Broken down again... What would you do?

[Rystar]

So guys a little history on my car. I've owned the ph2 coming up 3 years, racking up about 60,000 miles during this time. It's an absolutely cracking car to drive and I've got to say I'm absolutely addicted and attached to the car.

That being said, it's a cracking car to drive when it drives... It's had three gearboxes put in it, each failing with different problems, costing around £1500 a change once you factor in rebuild, fluids, clutch etc.

I've recently fitted the ED low boost turbo kit (which some may argue is dumb given the previous) as it came up cheap, along with a rebuilt box with a quaife diff. And tonight after about 3 weeks and circa 1000miles, it lost drive on me once again.

Now I know this may be an overreaction on a simple fix as I haven't looked into it yet, but I'm growing tired of the constant need to dump cash into this thing every six months. However every single time it's back on the road it all seems worth it? This time it was off the road 4 months and after spending around 5k on the turbo and box (and sundries) it's been a fun three weeks, bedding everything in ready for the final 230 map in January.

What would you guys do? Obviously I'm going to investigate the no drive further first. But say it's something which requires another £1-2k+ of work, should I let go? Sell it as a whole? Break it for parts? Repair regardless? Not even sure what it's worth on 135k miles and aged bodywork. Specs list below ripped straight from my insurance doco if anyone is interested on value of breaking/repair etc;

*NON POWER ENHANCING MODS*
KTEC Supersports Catback Exhaust
182 to 172 Conversion Link Pipe
Team Dynamics Pro Race 3 Alloy Wheels
Uprated Brakes
Full Powerflex Black Front End Suspension Bushes (ARB Inner and Outer, Wishbones, Steering Rack)
Evol Motorsports Uprated Polybush Dogbone Mount
Powerflex Upper Engine Mount Insert
OMP Trecento Steering Wheel with MOMO Boss and DND Quick Release
Renault Laguna front Splitter
Pioneer MVH-X580BT Headunit
JBL Subwoofer with Kenwood X501-1 Amplifier
PMS Gear Shifter Linkage
PMS Strengthened Cup Wishbones
H&R Lowering Springs
Clio Cup Dampers
Custom Laser CNC 'Heel and Toe' Throttle Pedal
Clio 172 Phase 1 Rear Lights Fitted
Quaife LSD
Uprated 5 puc clutch kit
*POWER ENHANCING MODS*
Engine Dynamics Low Boost 230BHP Turbo Kit, Comprising of;
T28 / T25 Hybrid Turbo Charger
Turbo Oil Feed pipe
Turbo Oil Drain Pipe
Turbo Exhaust Manifold
Turbo Exhaust Downpipe Kit
Turbo Intercooler kit with Black Alloy Pipes / silicone hoses
K&N Air Filter with our Intake Kit
AEM FIC ECU and Custom file for OEM ECU
Larger Fuel Injectors
Spark plugs
Alloy Turbo Heatshield
APS 345L/h Fuel Pump

Any input appreciated, positive or negative, no dibs on parts just yet though please ?

 

[Clio_fool]

Dibs on the, oh sorry ?. Sounds like you have had your share of bad luck with the gearboxes. Who's been rebuilding them? As you obviously love the car selling up would be a mistake as you'd be back in a clio within 6 months I reckon. Better to stick with what you know than start again imo. If you do have an expensive gearbox bill again what about selling the turbo kit to subsidise it? If lettibg go is the answer then it'll need breaking to get the most ££ out of it.

 

[Rystar]

Dibs on the, oh sorry ?. Sounds like you have had your share of bad luck with the gearboxes. Who's been rebuilding them? As you obviously love the car selling up would be a mistake as you'd be back in a clio within 6 months I reckon. Better to stick with what you know than start again imo. If you do have an expensive gearbox bill again what about selling the turbo kit to subsidise it? If lettibg go is the answer then it'll need breaking to get the most ££ out of it.

Urm the first was the factory one, that was surcharge swapped for a KTEC Rebuilt one. And when the KTEC one died I bought a second hand box for £50 and had that rebuilt by a local firm in Kings Lynn. And when that one died it got sent up to NorthLoopCup for a full rebuild with the quaife LSD. Safe to say it was absolutely knackered and it nearly had every single part replaced inside. That's the one I've just lost drive on!

I'd never thought about removing the turbo to fund the box. Probably a worthy suggestion although would feel a bit odd going backwards in power, awkward getting the map changed again too but a definite option!

 

[JamesBryan]

1 box gone is bad luck, 2 gone is really bad luck.

