“Charlotte” The 182 FF

At last some pics and the start of my (probably slow) project thread.

Picked up with limited history but from a friend who’s spent £1400 on lots of new bits like brakes, calipers, clutch, exhaust etc etc only to get a mk3 and sell this one.

I got it at a fair price but it needs some love as you’ll see. My intention is to not modify it but maintain it as stock as possible with some minor mods that I think really benefit the overall car.

I’ve done this before and termed it Stock+.

To first part will be to get and fit the missing bits, like the 182 steering wheel and gear knob, then sort out some odds and sods that are broken as well and deep clean it, as it’s pretty grubby.

Having been over it with my paint depth gauge it’s all original it would seems which is good, there’s some age related marks on the Bodywork that I’ll fix and the interior is, in places disgusting, but more on that to follow.

Here’s some pics to start with,

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

Final few odds and sods.

added some spacers as info like the full arch look.

Oddly though I was expecting some spacers on the rear bearings but there was none present? Are they there on all cars?

Then I’ve done the gearbox oil, didn’t look terrible to be fair but worthwhile doing to know it’s been done.

Just got the service to do but will likely wait until after the MOT on Friday for that.

went for a quick run down the lane and it all feels fine, nothing feel off and it’s great to be back behind the wheel also the slight crunch seems to have gone…. For now…

map other than cleaning it there’s not much more I can do now.

 

Yes, all cars need/have spacers.

Sometimes they stick to the back of the disc when it's removed, so it's all too common/easy to accidentally throw them out with the old discs.

You can buy reproduction spacers from KAM Racing, for example.

 

Yes, all cars need/have spacers.

Sometimes they stick to the back of the disc when it's removed, so it's all too common/easy to accidentally throw them out with the old discs.

You can buy reproduction spacers from KAM Racing, for example.

Thanks, I thought that would be the case, as it happens I have a set of spacers but couldn’t see them on the back of the disc or the hub hence the question.

looks like it’s time to take the rear apart again. 🤣

 

I like reading your updates here, good work, it's looking excellent!

Also thank the lord it's on a new page now, it was taking an age to load all those photos 😂

 

I like reading your updates here, good work, it's looking excellent!

Also thank the lord it's on a new page now, it was taking an age to load all those photos 😂

Thanks! Consider it a test if your internet connection.

 

Don't drive it far without those rear disc spacers, becomes a real pain to get the discs off if they've not been fitted. Ask me how I know.

 

Just realised something is loose inside the front near side wheel arch. I suspect it’s the connector for the fog lights so I’ll have to sort that as well as the rear wheel bearing spacers so still a few things tidy up.

 

Don't drive it far without those rear disc spacers, becomes a real pain to get the discs off if they've not been fitted. Ask me how I know.

How do you know🤣

I was surprised I had to use the puller to be honest. They’ve been on for a year like that as they were done just before I bought the car, I’ll get them done this week before the MOT, it’s not going far before then.

 

How do you know🤣

I was surprised I had to use the puller to be honest. They’ve been on for a year like that as they were done just before I bought the car, I’ll get them done this week before the MOT, it’s not going far before then.

Fair enough, suppose you've been without them for a while, I wasn't so lucky.

 

Fair enough, suppose you've been without them for a while, I wasn't so lucky.

I’ve heard a lot about the bearings breaking quickly and almost welding themselves to the axle without the spacer so I do feel I’ve got lucky. The more I look the more I find. Shouldn’t pull on the loose threads….

 

Found the rattle…

 

Found the rattle…

View attachment 1615630

Guessing you left that somewhere and not just found an exposure bike light? Proper win if the later!!

 

Guessing you left that somewhere and not just found an exposure bike light? Proper win if the later!!

Ha, if only! Yes it’s mine, left it there when sorting the fog light wiring

 

Well rescued! Could’ve been a frustrating and expensive loss that!

 

Quickly whipped the rear discs off again tis morning to double check the bearing spacer situation and confirm they were not there, they were not. As it happened I had a set from the rear axle I bought do cleaned them up and put them on, being careful to get them the right way around and then put it all back together.

I can see how easy it is to throw them out, I took on of the discs off again to wind the calliper back and it was on the back of the wheel bearing. One ot remember when I come to changing them in the future.

 

Quickly repainted the inlet and injector cover. Looks better but ideally want to ditch the engine over in time but not happy with how it looks at the moment with it off.

 

Messing about with gold heat tape. Might need to redo some of it but quite like it.

 

After a slightly stressful day it failed with

- A loose drivers seat
- headlight pattern
- number plate light

All now sorted.
So she’s back on the road

 

After a slightly stressful day it failed with

- A loose drivers seat
- headlight pattern
- number plate light

All now sorted.
So she’s back on the road

View attachment 1616158

That must've been a properly tight tester to fail you on the plate

 

That must've been a properly tight tester to fail you on the plate

Not sure it actually failed on that more that it didn’t work. Hes very fair.

