around 2012 but they were only available in petrol in this country. The odd 2.2 diesel was imported into this country but were impossible to find. In the end we got a 2010 Renault Grand Screnic 7 seater and in fairness it was a brilliant car that never gave an ounce of bother over 100k miles. Loads of driver room for a 6ft 3 inch driver like me. I was sorry to see that car go.
 
candor said:
We have a Honda FR-V for a few years now and it's been a great car. Unfortunately the header tank on the radiator cracked a little while back and the radiator is not available new either genuine or spurious. I've tried all the breakers that have one listed and the radiators are all gone. It's a real pity as it's a great car, so practical with the 3x3 seating arrangement.

It's looking like we might have to replace it. Any ideas on what to get? We value reliability and parts availability.
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On a side note I find it very poor that a replacement can’t be got from Honda this rendering the car for scrap.
Presumably you’ve tried the rad specialists ??
 
MF30 said:
The first option would be to get the likes of Carlow Radiators to repair the rad for you. We were trying to find an FRV years ago around 2012 but they were only available in petrol in this country. The odd 2.2 diesel was imported into this country but were impossible to find. In the end we got a 2010 Renault Grand Screnic 7 seater and in fairness it was a brilliant car that never gave an ounce of bother over 100k miles. Loads of driver room for a 6ft 3 inch driver like me. I was sorry to see that car go.
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We bought a new grand scenic in 2005. Was a brilliant car in terms of reliability amd practicality. One of the best cars we had with three young kids at the time. We traded in in 2007 for another mew gramd scenic again a top spec model with panorama glass roof etc
Our 2005 went on to be owned by a local taxi/Hackney amd he told me it was as good a car as they ever had. The 2007 model was a disaster from the get go. Clutch mAster Slave cylinder arrangement went after its FORST trip of 250kms amd it was gone into garage for a couple of weeks. Same again 6 months later amd went a third time within two years. Would t start one day for no particular reason, changed battery amd that problem didn’t reoccur. Never had a good feeling about it reliability wise. At it happened it was written off in an accident at about two years old, which in a way was a way of getting out of that model cos that car was bad from day one.
fond memories of the first one amd nightmares of the second one !
 
Ptk44 said:
We bought a new grand scenic in 2005. Was a brilliant car in terms of reliability amd practicality. One of the best cars we had with three young kids at the time. We traded in in 2007 for another mew gramd scenic again a top spec model with panorama glass roof etc
Our 2005 went on to be owned by a local taxi/Hackney amd he told me it was as good a car as they ever had. The 2007 model was a disaster from the get go. Clutch mAster Slave cylinder arrangement went after its FORST trip of 250kms amd it was gone into garage for a couple of weeks. Same again 6 months later amd went a third time within two years. Would t start one day for no particular reason, changed battery amd that problem didn’t reoccur. Never had a good feeling about it reliability wise. At it happened it was written off in an accident at about two years old, which in a way was a way of getting out of that model cos that car was bad from day one.
fond memories of the first one amd nightmares of the second one !
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Think they were a different generation of Scenic from out one. Think your one had the green digital info display, ours had the TFT screen setup. Renault really upped their game since 2008, they had a poor reliability rating from 2002 until 2008. Great solid car on the road, we have a Renault Koleos now which I wouldn’t rate at all for the bigger fella to squeeze into.
 
MF30 said:
Think they were a different generation of Scenic from out one. Think your one had the green digital info display, ours had the TFT screen setup. Renault really upped their game since 2008, they had a poor reliability rating from 2002 until 2008. Great solid car on the road, we have a Renault Koleos now which I wouldn’t rate at all for the bigger fella to squeeze into.
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Yeah… we went from the scenic to an XC 90… it was a great machine … big lugger of an engine amd fine heavy machine on the road. Was great for long trips like o er to UK ETC with 3 adults amd kids. Then got a mew 190bhp 4x4 kodiaq but still miss the xc90. It was a different league but the most recent models are mad money.
 
It's in with a radiator specialist at the moment and the only option is building a new radiator from scratch, which is going to run into big money, more than we can justify on the car.

I always stayed away from French cars for the reliability reason, maybe they are worth a look after all.
 
candor said:
It's in with a radiator specialist at the moment and the only option is building a new radiator from scratch, which is going to run into big money, more than we can justify on the car.

