Shed money Clio 172
Discussion
DoubleTime said:
The clunking on my cup finally stopped when I replaced the wishbones after replacing almost all other bushes.
Pretty cheap to replace so no biggie.
Given the fact I'm not going anywhere and it'll be a while before i can get a mechanic out, I'm sorely tempted to do them myself. Looks easy on autodoc...Pretty cheap to replace so no biggie.
Speaker upgrade.
The clio has really become my "go to" car for any trip that doesn't involve motorways, carrying more than one adult passenger or any large objects. It's good in fuel, easy to park, and so small it suits the cramped streets of Cambridge.
Plus, it always makes me smile as it's such fun to drive.
So, as i was spending a lot of time in it i thought I'd upgrade the speakers.
I found two sets of 13cm alpine sxe 1325s on ebay.
New vs old comparison.
I also bought two sets of cable adaptors, which saved a lot of messing about with crimps.
And they're in!
Easy. And now (once the isolation is over) i can listen to moneybox live in perfect clarity when sitting in traffic.
The clio has really become my "go to" car for any trip that doesn't involve motorways, carrying more than one adult passenger or any large objects. It's good in fuel, easy to park, and so small it suits the cramped streets of Cambridge.
Plus, it always makes me smile as it's such fun to drive.
So, as i was spending a lot of time in it i thought I'd upgrade the speakers.
I found two sets of 13cm alpine sxe 1325s on ebay.
New vs old comparison.
I also bought two sets of cable adaptors, which saved a lot of messing about with crimps.
And they're in!
Easy. And now (once the isolation is over) i can listen to moneybox live in perfect clarity when sitting in traffic.
New wishbones!
I did have a look at doing this myself, but the ball joint was not moving. So Jody came back and i watched from the window to maintain a good and safe distance.
This was the bush that was the probable cause of the noise.
Now for an alignment check before the car goes back to sitting on the drive...
I did have a look at doing this myself, but the ball joint was not moving. So Jody came back and i watched from the window to maintain a good and safe distance.
This was the bush that was the probable cause of the noise.
Now for an alignment check before the car goes back to sitting on the drive...
DoubleTime said:
I changed almost all bushes. I also had a similar clunk that only occurred when pulling away. Very annoying. Turned out to be a worn powerflex wishbone bush.
DoubleTime said:
The clunking on my cup finally stopped when I replaced the wishbones after replacing almost all other bushes.
Pretty cheap to replace so no biggie.
I should have listened to you all months ago! With the new wishbones the clunk has gone, and even on a short drive to the shops it feels fantastic. I should have done this on day 1. Pretty cheap to replace so no biggie.
I think the only bushes I've got left to replace are the rear beam bushes and inner ARB bushes...
As a few people have mentioned the standard clio wheel isn't great. Its very big, slightly oddly positioned and the rim is quite thin.
I've been doing some research into a way of swapping it out. I wanted to keep an airbag for safety/MOT/insurance, but wanted something a bit nicer.
Thanks to the helpful bunch on cliosport.net, a 197 steering wheel looked like the answer.
https://www.cliosport.net/threads/another-steering...
It's really not a hard job, as shown in the video in the thread.
Old wheel (in position so i can undo the clips holding the airbag):
By the look of the torx head, I'm not the first person to undo this.
Then new wheel on.
As i don't have cruise control the wires are a straight fit, no messing about with connnectors needed. As per the video, you do have to modify the mount lug on one airbag connector, but it's an easy job with a sharp knife.
Helpfully Renault have added a keyway in the splines, so even if your children interrupt and you forget which way the wheel is supposed to go, it will only go on one way.
I've been doing some research into a way of swapping it out. I wanted to keep an airbag for safety/MOT/insurance, but wanted something a bit nicer.
Thanks to the helpful bunch on cliosport.net, a 197 steering wheel looked like the answer.
https://www.cliosport.net/threads/another-steering...
It's really not a hard job, as shown in the video in the thread.
Old wheel (in position so i can undo the clips holding the airbag):
By the look of the torx head, I'm not the first person to undo this.
Then new wheel on.
As i don't have cruise control the wires are a straight fit, no messing about with connnectors needed. As per the video, you do have to modify the mount lug on one airbag connector, but it's an easy job with a sharp knife.
Helpfully Renault have added a keyway in the splines, so even if your children interrupt and you forget which way the wheel is supposed to go, it will only go on one way.
Having sorted out the steering wheel angle sensor, i thought I'd relax with a nice trip to the supermarket for essential supplies.
However, as i went faster i heard an unpleasant scraping sound. The driver's side front arch liner had fallen down and was grinding on the road.
Thankfully i had a spare.
Not wishing to blame anyone, but i suspect i disturbed it when fitting the splitter...
However, as i went faster i heard an unpleasant scraping sound. The driver's side front arch liner had fallen down and was grinding on the road.
Thankfully i had a spare.
Not wishing to blame anyone, but i suspect i disturbed it when fitting the splitter...