 

Good to be back it, forgot how much I missed middle aged men* in SUVs tailgating and trying to race.

*im also a middle aged man

 

Not sure it actually failed on that more that it didn’t work. Hes very fair.

Ah plate light, not plate itself read that wrong haha

 

A slight expensive day but more frustrating than anything…

I had the day off work and I thought it’d be a good opportunity to service the oil and filter etc. Got on with that.

I use a pump to pull out as much oil as possible before dropping the plug so that I can save the floor from oil… which is ironic… so pulled out the oil and then dropped the plug nice and easy, filter off and new one on oil change done in 30 mins! Happy days.

so… on the MOT the mechanic said the near side spring was dragging in the carrier so I thought I’d just whip the strut off and check it out, easy peasy… turns out the top mount wasn’t mounted correctly (doh) so I fixed that and was putting it back on when the front hub got a bit wild and pulled the drive shaft which pulled the seal clean off the mounting… which I’m turn allowed all the (brand new) gear box oil out and all over my drive… gah.

so a run over to drakes and £71 in new gearbox oil and a jubilee clip later and I’m not really hoping that it doesn’t just come off as I drive lol. Paranoia for a few miles now.

Not many pics but rest assured there was lots of cursing, tools were thrown and some more cursing. Good times.

 

Look at her, she’s currently sulking after the shouting and looking at the stain on the drive she created.

that’s after I’ve spent ages cleaning it.

 

Be careful, someone with a double buggy will be walking across your grass/car soon. 😂

 

Be careful, someone with a double buggy will be walking across your grass/car soon. 😂

haha. Luckily it’s a cul de sac and the “footpath” ends after my drive.

 

Milestone reached…

feels as cheap and knackered as the day it rolled out the factory… still love it though.

 

Couple of minor updates

My number plate light didn’t clip into the bumper so was bouncing out and damaging the bumper and people were flashing me to tell me so bought a new one.

Also I’ve had a 3 speaker system since I got it so I’ve finally got some new rear speakers, nothing fancy but do the job, got machine components to go in the front.

 

Couple of small updates,

fitted new front speakers, didn’t take any pics but it’s a pretty simple process.

also got the spare wheel back from being refurbed, so all my wheels are now nice and new looking.

also totally forgot that you need spark plugs for a petrol car service so ordered some of them and a inlet gasket just in case, so a job for the weekend.

 

In other news the spare wheel is now permanently secured in the boot as it won’t unlock. Reading, it seems that it’s common for the mechanism to break so I’ll be looking into that.

French car doing French car things.

 

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I've been through that pain so many times I buy them in pairs now😂. Enjoy crawling in the boot through the back seat to release it.

 

For Tailgate Boot Actuator Solenoid For Reno - Tailgate Latch Lock,Trunk Rear Lid Tailgate Central Lock Motor Actuator Replacement For Clio Mk2 2001-2006 Clio Mk2 Campus 2006-2010 : Amazon.co.uk: Automotive

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I've been through that pain so many times I buy them in pairs now😂. Enjoy crawling in the boot through the back seat to release it.

Literally just ordered one of those. Was tempted to get two, but might get a spare next month to add to the warehouse of spares I’m accumulating.

ive put a screwdriver in my car so that I can access the boot as i can almost certainly guarantee to get a puncture now.

 

Ive had a few of the boot lock solenoids fail. They are almost a service item

 

Something I chuckled at was how my internal alam sensors are doing a great job…

anyone else seen this? Basically the arbor is visible at the top on the pic and the wire has just been cut off.

 

Something I chuckled at was how my internal alam sensors are doing a great job…

View attachment 1618867

anyone else seen this? Basically the arbor is visible at the top on the pic and the wire has just been cut off.

They are practically impossible to remove from the trim so if it's been replaces at some time that's probably why the wire was cut.

 

In other news the spare wheel is now permanently secured in the boot as it won’t unlock. Reading, it seems that it’s common for the mechanism to break so I’ll be looking into that.

French car doing French car things.

So the Motor is actually working fine, it seems to be going into some sort of fail safe as its locking the boot but its like it bounces off the "lock" position and then stops part way between, if I wiggle the wires it them works fine again, Im thinking its just a connection issue. So I will need to do some more digging unless anyone has come across this before.

 

Spark plugs changed.

dont think the old ones look too bad but they were not torqued to spec so worthwhile changing them anyway.

also took the opportunity to paint the inlet properly and throttle body.

it’s starting to look much closer to how I want it under the bonnet. Few more things to tidy up but happy to keep plugging away.

 

Spot the mistake anyone?

 

Spot the mistake anyone?

No breather pipe?

 

No breather pipe?

Spot on, just been out and connected it back on.