A few issues - advice please!

[Chris71]

I picked up my new toy at the weekend. It's a nice gleaming Clio 172 Cup:

In general it's in pretty good nic, but there are a few issues. The clutch seemed a bit abrupt on the test drive, but (perhaps stupidly) I put that down to nerves. I'm now not so sure. It's lighter than I remember from the 182s I've driven previously, but it only operates over a very small range of movement, quite high on the pedal travel and it's also fairly stiff (not heavy, but difficult to modulate precisely). The car has done a few track days in the past, but the engine is standard so I'd be a little surprised if it was a competition clutch. That's what it feels like at present, though - almost an on/off engagement. I'm assuming that's not normal? Is there any possibility it could just be a matter of adjustment (IIRC it's a cable)?

Also, the car pulls to the left. It only drifts gently under normal conditions, but it becomes more pronounced if you brake or accelerate hard and the front left wheel locks quite easily at the moment. I've checked the tyre pressures and they're all fine. Hopefully it's just the tracking - it had a track rod end replaced for the last MOT and I'm wondering if they literally just did it by eye or something. Is there anything else I should check?

On the upside, the engine is a peach, the brakes feel great and you can tell the dampers are relatively fresh. Really looking forward to getting these teething troubles sorted out and being able to drive it properly.

 

[imprezaworks]

Looks good mate, think i recognise it on ebay or alike?. The clutch you describe sounds like a padel clutch although i'd be very suprised if it was. They only really get used on higher powered cars, turbos etc. The other issue could be the tracking like you say, it's worth getting it checked.

 

[Chris71]

Looks good mate, think i recognise it on ebay or alike?. The clutch you describe sounds like a padel clutch although i'd be very suprised if it was. They only really get used on higher powered cars, turbos etc. The other issue could be the tracking like you say, it's worth getting it checked.

As far as I'm aware it wasn't on eBay. It was advertised on Pistonheads a few months back, but the guy took it off the market while he was sorting out his new car (a Clio 200) and I'd kept in touch with him from then.

I've driven quite a few cars with paddle clutches and that's exactly what it feels like. I found it a bit of a challenge in stop-start traffic and I suspect my wife - who's a pretty reluctant driver at the best of times - will hate it. Might be a bit of an issue as our shared daily driver!

Like you say, I'd be very surprised if someone's fitted a paddle clutch to an otherwise-standard 172bhp Clio. Doing a bit of a search I see they've got a reputation for being abrupt, so maybe I just need to man up?

Tracking is certainly the first port of call for the geometry issue. Just wondered if there was anything else to check? A friend who used to own a 182 said they're quite prone to these sorts of issues.

 

[imprezaworks]

Firstly i cant understand why i spelt paddle wrong lol. Might be worth replacing the clutch if you are going to share the car. Ive had three clio's before albeit not a cup but never had any issues with the clutch, maybe a tad heavier but certainly no 'need to get my ass to the gym' situation.

 

[Chris71]

Weirdly the clutch on this one actually seems to be noticeably lighter than the other fast Clios I've driven, it's just very difficult to modulate. Obviously the last thing I want to do is spend £800 replacing it and then discover it's a 'they all do that' issue.

Don't suppose anyone knows a good Renaultsport specialist in Herts or North London?

 

[172Ben]

They're not 172bhp for starters.

Welcome to the forum, looks nice

 

[Chris71]

I presume that's PS not bhp then?

 

[172Ben]

Well there is that, but it's probably not 169bhp either, they veh rarely make book figure.

 

[Dan@SJM]

IME 172 cups tend to always pull more than book.

Mick at diamond motors in Nottingham, mike Woodford in Staines, or if you fancy a shopping trip to Clark's village, myself. (I charge £350 to supply and fit a clutch)

 

[Chris71]

Not out the question as it happens ... I grew up in the Westcountry so quite often find myself heading down that way.

Is the clutch a specialist job? Got a good local garage that I'd trust to do general work.