Edited by Cambs_Stuart on Sunday 17th May 12:18
Lockdown has been strange. I'd been hoping to get a few jobs done, clean the engine bay, sort some bits of rattling trim, possibly treat the rear beam and sills to some bilt hamber to keep the rust gremlins at bay.
But I've been hugely busy with work and really struggled for motivation at the weekends.
Anyway, enough moaning.
I've had a word with myself and changed the spark plugs. It's a nice job, probably a 2 spanner on the old haynes scale.
Disconnect a few plugs, some tubing and the inlet pipe then prop up the inlet.
New vs old comparison. Good to see the old versions were the correct NGK and in good condition.
However the old versions were barely in finger tight. I know they don't need much torque, but they offered no resistance to the plug socket at all.
There a small oil seep from somewhere around the oil cap, although it may just be some spill from the last change, but I've cleaned the area and I'll keep and eye on it.
But I've been hugely busy with work and really struggled for motivation at the weekends.
Anyway, enough moaning.
I've had a word with myself and changed the spark plugs. It's a nice job, probably a 2 spanner on the old haynes scale.
Disconnect a few plugs, some tubing and the inlet pipe then prop up the inlet.
New vs old comparison. Good to see the old versions were the correct NGK and in good condition.
However the old versions were barely in finger tight. I know they don't need much torque, but they offered no resistance to the plug socket at all.
There a small oil seep from somewhere around the oil cap, although it may just be some spill from the last change, but I've cleaned the area and I'll keep and eye on it.
Edited by Cambs_Stuart on Tuesday 21st July 11:01
Coops-Clio-F4R said:
nice progress, I'm a self confessed Clio nut so nice to see other pistonheaders with them.
the oil leak on the filler area could just be over spill or a common issue is the VVT solenoid oil seal, cheap enough from Renault Parts Direct for a genuine seal and not hard to fit, just be careful not to damage the sealing face on the alloy cam cover when you prise the old seal out. All 3 of my F4R engines I have had to change that seal, even the 60k low miler
Thanks for the advice, i hadn't thought of that. Now it's clean hopefully i can trace it. the oil leak on the filler area could just be over spill or a common issue is the VVT solenoid oil seal, cheap enough from Renault Parts Direct for a genuine seal and not hard to fit, just be careful not to damage the sealing face on the alloy cam cover when you prise the old seal out. All 3 of my F4R engines I have had to change that seal, even the 60k low miler
Had another track day at a very, very wet bedford.
The little clio aquitted itself faultlessly again. This little motor is rapidly becoming my favourite car I've owned.
It'll need a bit of TLC now. Oil change, check brakes and as @Coops-Clio-F4R suggested, i think the solenoid seal probably need replacement. After cleaning it up there is definitely fresh dampness in the area.
7 sessions on the track has not helped the rattling interior trim so that might get a bit of attention as well.
The little clio aquitted itself faultlessly again. This little motor is rapidly becoming my favourite car I've owned.
It'll need a bit of TLC now. Oil change, check brakes and as @Coops-Clio-F4R suggested, i think the solenoid seal probably need replacement. After cleaning it up there is definitely fresh dampness in the area.
7 sessions on the track has not helped the rattling interior trim so that might get a bit of attention as well.
Some time for a bit of maintenance on the clio.
I thought the brakes must need replacement, but the disks were still in tolerance:
And the pads have a chunk of life left, so they can wait.
I suspected the solenoid seat was weeping, thank to the tip above.
So, inlet off again, clean up the area, a 10mm bolt and slide the solenoid out. Then pry the old seal out being careful not to drop any gunge into the engine and also being careful not to mark the sealing face.
Then i dropped the old oil. It was only a thousand miles and six months old, but in that thousand miles there were two track days.
After 20 minutes of sweating and swearing i promised myself to never over tighten an oil filter ever again.
Then everything back together and 5l of Renault parts direct finest synthetic and we're good to go.
The current to do list is looking ok.
A good clean and polish.
Re-do the headlights.
Yanoo shifter bush (this looks harder than i thought. Access is behind the cat and some heat shields)
I might do the gearbox oil if i do another track day.
Slap some bilt hamber on anything that looks crusty.
Sort out some interior rattles.
And that's about it...
Looking at how many left i feel i should be looking after this little car...
(I know it's not a cup, but how many left doesn't differentiate).
I thought the brakes must need replacement, but the disks were still in tolerance:
And the pads have a chunk of life left, so they can wait.
I suspected the solenoid seat was weeping, thank to the tip above.
So, inlet off again, clean up the area, a 10mm bolt and slide the solenoid out. Then pry the old seal out being careful not to drop any gunge into the engine and also being careful not to mark the sealing face.
Then i dropped the old oil. It was only a thousand miles and six months old, but in that thousand miles there were two track days.
After 20 minutes of sweating and swearing i promised myself to never over tighten an oil filter ever again.
Then everything back together and 5l of Renault parts direct finest synthetic and we're good to go.
The current to do list is looking ok.
A good clean and polish.
