Hi all,wot does a 6x2 weigh please
Tidy enough looking motor but there is no room in them.
The Reduced Gearbox Function warning is commonplace on Renaults but as mentioned, it doesn’t actually reduce gearbox function at all.
There’s a valve in the control box on top of the gearbox which reduces air pressure and the warning is suggesting that this isn’t working properly although in reality the sensor isn’t working properly. Mine shows the warning for the first 20-30 minutes a day but then goes out as soon as everything has warmed up.
the pressure reducing valve is in the apu (which you can get a repair kit for)
or it could be the pressure sensor in the top of the gearbox
but as harry monk says everthing normally works ok , must be a french thing
bigtruck:
Tidy enough looking motor but there is no room in them.
I disagree.
They are ample for 2/3 of nights out, and some guys do a week in them, which I personally think is a bit much nowadays considering what else is on the market.
I had a 62 plate rental one on Friday at a customer of the agency, (26k on the clock.) and I wouldn’t have turned it down if I was given the chance to have it permanently. I had one of the old 385 versions years ago with the single seat in, and then latterly had a 420DCi with auto box on a 53 plate (Brand new.) and went all over in it, and loved it.
People need to look beyond the badge and realise that they are not that bad a motor. There are worse out there, and yes, there are better, but better comes at a price, but if you are easy on the throttle, the gearchange is beautiful and seamless you’ll find that they actually ok, effortless to drive, and actually quite comfortable.
I for one will be sorry to see Renault drop them in right hand drive form next year, and I think they are making a mistake, but that’s the French for you.
Ken.
I’m only a driver ( please mods don’t execute me for being on wrong forum ) but I can contribute to the debate. I drive a 450 auto and I love it , great to drive, cab suits for very occasional night out, don’t give a monkeys what the badge looks like .
nsmith, the turbo went a fortnight ago and it isn’t sorted yet they tried to get away with re gening the cat but it needs a new 'un.
It’s a six by four double drive pulling a low loader trailer, ful consumption is embarrassing !
Stick up ramps on trailer so air flow is crap empty.
Any ideas on improving mpg ? I drive it gently but can’t break 6
Jim
JFC999:
I’m only a driver ( please mods don’t execute me for being on wrong forum ) but I can contribute to the debate. I drive a 450 auto and I love it , great to drive, cab suits for very occasional night out, don’t give a monkeys what the badge looks like .
nsmith, the turbo went a fortnight ago and it isn’t sorted yet they tried to get away with re gening the cat but it needs a new 'un.
It’s a six by four double drive pulling a low loader trailer, ful consumption is embarrassing !
Stick up ramps on trailer so air flow is crap empty
Any ideas on improving mpg ? I drive it gently but can’t break 6
Jim
The 6x2 I drove never broke 8.5mpg so given that you are a double drive, I don’t think you are doing too bad. Being fair, we usually ran heavy.
anybody drove one with a manual box,theres a few 58s and 09s on the market with 16 speed manual in them.
I own a 460 with manual box its just a zf 16 speed same as Daf.
No probs with it, not much room for the size 11’s wi clutch pedal but not the end of world…
with he ZF gearbox ,3rd 4/th gear synchros are weak.
nsmith1180:
Bobtail:
4. Reduced Gearbox Function warning is common, but I haven’t yet found a function which is reduced
5. Upholstery is poor- too light colour and seat bases wear overnight
6. Fuel is better on 460 than 450
9. Once past the badge, drivers find they like them
12. Dealer back up VERY GOOD especially further North you go - better than its sister brand from Sweden4 = Isolate, either with the red switch on the battery compartment (4 leggers) or by double zapping the lock button (6 leggers) will clear this.
5 = very true. A couple of snap-on seat covers is a good investment.
6 = Again, true, and you can really feel the 10hp difference.
9 = I looked down my nose at em, but have since driven DAF, (LF and CF) MAN (TGM and TGX) Merc Axor and Volvo FH. I would pick the Renault over all but the FH, and even then, it would need to be won on spec.
12 = The dealer in Dunstable went out of their way to keep us happy at the Vauxhall warehouse. Collect and deliver at very short notice etc. The only problem we had was a cracked step after a service. Being fair, the DAF dealer in MK offers a very similar level of service to our MK depots.