I always stayed away from French cars for the reliability reason, maybe they are worth a look after all.
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H&Q in Clonmel by any chance,, if Pat can't do it worth the money no one can.
 
Arthur said:
H&Q in Clonmel by any chance,, if Pat can't do it worth the money no one can.
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The very man.
JohnBoy said:
I find the notion of a radiator not being available a bit mad.

Any of these suit? https://www.ebay.co.uk/sch/i.html?_nkw=honda+frv+radiator&_sacat=0&_pgn=1
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Likewise, it's annoying as it's been a great car for us. Most of those are for the 2.2 diesel, our car is a 1.8 auto so a bit different. The same engine is in a civic but apparentely the radiators are different, I'd imagine due to the shape of the engine bay. There is one listed for a 1.8 but I've never heard of the brand. I've been advised to avoid unknown brands as they have been known not to cool the engine properly.
 
candor said:
I always stayed away from French cars for the reliability reason, maybe they are worth a look after all.
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We do a lot of miles in our house between the 2 of us and there has been a Renault, and for a good while two outside the door for 13 of the last 15 years. Had ford for the last 2 and it wasn't a patch on the Renault for comfort, reliability, smoothness on the road etc. We have a honda this last few weeks and like it. But I wouldn't fear a modern Renault. They are a very good car.
 
muckymanor said:
We do a lot of miles in our house between the 2 of us and there has been a Renault, and for a good while two outside the door for 13 of the last 15 years. Had ford for the last 2 and it wasn't a patch on the Renault for comfort, reliability, smoothness on the road etc. We have a honda this last few weeks and like it. But I wouldn't fear a modern Renault. They are a very good car.
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I'll certainly take a look at them now. I knew someone who had 2005 laguna and they were always having problems with it. Windows were a particular problem with it. One day they rolled down of their own accord as she was parking up to go into the supermarket and wouldn't go up again. She had to abandon that shopping trip in the end.
 
candor said:
I'll certainly take a look at them now. I knew someone who had 2005 laguna and they were always having problems with it. Windows were a particular problem with it. One day they rolled down of their own accord as she was parking up to go into the supermarket and wouldn't go up again. She had to abandon that shopping trip in the end.
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The Meganes and Lagunas of that era had a lot of window regulator problems, they could be reset as it was a management issue on the ECU mostly but some just broke. Fuel injectors was another problem for petrols. 08 onwards no problem. The Fluence is another excellent saloon of theirs.
What year is the FRV by the way?
 
candor said:
I'll certainly take a look at them now. I knew someone who had 2005 laguna and they were always having problems with it. Windows were a particular problem with it. One day they rolled down of their own accord as she was parking up to go into the supermarket and wouldn't go up again. She had to abandon that shopping trip in the end.
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Laguna's before 2008 were well known for electrical problems.

Best Renault we had was a fluence. Sold with 300k km on it and never a spanner put on it. Its still driving. I meet it regularly. We had a 11 grand scenic that i sold with just under 400kkm on it. It had to get 1 injector at a cost of 180 euro but other than that it was faultless. We had a 09 Laguna - great car. A 05 megane - very reliable but boxy. It did big miles and was very reliable. We had a dacia duster. Reliable but rusty.
 
candor said:
I'll certainly take a look at them now. I knew someone who had 2005 laguna and they were always having problems with it. Windows were a particular problem with it. One day they rolled down of their own accord as she was parking up to go into the supermarket and wouldn't go up again. She had to abandon that shopping trip in the end.
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Had a few Renaults, last one was an 02 Megane, it gave so much trouble I'd have to be very stuck to have another, wheel bearings, windows, handbrake, ABS computer not to mention something as simple as left indicator bulbs, a wheel off job and half the skin off your forearm to replace one.
 
MF30 said:
The Meganes and Lagunas of that era had a lot of window regulator problems, they could be reset as it was a management issue on the ECU mostly but some just broke. Fuel injectors was another problem for petrols. 08 onwards no problem. The Fluence is another excellent saloon of theirs.
What year is the FRV by the way?
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Ours is a 2009, the last of them. They were discontinued after that.
Arthur said:
Had a few Renaults, last one was an 02 Megane, it gave so much trouble I'd have to be very stuck to have another, wheel bearings, windows, handbrake, ABS computer not to mention something as simple as left indicator bulbs, a wheel off job and half the skin off your forearm to replace one.
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I've never owned one but knowing people who had the older ones, I've always been a bit hesitant to go that way. I'm open to a newer one going by the reports here.
 
candor said:
Ours is a 2009, the last of them. They were discontinued after that.