Re-do the headlights.
Yanoo shifter bush (this looks harder than i thought. Access is behind the cat and some heat shields)
I might do the gearbox oil if i do another track day.
Slap some bilt hamber on anything that looks crusty.
Sort out some interior rattles.
And that's about it...
Looking at how many left i feel i should be looking after this little car...
(I know it's not a cup, but how many left doesn't differentiate).
Edited by Cambs_Stuart on Saturday 8th August 16:15
I've done nothing on the to do list, instead I bought an unused upper engine mount insert from another member of cliosport.net as this car definitely needs more vibration and noise.
The dephaser solenoid seal seems to have fixed the oil leak, which is nice.
The dephaser solenoid seal seems to have fixed the oil leak, which is nice.
Edited by Cambs_Stuart on Saturday 5th September 17:30
So a couple of months have passed and the little clio continues to be my go to car for the occasional journeys I'm doing.
Since the last update I've had another utterly fantastic time at bedford in the pouring rain. I'm beginning to think wet track days are the best kind.
Apart from that, until today I had done nothing with it apart from drive it and accumulate parts from cliosport.net.
So, one bargain i found was a set of injectors with less than a thousand miles on them. The clio did come with a recent receipt for ultrasonic cleaning of injectors, but they looked pretty crusty.
The injectors are really easy to swap, especially if the replaments are already on a rail. Remove the fuel rail guard, unplug the 4 injectors, unclip the petrol pipe, clean up the petrol that gushes out, undo 2 x 10mm bolts and out they come.
Bingo.
There's still more bits and pieces to do. Geabox oil change, rattling trim, rustproofing etc but I'm really getting fond of this old cheap car and have suprised myself how much I've enjoyed tinkering with it.
Since the last update I've had another utterly fantastic time at bedford in the pouring rain. I'm beginning to think wet track days are the best kind.
Apart from that, until today I had done nothing with it apart from drive it and accumulate parts from cliosport.net.
So, one bargain i found was a set of injectors with less than a thousand miles on them. The clio did come with a recent receipt for ultrasonic cleaning of injectors, but they looked pretty crusty.
The injectors are really easy to swap, especially if the replaments are already on a rail. Remove the fuel rail guard, unplug the 4 injectors, unclip the petrol pipe, clean up the petrol that gushes out, undo 2 x 10mm bolts and out they come.
Bingo.
There's still more bits and pieces to do. Geabox oil change, rattling trim, rustproofing etc but I'm really getting fond of this old cheap car and have suprised myself how much I've enjoyed tinkering with it.
Might be a placebo effect, or might be the fact it was really cold this morning but it certainly feel crisper and revs more freely in the mid range.
There wasn't anything wrong with the old injectors, but they are almost a consumable on these 1*2s so i couldn't resist an almost new set for less than half price.
Edit. It definitely picks up better from low revs.
There wasn't anything wrong with the old injectors, but they are almost a consumable on these 1*2s so i couldn't resist an almost new set for less than half price.
Edit. It definitely picks up better from low revs.
Edited by Cambs_Stuart on Monday 23 November 10:10
I thought I'd tackle the brakes today. While there is some life left in the old pads, I've got another trackday booked in December and didn't fancy swapping pads in the car park.
Driver's side went fine, but the passenger's side was a mess. Bleed nipple was completely rounded off, the slide pins weren't sliding and the caliper piston boot is split. Occasionally I'd heard a faint sound of brake binding, but I'd assumed it was the rears. Although the pads were worn completely evenly...?
So i think this years Christmas present to myself will be some new calipers.
Driver's side went fine, but the passenger's side was a mess. Bleed nipple was completely rounded off, the slide pins weren't sliding and the caliper piston boot is split. Occasionally I'd heard a faint sound of brake binding, but I'd assumed it was the rears. Although the pads were worn completely evenly...?
So i think this years Christmas present to myself will be some new calipers.
Edited by Cambs_Stuart on Tuesday 8th December 13:51
FNG said:
Great thread, excellent tips on these OP. All the more important as I bought one last month!
Now need to read the whole thing to see if there’s any preventative maintenance I need to get going on...
Thanks. To be honest, they're fairly simple things to work on. I even enjoy spending time on the jobs that don't got entirely according to plan. Now need to read the whole thing to see if there’s any preventative maintenance I need to get going on...
Of normal maintenance jobs (not the belts and dephaser), rusty bolts not withstanding, only the inner ARB and steering rack bushes are particularly tricky to do. There are also some excellent specialists out there that can help, and the community on cliosport.net is really helpful.
And they're on, complete with PFC 097 compound pads. Frankly, they're making the rest of the car look scruffy. I really need to give it a clean, just don't fancy doing it when it's this cold.
Credit for fitting goes to Jody Watorowski, who also changed the gearbox oil when the car was up on ramps.
Credit for fitting goes to Jody Watorowski, who also changed the gearbox oil when the car was up on ramps.
Edited by Cambs_Stuart on Tuesday 8th December 13:32
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