First Car Project - Clio 172 PH1

[Louis]

Have you tried using the renault method rather than a jubilee?

 

[Jakeeaton127]

Have you tried using the renault method rather than a jubilee?

yes-ish, I used a step down to fit in the hole, then a 1/4 ratchet with the bar of my jack shoved in the end of it to give me more leverage. Not exactly the Renault tool I guess but it did work just didn’t give me enough slack as it was right up to the engine mount.

 

[Louis]

You have the alternator completely loose right?

 

[Jakeeaton127]

You have the alternator completely loose right?

Top bolts removed, bottoms slackened off

 

[Jakeeaton127]

Me and my mechanic mate, who’s better than me, wrestled with the aux belt prior to my driving lesson tonight and he someone managed to get the thing on. He walked it on the crank I’m guessing I wasn’t exactly paying attention to what he was doing. I’m definitely sending this thing off to someone else when it needs one again, I can’t be bothered with this faff again.

Once that was done, new radiator and AC condenser was fitted but I then had to go off and do my lessons. Hopefully this car will be ‘done’ by tomorrow. It’ll never be truly done I don’t think but it’s definitely in a MOTable state once I’ve done the backbox, coolant and fitted the body work back to it. Sadly, my JMRS intake is delayed so It’ll be a week or two before it wears that

 

[Jakeeaton127]

Apart from the backbox and front bumper this car is ready for an MOT. It gets up to temp and stays there, the heaters work inside, there’s no issues whatsoever apart from the fact the radio has magically lost its code. Annoyingly I had to ring Renault for the code as it’s not the original radio but is an OE and I wrote it on the radio itself so I’ve got to take that out again as I’ve got no idea what it could be.

I did think the throttle pedal was broken but it’s normal so thank god for that, means it’s not taking even more money out of my bank for the time being.

 

[YorkshireKyle]

The throttle pedal is lower than the others as standard in cars

If you accidentally jab a pedal they'd rather you hit the brakes than the accelerator, so you don't stove it into someones living room

 

[Jakeeaton127]

The throttle pedal is lower than the others as standard in cars

If you accidentally jab a pedal they'd rather you hit the brakes than the accelerator, so you don't stove it into someones living room

, it’s something I never really noticed about pedals at all, never exactly had a good look at them. Just seemed a bit lower than I’d imagine it being.

My mate pointed it out too me so I had a look and there was stuff about issues with the cable so I thought it’s best to ask. I was expecting another issue with this bloody thing, everything I seem to look at has something I’ve not noticed or broken.

 

[Jakeeaton127]

Does anyone happen to know what bolts hold the bumper on under the grill? can't find much that id imagine would fit it in my box of bolts given to me with the car.

 

[Struggler]

They're a large torx bit, I forget exactly what size though. Bigger than all the ones holding the headlights and other bits of trim on.

 

[Jakeeaton127]

They're a large torx bit, I forget exactly what size though. Bigger than all the ones holding the headlights and other bits of trim on.

Thought they would be, seen a picture of them on a car. Thanks

 

[Jamess182]

Nice work picking a first car with the only active forum remaining in the country haha. All the people chiming in on this thread reminds me of the old days on 106owners.

 

[Jakeeaton127]

I’m guessing this gap between the grill and the bumper is normal on theses. Am I right?

 

[mintno1]

View attachment 1797284
I’m guessing this gap between the grill and the bumper is normal on theses. Am I right?

Yep, it's often different on the drivers and passenger sides as well

 

[Jakeeaton127]

Yep, it's often different on the drivers and passenger sides as well

just like this one then

 

[mintno1]

just like this one then

Yep, same here too

 

[Jakeeaton127]

Just gone to do the backbox on the Clio and I think the exhaust hanger is basically none existent. So first question is, is this where the exhaust hanger is meant to be.

And does this BTT Motorsport one fit this car or is it a 182 exclusive thing.

 

[YorkshireKyle]

That BTT mount will fit. You just need 1 of them

 

[Jakeeaton127]

Does anyone else have a strange squealing noise when pressing the clutch?

it only seems to do it when cold and once i’ve pressed the clutch up and down for a bit it goes anyway. not the first time it’s done it, i thought it might be due to the clutch not being used at first, it might still be that but im not 100% sure.

 

[robzracing]

Does anyone else have a strange squealing noise when pressing the clutch?

it only seems to do it when cold and once i’ve pressed the clutch up and down for a bit it goes anyway. not the first time it’s done it, i thought it might be due to the clutch not being used at first, it might still be that but im not 100% sure.

Probably the release bearing going dry. May be time to plan a clutch change.