Another thing we found at Vauxhall Aftersales is that it is well worthwhile keeping a little bit of kit available. We often found that the gearbox can get stuck when shunting at low speed. We had a hose, with a male airline connector on one end and a screw on connector on the other. It screwed on to the air reservoirs at the back of the chassis on the broken vehicle and plugged into the red airline on a working unit. Run the good unit to fill the busted one up with air and you can then shift gears to Neutral and start the truck.
After a couple of weeks in an LF sleeper, I really miss the premium. My new depot is currently afflicting these on us but has a fleet of Renault Midlums on order. Im looking forward to getting back to having a Renault badge back on my steering wheel.
surely you can’t compare a Renault premium against a DAF LF ■■ 2 totally different motors aimed at a different market .fair enough compare it to a CF and if you prfer the Renault that is a fair point…
Never knew Renault where planning on ceasing RHD built truck ,though I knew Renault cars where ceasing RHD production …Well the French never did like us
longpod:
anybody drove one with a manual box,theres a few 58s and 09s on the market with 16 speed manual in them.
While said premium was poorly dealer lent us a '52 twin steer 430 (I think) premium , was ok to drive 4 over 4 knock through with splitter did 4 days with it ripper trailer on road planing, quick turnaround, about 9 loads a day , handled it well, no probs thought it was gonna be a real shed but pleasantly surprised.
Oh , sorry forgot to say while Renault is in hospital I have to put up with a Scania 560 V8 on a '62 plate the crap you have to put up with in this game eh ?
norb:
nsmith1180:
Bobtail:
4. Reduced Gearbox Function warning is common, but I haven’t yet found a function which is reduced
5. Upholstery is poor- too light colour and seat bases wear overnight
6. Fuel is better on 460 than 450
9. Once past the badge, drivers find they like them
12. Dealer back up VERY GOOD especially further North you go - better than its sister brand from Sweden4 = Isolate, either with the red switch on the battery compartment (4 leggers) or by double zapping the lock button (6 leggers) will clear this.
5 = very true. A couple of snap-on seat covers is a good investment.
6 = Again, true, and you can really feel the 10hp difference.
9 = I looked down my nose at em, but have since driven DAF, (LF and CF) MAN (TGM and TGX) Merc Axor and Volvo FH. I would pick the Renault over all but the FH, and even then, it would need to be won on spec.
12 = The dealer in Dunstable went out of their way to keep us happy at the Vauxhall warehouse. Collect and deliver at very short notice etc. The only problem we had was a cracked step after a service. Being fair, the DAF dealer in MK offers a very similar level of service to our MK depots.
Another thing we found at Vauxhall Aftersales is that it is well worthwhile keeping a little bit of kit available. We often found that the gearbox can get stuck when shunting at low speed. We had a hose, with a male airline connector on one end and a screw on connector on the other. It screwed on to the air reservoirs at the back of the chassis on the broken vehicle and plugged into the red airline on a working unit. Run the good unit to fill the busted one up with air and you can then shift gears to Neutral and start the truck.
After a couple of weeks in an LF sleeper, I really miss the premium. My new depot is currently afflicting these on us but has a fleet of Renault Midlums on order. Im looking forward to getting back to having a Renault badge back on my steering wheel.
surely you can’t compare a Renault premium against a DAF LF ■■ 2 totally different motors aimed at a different market .fair enough compare it to a CF and if you prfer the Renault that is a fair point…
Thats fair enough, but I prefer the Midlum to the LF too.
Harry Monk:
The Reduced Gearbox Function warning is commonplace on Renaults but as mentioned, it doesn’t actually reduce gearbox function at all.There’s a valve in the control box on top of the gearbox which reduces air pressure and the warning is suggesting that this isn’t working properly although in reality the sensor isn’t working properly. Mine shows the warning for the first 20-30 minutes a day but then goes out as soon as everything has warmed up.
What air pressure should be going to the gearbox?? Anyone know?? 
offalyrover:
Harry Monk:
The Reduced Gearbox Function warning is commonplace on Renaults but as mentioned, it doesn’t actually reduce gearbox function at all.There’s a valve in the control box on top of the gearbox which reduces air pressure and the warning is suggesting that this isn’t working properly although in reality the sensor isn’t working properly. Mine shows the warning for the first 20-30 minutes a day but then goes out as soon as everything has warmed up.
What air pressure should be going to the gearbox?? Anyone know??
