Megane 250 CUP Track Car

[Kaveney]

Gilhooligan said:

Isn’t that a touch low HP wise? Normally with those mods you get around 320.

Did RS tuning say much? They’re arguably the best place to get a Megane remapped so I’m sure they’d know.

From what they have seen on the rollers with the mods it is around 300 - 315 BHP and 335 - 345 LB/FT the cars make so in the ball park HP wise but making more torque at 357 LB/FT so its swings and roundabouts .

The car is on 97K miles so im happy with that and i dont take too much notice with regards to numbers as some cars will make more and some will make less but it is how the car drives and feels that matters to me .

[Kaveney]

The car is now ready for its first track day at Bedford on the 20/03/2023 and i may have to hold off getting all of the corner weighting and Geo settings done as i am running out of time .



I have ordered some new parts but for me not the car this time .



First is a new set of Sparco boots that were on offer .







Then i ordered a new helmet case .



It is a Headcase unit with an in built fan .















I was going to order a new crash helmet but my old one is only a few years old and still has the scuffs from Goodwood on it as a reminder

[Kaveney]

Mr Roper said:

eta


I'm enjoying thread, keep the updates coming!

Edited by Mr Roper on Friday 3rd March 16:06

Will do and i have a few plans for the car ongoing .

[Kaveney]

So with my first track day booked for a couple of weeks time the Megane has had a change of heart about being put on track and now has decided it will not start anymore .







The car was running fine then last week end did not want to turn over when taking it out of the garage .



My fault code reader is not coming up with anything and i don’t think it is the injection ( check injection seems to be the default code on the cars for everything ) related and after speaking to people may be a starter motor problem ( one hell of a unpleasant job to do as you need to remove all most everything to get to it ) as the car does not even try and start .



After a few Fords and Toyota i forgot what fun French cars can offer



I just need to see how quick i can look to get this sorted as i am away all of next week so this will just give me 5 days to try and sort this before the track day so this may be touch and go .



Wish me luck

[Kaveney]

-Moley- said:

It’s worth checking the fuse module on the back of the battery.
From memory the positive cable from the battery bolts on to the module using the middle (2nd) of the 3 threads.
Bridge that middle one to the unused left one (I used a jump lead) and try that. (It bypasses the fuse).

I had this on mine, a replacement module is circa £60 from Renault

Hopefully you’ll get it sorted for Bedford. I’m there myself in my RS250 along with 6 other Renault’s

Checked the fuses on the back of the battery and also the fuse box in the engine bay and no joy .

I have ordered new relays for the glove box and engine fuse box and checked every fuse on the car and no easy fix im afraid .

Hope to see you there but im up against it time wise .

[Kaveney]

Gilhooligan said:

It’s not a proper Megane until it’s had a check injection error

Well im in the club now .

I have had Clio 182 , 306 GTI-6 and 106 GTI so im ready for the fun French cars can bring

[Kaveney]

Accelebrate said:

Any luck? I was looking forward to seeing it at Bedford, so I'll keep my fingers crossed for you

No not yet and i am still waiting for a starter motor to turn ( still think this is the problem ) but it was due yesterday and still has out for delivery on the tracking but i think im running out of time even if it does turn up but keep them fingers crossed

[Kaveney]

alex98uk said:

How's it looking?

Not great TBH i have a starter motor on order but it has still not turned up .

I have checked all fuses ( Number 19 being the problem for the starter ) changed x 3 relays and checked everything from the battery to the starter and all is fine .

I was hoping it was going to be an easy fix but its not looking that way so i will see if the starter motor turns up today have see if i can get any luck tomorrow but its not looking good .

Was really looking forward to Bedford as well .

[Kaveney]

MDifficult said:

May be a long shot but have you tried the good old ‘clatter the starter with a hammer’ trick?

Considering your car has sat for a while - could just have seized?

Good call and i will give this a go .

Starter motor did not turn up so think im out of luck .