 

[Louis]

The cars been sat for years. Get it to a point it can be driven then worry about noises and squeals imho

 

[Jakeeaton127]

Since my last post, i’ve been cracking on doing some of the last little jobs on this car to get it ready for an MOT and up until this morning, it was ready for one, that’s when i found that the CV boots are ruined. The passengers side is the worst of the two and i reckon will need a driveshaft, the drivers side one, i might get away with a new boot
on it but it might just be worth putting a new shaft in.

Passengers side:

Drivers side:

I vaguely remember Edwin of the TDC youtube channel saying the ph1 driveshafts are sort after as you need them to swap the F4R into a mk1 Clio. Anyone know if thats the true? In the meantime, i’m going to price up some new shafts for it

To cheer myself up, i fitted my JMRS intake which was an absolute pain, but worth it for the sound it now makes.

Also, it makes a really strange squealing noise from the area under the intake pipe, it’s definitely coming from around that area. Anyone have an idea what that might be?

 

[TheBandit]

Those nuts look like they are going to be fun to remove

 

[Jakeeaton127]

Those nuts look like they are going to be fun to remove

i didn’t even look at them to be honest, can’t wait to do them.

 

[chazza114]

You can get refurbished set of PH1 shafts here, can't buy them new anywhere as far as I know:

https://ebay.io/m/oZLQRR

 

[Jakeeaton127]

You can get refurbished set of PH1 shafts here, can't buy them new anywhere as far as I know:

https://ebay.io/m/oZLQRR

i’ve just seen them, i think i’ll definitely need that.

 

[leeds2592]

Can you not just get 2 stretchy boots, chuck them on and see if the joints get flagged on the MOT? I'd be tempted to do that to get it moving

 

[Jakeeaton127]

Can you not just get 2 stretchy boots, chuck them on and see if the joints get flagged on the MOT? I'd be tempted to do that to get it moving

worth a try, boots are only like a tenner each. I think i know someone with a tool for them in Wigan or i see if any garages around me will do them to save the faff once i’ve got the shafts out.

 

[leeds2592]

worth a try, boots are only like a tenner each. I think i know someone with a tool for them in Wigan or i see if any garages around me will do them to save the faff once i’ve got the shafts out.

I had a stretchy boot on one of mine for years with no issues, as did @Louis . They're messy and fiddly, but worth giving it a bash. Just remember to potentially cut a rib of/check clearance as sometimes they can catch

 

[Louis]

Top tip, lube it right up then use a microfiber cloth to get it over the cone butt plug

 

[James]

What the f**k has happened to that

 

[leeds2592]

Top tip, lube it right up then use a microfiber cloth to get it over the cone butt plug

And what about when he does the cv joint?

 

[leeds2592]

What the f**k has happened to that

View attachment 1798122

Arrr that ol chesnut.

It wAsNt LiKe tHaT wHeN I hAd it

 

[Jakeeaton127]

What the f**k has happened to that

View attachment 1798122

Genuinely, no clue, i reckon moving it around the little square of private land hasn’t helped it, neither the ‘accidental’ little clutch dump my dad did when i wasn’t around, i had my suspicions after seeing the marks now engraved into the concrete. My neighbours really hate me at the moment.

i’m glad i’ve found it, if it’s got that bad from 10mph max, i can’t imagine how bad it would have got at 30mph

 

[YorkshireKyle]

James flogging dodgy motors

Honestly James, he's 17 ffs. Can't believe you're trying to kill the lad like that

 

[James]

I am dodgy as f**k tbf

 

[Brigsy]

Just change the boots. Easy job, cv's knock off.

The rust on the bolts is pretty normal for an old clio, gun them off

 

[Jakeeaton127]

Another small issue i’ve just found is that the passengers seat won’t slide forward when you pull the handle to get into the back seats. absolutely zero clue what could cause that but luckily for me i have a spare seat.

Also that squeal from the area under the intake pipe. I hope it’s not a clutch related issue, i’ve heard these are horrible to do clutches on. I’m yet to fully have a look into that noise.

 

[hopgop1]

Another small issue i’ve just found is that the passengers seat won’t slide forward when you pull the handle to get into the back seats. absolutely zero clue what could cause that but luckily for me i have a spare seat.

Also that squeal from the area under the intake pipe. I hope it’s not a clutch related issue, i’ve heard these are horrible to do clutches on. I’m yet to fully have a look into that noise.

There's a cable in the seats, probably broken or not attached properly, but you'd have to take the seat out to fix it anyway, I'd save the trouble and stick the spare seat in.

 

[Louis]

Another small issue i’ve just found is that the passengers seat won’t slide forward when you pull the handle to get into the back seats. absolutely zero clue what could cause that but luckily for me i have a spare seat.

Also that squeal from the area under the intake pipe. I hope it’s not a clutch related issue, i’ve heard these are horrible to do clutches on. I’m yet to fully have a look into that noise.

Nothing is hard on a clio tbh.