I've never owned one but knowing people who had the older ones, I've always been a bit hesitant to go that way. I'm open to a newer one going by the reports here.
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We had a 1997 1.8 petrol Renault Laguna from 55 k miles to 100k approx . A lovely comfortable car . The essence of comfort . There wasnt 50 euro spent on it bar tyres . BUT occasionally it wouldnt start . Spin over like hell . but not fire . Cure . Get out , take positive wire off the battery for 1 minute , reconnect, and away you go . Herself even had it down to a fine art . It might happen today , again tomorrow , and not for 3 months .
 
muckymanor said:
We do a lot of miles in our house between the 2 of us and there has been a Renault, and for a good while two outside the door for 13 of the last 15 years. Had ford for the last 2 and it wasn't a patch on the Renault for comfort, reliability, smoothness on the road etc. We have a honda this last few weeks and like it. But I wouldn't fear a modern Renault. They are a very good car.
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Surprised to hear you say that about reliability with the Ford
 
nashmach said:
Surprised to hear you say that about reliability with the Ford
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A great engine. We have had a focus and a cmax. The focus needed a full front suspension replacement at 250k km. Suspension arm bushings, shocks, etc. Then it had to get engine mounts. Gearbox developed a knock between gear changes. The whole car got progressively more rattly as the miles went onto it - it did what French cars of the early 00's used to do. The cmax was newer but with 100kkm on it there began the start of the same gearbox noise as the focus. Ford garage told us that it was a perfectly normal part of wear and tear. It made the car feel loose and rattly to drive. Bigger fords like the Mondeo or smax might be better for high mileage but I don't think we will own a ford again.
 
On the Renault, what engine did you have lads? Most common seems to be 1.5 diesel, with a few 1.6 diesels.
 
candor said:
On the Renault, what engine did you have lads? Most common seems to be 1.5 diesel, with a few 1.6 diesels.
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Have had both the 1.5 and currently the 1.6, both 6 speeds and both well powered but the 1.6 is a tad livelier. Both have ECO button.
 
muckymanor said:
A great engine. We have had a focus and a cmax. The focus needed a full front suspension replacement at 250k km. Suspension arm bushings, shocks, etc. Then it had to get engine mounts. Gearbox developed a knock between gear changes. The whole car got progressively more rattly as the miles went onto it - it did what French cars of the early 00's used to do. The cmax was newer but with 100kkm on it there began the start of the same gearbox noise as the focus. Ford garage told us that it was a perfectly normal part of wear and tear. It made the car feel loose and rattly to drive. Bigger fords like the Mondeo or smax might be better for high mileage but I don't think we will own a ford again.
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Some of the car manufactures need to recruit the 2 of ye to test cars, :lol:
250km before major issues is good going in my book, how many km did you get out of the Renault?
Not having a go, just very interesting to read real world reviews of high mileage cars on poor country roads.
 
gone said:
Some of the car manufactures need to recruit the 2 of ye to test cars, :lol:
250km before major issues is good going in my book, how many km did you get out of the Renault?
Not having a go, just very interesting to read real world reviews of high mileage cars on poor country roads.
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Just thinking back, the Mrs bought a 05 megane in 2006 with approx 50k miles. Traded it against a Laguna in 2009 with just over 200k miles. Laguna was traded against a fluence in 2011 with 180kkm on it. Fluence was traded with just over 300k km in 2015 for a 2011 grand scenic with 100k km. We bought a 141 dacia duster in 2016. Grand scenic was traded for a ford focus in 2019. It had 415k km on it. Duster was resprayed under warranty in 2018 and we sold it privately in 2019 and bought the cmax. Focus was traded against a commercial vehicle last January with 290k km - of all of the above cars, the focus was the most expensive car to keep serviced and repaired. Focus parts are cheap, Renault parts are expensive but the focus was hard on parts.
 
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