ClioSport.net

Register a free account today to become a member!
Once signed in, you'll be able to participate on this site by adding your own topics and posts, as well as connect with other members through your own private inbox!

  • When you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission. Read more here.

Damn Clios



Ian

  Focus TDCi
More specifically my Clio. Flick to the photos if you want.

Had a family meal this weekend in Blackpool, to celebrate a relatives 70th birthday. I set off with my brother from Manchester early Saturday afternoon and met up with my cousin near Bolton to convoy across. Pulled into a petrol station and waited while my cousin filled up and then turned the key to start the engine - nothing, not even a splutter. Gave it a minute and all was fine, it felt a bit hesistant in first gear and a small puff of white smoke, but I assumed it was just clearing something out.

Five minutes driving and it was idling incredibly rough, massive vibrations through the steering wheel and gearstick. We pulled up to pick up another relative, so took the chance to pop the bonnet up. Everything appeared to be fine, but I topped up the coolant just in case, as it was a little on the low side. Admittedly at this point something should have clicked, as I'd previously had issues with coolant levels; more on that later.

Set off once more through the streets of Bolton and things seemed to be better, so decided that it would be alright to go on the motorway. This time we made it as far as the M6/M55 split heading up towards Lancaster to meet up with more of the family. Cruising along at 70mph when all of a sudden the temperature gauge hits the roof and the revs get kicked back from ~4000 to ~3000rpm (the fabled limp mode). Moved across to the first lane and slowed to 45mph hoping to limp to the next junction. The temperature dropped a few notches, but still high. Turns out we'd chosen the UK's furthest junction to crawl to; I kid, but it really was miles away. (Incidentally who in their right mind sits behind somebody doing 45mph on a motorway? We had a queue of 10 cars behind me, nada common sense some people).

Eventually made it into the services before junction 33 to be greeted with this:

DSC00010.gif


All over the engine bay, fan whirring away at top speed and generally looking sorry for itself. To cut an already lengthy story a bit short.. Clearly we weren't going anywhere in it, so jumped in my cousin's car and headed off for the meal, being short on time. Arrived back the next day and waited for the RAC to come out.

Diagnosed as head gasket failure (kudos to ^Jonff^ for predicting that one :)). To be honest it didn't come as a surprise, as it had already partly gone earlier in the year, to be repaired with K-seal and the signs were there again. It had been running fine in-between though. Luckily my parents who are currently lapping up the sun in Corfu had the foresight to take out a decent family breakdown policy and we got a free tow home to Manchester:

DSC00011.gif

(Sorry for poor photo - w995 + spot metering + black car = fuzzy grey car!)

So in conclusion, I've pretty much had it with the car. What takes the biscuit is the fact it cost me £400 to get it through an MOT the day previous to the trip. I know if I do it myself it won't cost too much to fix, but it's just one thing after another, got a list as long as my arm of parts that have been replaced.
Could have had a ph-quick with the money I've wasted fixing it. If somebody were to offer me something for it, I'd honestly have no second thoughts about getting shot of it. It's a fun car to drive, but it's obviously an absolute dog of a car.

Don't know where to go now.. fix the Clio, or get another unreliable old banger? I don't know! It's sat on my drive, but have very little money to replace it. :dapprove: Sorry for the long write-up, it's just incredibly frustrating.
 

The Chubby Pirate

ClioSport Club Member
  Golf R
hey ho, you get good and bad, i never had one issue with my old Phase 1 bar a coil pack but that cant really be classed as unreliability!
 

Ian

  Focus TDCi
Unlucky, fix it and itll be reet for 5 mins until something else goes wrong.

Yep that's what worries me!

hey ho, you get good and bad, i never had one issue with my old Phase 1 bar a coil pack but that cant really be classed as unreliability!

Yeah, I picked a wrongun for sure. Value of the car is so bad now that I just don't know if it's worth fixing and selling it.

Drop a 172 engine in there :D

Lol don't tempt me! Probably have body panels falling off under acceleration!
 

The Chubby Pirate

ClioSport Club Member
  Golf R
You might want to consider breaking it if its viable mate if your serious about selling it on.

Advertising the obvious parts and guaging interest should ensure your worthwhile in breaking or selling!
 