Its self regulating and draws air from the braking reservoirs. Thats why if you are coupling up to a trailer that has been standing for a while, you have to be 10000000% certain you have it in neutral before putting the airlines on, othewise it locks in gear and stalls. Then you cant start it.
Yeah this happened to me, lucky I always carry a line to pump tyres and a few joiners, so was able to build the air up off a truck parked beside me.
Was just wondering what pressure was going to the gearbox, I have a feeling mine is getting too high a pressure, the 'box has been overhauled and im still not completely happy. the air dryer seems to be the root of a lot of troubles with these premiums. A friend of mine has had 4 replacement air dryers , a compressor and a full set of pipes on his with 450000km on the clock.
I had a dryer fitted on recall. I have fitted a gauze filter between the compressor and air dryer on mine, and you’d be surprised what carbon builds up there, I clean it out about every 3 weeks and it seems to be the saving of the dryer. Mine stopped building air one day and I thought I was in for a big bill for a compressor and new air pipes, but when I removed the old compressor, the nut had loosened on the end of the shaft and the gear had moved out thus stopping the compressor turning. Luck for me the nut was hanging on the end of the shaft and hadn’t fallen off.
They are not a bad lorry to be fair, I’ve done the cab bushings on mine at 3 years old, done the front spring bushings countless times, the Irish roads??, changed the belt tensioners, overhauled the gearbox and fitted a new clutch. Other than that, not much. Would I buy another, not sure I would. Backup is poor here in rural Ireland. Some people think they are fantastic on diesel, mine is no better than the daf , merc, or scania I run.
I see them for sale on the truck trader converted back to euro 3, ie with adblue system removed, I was wondering how difficult is this to do as I’m working here in Ireland locally , no great need for euro5, could I just remove all the adblue gadgetry and fit an exhaust off say a Volvo fm12. Looks like it would fit with little effort. What else is involved besides the obvious dismantling ?
nsmith1180:
offalyrover:
Harry Monk:
The Reduced Gearbox Function warning is commonplace on Renaults but as mentioned, it doesn’t actually reduce gearbox function at all.There’s a valve in the control box on top of the gearbox which reduces air pressure and the warning is suggesting that this isn’t working properly although in reality the sensor isn’t working properly. Mine shows the warning for the first 20-30 minutes a day but then goes out as soon as everything has warmed up.
What air pressure should be going to the gearbox?? Anyone know??
Its self regulating and draws air from the braking reservoirs. Thats why if you are coupling up to a trailer that has been standing for a while, you have to be 10000000% certain you have it in neutral before putting the airlines on, othewise it locks in gear and stalls. Then you cant start it.
Regulation is done either with via the APM and/ or a gearbox internal pressure regulator or an inline one.
It’s doesn’t draw air from the braking reservoirs as it’s on the “brown” circuit which is Auxillary air i.e horn - seat - g/box - suspension etc. Braking air is orange for front brakes - blue for rear brakes - green for parking circuit and red for trailer supply.All the air pipes have coloured bands on them - A single colour band means its a supply pipe = constant pressure - if it has a colour and a white band then it’s a feed pipe = delivered pressure - so for example the footvalve has one pipe with an orange band and one with a blue band these are front and rear brake circuit supply pipes to the footvalve - Then it has an orange & white banded pipe and a blue & white banded pipe that feed the relay valves from the footvalve.
The gearbox works at 8 to 8.5 bar - Under or over that will give the gearbox reduced function pictogram. On late models there is a pressure reducer in the top of the g/box which comes in kit form at £200 + . Early models had an inline pressure reducing valve that can be retro fitted at about £60 ish.
With worn compressors and a lot of shunting the air drops on the Auxillary side and the vehicle stalls in gear - as you have low air pressure it can’t select neutral without the air being built back up again.On a 6x2 there is a bung on the n/s of the chassis between the lift and drive axles.If you tap into there with an air supply source it’s the same as the compressor working and will build the air back up to get neutral.
I could get the part number of the stand alone PRV if anyone needs it Unless it stays on all the time and gets on your nerves I’d ignore it & you can minimise the warning on the display so it doesn’t stick out like a sore thumb.
Steve
Hi , can I get that part number for the inline pressure reducer valve please,
Thanks 
For spare parts for a Renault I have found VEXI PARTS exellent they are genuine parts from a main dealer but at a cheaper price look for tem on the web and they are a british company