[Kaveney]

An update on the non running Megane i have changed over two relays in the glove box that control part of the starting of the car and this has not fixed the starting problem .



I have a few other things to look at like pedal switches and a gear box switch as they tell the ECU its in gear or not and are needed to be correct for the start cycle to work .



I also need to check the wiring to the ECU as again this could be the problem if a wire has been nicked when i have done the gearbox mount change .



On a side note i had the great idear that what i really needed in my life was another track car to waste my money and time on



So to team up with the Megane ( when i get it fixed and working again ) i have brought a 2007 Honda Civic Type R FN2 that i will look to build up like the Megane to a track / road car spec .



Link to Type R track build below .


https://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&...

[Kaveney]

Gilhooligan said:

Excellent

Will be an interesting contrast in engines and power delivery.

Yes Indeed . Very different engines and power bands hi revs vs turbo charged torque and power .

[Kaveney]

Kev_Mk3 said:

So which will go first lol

You mean what new car will join them

[Kaveney]

So an update on the non running Megane .


I have been away with work and have been spending time on my other car so have put the Megane to one side for the last few weeks but i have now received my delivery of some new parts to try to sort out the starting issue on the car .







I will look to change out the two clutch peddle switches , two glove box relays , a new BSM engine fuse box , Carbon Canister Fuel Breather Valve , and a crank position sensor .



I will also check the fuel pump and connectors just to make sure that this is not the problem .



Need to find and fix this as itching to book a track day for the car .

[Kaveney]

Joey Deacon said:

I cannot see how this will make any difference, the worst that would happen is it would say "Press Clutch+Start" or "Press Brake+Start" when you tried to start the car despite having both depressed.

I have owned Two Renaults with Starting/running issues and in both situations it turned out to be a dodgy earth cable.

Edited by Joey Deacon on Friday 21st April 16:56

You are most likely right about the peddle switch but there were not a lot of money so worth a shot .

I will re check all the earth cables again just to be sure but they all looked fine but worth another look i guess .

[Kaveney]

Not much of an up date on finding the starting problem so far but i have been through a few more things .



First was to check the state of the BCM so the glove box needed to be removed .







The BMC looked fine after inspection of the PCB board but would need to be fully tested to confirm this .







Then checking the ECU loom for any break in the wiring but all was ok .







TBH this one has got me stumped ATM so i will need to have a rethink and come up with a plan .

[Kaveney]

Gilhooligan said:

That’s annoying. Have you asked on any of the Megane Facebook groups? Surely somebody has had a similar problem before.

Yep been talking to a few people and it seems an odd one as all of the common problem i have checked and not found the fault .

The fuel pump is not priming and the car will not even try and turn over so i just need to find out why .

Got to love a french car

[Kaveney]

Kev_Mk3 said:

I think i scared it with talk of track days so i should have just said i will be only taking you to the cheese shop and back every week end

[Kaveney]

Joey Deacon said:

Is it anything to do with the immobiliser? I believe these are fitted when the cars hit the UK?

Should be a certificate for it in the book pack.

Im not sure this is the problem as i have two keys for the car and the ignition comes on , steering unlocks etc just car will not attempt to start .

[Kaveney]

Gilhooligan said:

Living up to the stereotype then ha.

Can’t remember if it’s been mentioned before but has the car been plugged into a proper Renault Can Clip diagnostic tool? It might give more insight.

Yes i have a clip one and does not come up with anything apart from multiplexed network not found but cant find any information on this .

[Kaveney]

So an update on this car as the problem was found to be a corroded wire at the front of the engine bay that was causing the starting set up not to function .



There have been a few other small niggles with the car that have put doubt in my mind with how robust this car will be and with all of my time and attention on the Civic i decided to sell the car .



Looking nice and tidy before it was picked up by its new owner .











So to sum this up the car was picked up in May 2022 a chunk of money was spent on it and it was only driving less than 100 miles and never on track .



Lets see if i can do any better with my Civic