  320d
Gutted Ian. Get yourself in a 1.4 16v ph2 or something. What about a ph1 RSI, make a ph1 172 rep or something.
 
Just noticed this thread.

Gutting mate, these Clios are good when they work but when they do decide to let go they do it in some style don't they? As said above it might be worth breaking it rather than fixing it and selling it, if you do decide you've had enough of the car and want rid of it.
 

Rob

ClioSport Moderator
Head failed on my 8v just over a year ago, seems like yours my car was a dog, engine is almost like new now!

Real shame to see as in pics your car always looks quite nice!

Chin up, bet my car has had more money spent on it than yours ;) :p
 
  ITB'd MK1
cooked that good and proper. Not too bad an engine to do the headgasket on, but the head will be warped as you didn't stop, so a skim will be needed. not such a bad job to do really
 

Ian

  Focus TDCi
Gutted Ian. Get yourself in a 1.4 16v ph2 or something. What about a ph1 RSI, make a ph1 172 rep or something.

Yeah might get a 1.4, it'd have to be in mint condition though! Not going to waste any money modding, next car will be staying standard, possibly performance mods.

Just noticed this thread.

Gutting mate, these Clios are good when they work but when they do decide to let go they do it in some style don't they? As said above it might be worth breaking it rather than fixing it and selling it, if you do decide you've had enough of the car and want rid of it.

Think I'll end up keeping it for now, I was pretty peed off with it over the weekend, but the fact of the matter is I can't replace it at the moment!

Head failed on my 8v just over a year ago, seems like yours my car was a dog, engine is almost like new now!

Real shame to see as in pics your car always looks quite nice!

Chin up, bet my car has had more money spent on it than yours ;) :p

Cheers pal. It's a bit of a mess tbh, but looks alright from a distance. :p I'm tempted to call you on that, but I'm not sure what you've had to spend on yours!

cooked that good and proper. Not too bad an engine to do the headgasket on, but the head will be warped as you didn't stop, so a skim will be needed. not such a bad job to do really

Any idea where the best place to get a headgasket kit from would be Danny? Also, the RAC guy put about 4 litres of water in the coolant and it just kept disappearing. I'm guessing it was going into the engine? I only ask because he then proceeded to rev the fook out of it - would that cause more damage?
 

Rob

ClioSport Moderator
Cheers pal. It's a bit of a mess tbh, but looks alright from a distance. :p I'm tempted to call you on that, but I'm not sure what you've had to spend on yours!

I think thats one I could win... The amount of cash monies spent on mine is ridiculous and thats without necessities like services and MOT's. I'm gonna tott it up just to scare myself!

If you decide to break it lemme know, I imagin I could have quite a shopping list.
 
  Mustang, S13, AX GT
I'd keep it anyway mate if you've spent what you say you've spent fixing it, there cant be much left to go wrong ;)
 

Gaz_

ClioSport Club Member
  Extreme mode
give the lads at Birchdown a bell, you're not that far away......
 

Ian

  Focus TDCi
I'd keep it anyway mate if you've spent what you say you've spent fixing it, there cant be much left to go wrong ;)

You'd be surprised, there's always something. :)

How much would you want for it ian? Is it a 16v or 8v?

It's the 1.6 8v bud. Gonna see how much it's gonna sort to fix, but if I'm getting rid I'll give you a shout if you like. There's quite a few things that need doing to it though tbh - gearbox, paintwork etc. It's on nearly 94,000 miles too.

give the lads at Birchdown a bell, you're not that far away......

I'm not, but last time I got quotes (including Birchdown iirc) they were too much. Bearing in mind in its current state the car really isn't worth a lot. Definitely sub £1000.

Unlucky Ian pal.

Has been a bit of a 'mare from the start!

Mm it's been a pain - enjoyed it during the good times though. :) Might be enough to put me off buying another Clio though!

if you seriously want to get rid of it let me know or if you are looking for an engine for it.

How much for a replacement engine Josh? Also, how much for a gearbox? PM if you like pal.
 
  Peugeot 307 1.6 hdi
Unlucky that mate, I know just the feeling when you say you have a mountain of problems building up with the car. I used to have a PH1 1.9 diesel and it was just problem after problem. Was costing me a fortune getting it fixed all the time so I ended up part exchanging it at a dealers and got a new car.

If I was you, I'd get rid of it.
 


Top