 

[Crybert]

Clutches are heavy, squeaky, high biting on them. My trophy has a high biting point but doesn't sound as abrupt as yours. Also it won't be £800 changing the clutch. Get a clutch and cable from ecp cheap and then just have someone do the labour on it.

In relation to the pulling left. That just sounds like a tracking issue. If the dampers/springs were replaced and it wasn't aligned then that could be the issue. Good alignment makes a noticeable difference on these cars.

 

[Oscar88]

Not out the question as it happens ... I grew up in the Westcountry so quite often find myself heading down that way.

Is the clutch a specialist job? Got a good local garage that I'd trust to do general work.

the clutch is in NO WAY a specialist job. you'll be more than fine at your local garage

 

[Crybert]

the clutch is in NO WAY a specialist job. you'll be more than fine at your local garage

Correct. Only issue is, according to garages, this is a 6-7 hour job. Must be fiddly in there

 

[-Danman-]

@seabass859 Is this the one that you was on about pulling to the left last night mate?

 

[Dan@SJM]

the clutch is in NO WAY a specialist job. you'll be more than fine at your local garage

It may well be fine for local garages, but it's closer 10 hours book iirc and your average garage will charge that, and probably break things (going by what I've seen come through my workshop door )

 

[Oscar88]

took us 5 or 6 hours last time we done a clutch on a clio, can't remember wether it was a 72 or 82 fairly easy. i suppose as dan said, it's better if you get someone who works on these particular cars day in day out but it definitely is not beyond the scope of any mechanic. if you follow your auto data / dialogys workshop manuals to the T, then you shouldn't be breaking anything .... no doubt dans memorised them all since forever lol

 

[seabass859]

Looks the same but then again most do... Did you get it from selston Nottingham??

 

[Dan@SJM]

took us 5 or 6 hours last time we done a clutch on a clio, can't remember wether it was a 72 or 82 fairly easy. i suppose as dan said, it's better if you get someone who works on these particular cars day in day out but it definitely is not beyond the scope of any mechanic. if you follow your auto data / dialogys workshop manuals to the T, then you shouldn't be breaking anything .... no doubt dans memorised them all since forever lol

It's sad, the amount of simple jobs that I've seen ballsed up by local garages. Mick had a cracker a few months back, bodged on a cup alternator on to a non cup. It was literally millimeters away from shorting the main feed on the air con pipe work.

 

[Chris71]

Looks the same but then again most do... Did you get it from selston Nottingham??

Nope, private seller in Peterborough. Suspect he's wringing his hands with delight now at the fact someone was foolish enough to give him upwards of two grand for it. It was originally advertised for £2,995! Still, it seems to be a tidy example in other respects, belts done last year and it's only covered 60,000 miles.

 

[Chris71]

Having a bit of a play around this morning. Looks like it pulls one way under braking and another way under acceleration. Could that still just be tracking or does it mean something is moving?

 

[Crybert]

Why not take it to an mot station and have them check brake balance. Could be an issue.

 

[AlexW]

Do the wheels sit the same in each arch, you can't fit a hand in behind one wheel and then only your little finger the other?

I'd put money on tracking though. Get it done!

 

[Matt e]

Don't suppose anyone knows a good Renaultsport specialist in Herts or North London?

mark fish - harlow, essex
519automotive - bedford, bedfordshire
engine dynamics -kelvedon, essex

 

[Chris71]

I'd put money on tracking though. Get it done!

Fingers crossed. It would be a nice simple fix if so.

mark fish - harlow, essex
519automotive - bedford, bedfordshire
engine dynamics -kelvedon, essex

I do mean to find a good local specialist (Harlow's no great distance, so maybe Mark Fish is the best bet) but first off I'm going to drop it in at the local garage. Just wondered if there was anything I should point them to beyond the obvious tracking.

Did have a brief look when I first noticed the problem. Didn't measure it, but there were the same number of coils visible on the spring and stuff like that. How much adjustability is there on these? Do you have control over camber, castor etc on the front?

The other thing is that the tyres aren't in their first flush of youth. They're decent quality, but may have worn oddly or something if it's been running the wrong alignment for a while, I guess.