3 now gone has to be something not box related, mechanical or driver...

Speak to Mark and see what he says, I know he will be willing to help. This is the first box I've heard of which he's built that's had problems.

Mine has been fine for 18 months now.

 

[Rystar]

1 box gone is bad luck, 2 gone is really bad luck.

3 now gone has to be something not box related, mechanical or driver...

Speak to Mark and see what he says, I know he will be willing to help. This is the first box I've heard of which he's built that's had problems.

Mine has been fine for 18 months now.

I had thought that, made a post before and it all got put down to driver error?

I need to have a look at what's failed first, should be getting it recovered back to mine today and I've got a day off tomorrow to look.

Just FYI also I'm in no way slating anyone's work on any of the boxes, just my luck it seems!

 

[JamesBryan]

I suspect this time you have killed a driveshaft...

 

[Rystar]

I suspect this time you have killed a driveshaft...

Well it does grind in all gears, very reminiscent of when I had a Golf MK4 as these often used to pop the circlip in the outer join. Strangely though as me and a mate went to push it, if I had it in first gear with the clutch pedal down it groaned like mad, as soon as it was out of gear and the clutch was up... Silent. It also got towed about 7 or 8 miles to a mates house with the engine idling the whole time with seemingly no running gear issues. I guess Friday will tell

 

[R3k1355]

It was grinding in every gear before it stopped going altogether?

What killed the previous two boxes?

 

[Rystar]

It was grinding in every gear before it stopped going altogether?

What killed the previous two boxes?

Sorry mate should have explained that one better, absolutely flawless operation one minute, as I came off a roundabout and changed into third as soon as I lifted the clutch there was a dull sort of 'thud' and now it grinds in all gears. At least all the forward ones haven't tried reverse.

Previous two, the KTEC one had completely shat a bearing and there's some wonderful pictures of this somewhere which Mark sent me. The one rebuilt by the company near mine Fifth gear had completely sheared all teeth and the case had cracked from the shift rods to the fill hole. And the original factory fitted Renault one, I'm not sure, it got sent back to KTEC and nothing else heard of after that!

 

[Rystar]

@R3k1355 Attached Pictures of KTEC box damage, and the shopping list it took to fix!

 

[JB21]

If its the box again just strip for parts and get something else. Like yourself I loved mine but it was just a money pit in the end and had to go as I was sick of throwing money and time into it and I become bitter towards it.

If something minor like James mentioned above then crack on and enjoy it (until it breaks again ?)

 

[JamesBryan]

Clutch release bearing?

 

[Rystar]

Clutch release bearing?

Didn't seem to make any noises out of the ordinary. Brand new Engine Dynamics 5 Puck clutch kit was also fitted when the rebuilt box went back in

 

[JamesBryan]

Didn't seem to make any noises out of the ordinary. Brand new Engine Dynamics 5 Puck clutch kit was also fitted when the rebuilt box went back in

Just with you saying that it was silent one way and not the other.

I'm just guessing at things here ?

Could you select gears with the engine off?

 

[Rystar]

If its the box again just strip for parts and get something else. Like yourself I loved mine but it was just a money pit in the end and had to go as I was sick of throwing money and time into it and I become bitter towards it.

If something minor like James mentioned above then crack on and enjoy it (until it breaks again ?)

This is probably the solution and I think I'm slowly coming to terms with that. It's a shame because these are cracking little motors

I've always fancied a classic Impreza turbo (UK2000 perhaps?) Although I feel that would be a worse can of worms to open hearing all the stories of bottom end woes!

 

[Rystar]

Just with you saying that it was silent one way and not the other.

I'm just guessing at things here ?

Could you select gears with the engine off?

I'd be stupid to write off the clutch at this point on the list of suspicions so I appreciate the guesswork!

I could indeed, second felt a bit odd but I think it was still selecting? Fitted a PMS Shifter setup at the same time as box/turbo so not 100% on how things are supposed to feel yet

 

[JamesBryan]

Did you have fun setting the shifter up?

 

[Rystar]

Did you have fun setting the shifter up?

Literally the most frustrating thing I've ever done on the car!! So much trial and error, even how I had it getting into reverse required a bit more force than I'd of liked but couldn't get all the forward gears in any other position.

I'd happily undertake another gearbox change on stands in my driveway than set up another PMS Shifter ?

 

[JamesBryan]

Literally the most frustrating thing I've ever done on the car!! So much trial and error, even how I had it getting into reverse required a bit more force than I'd of liked but couldn't get all the forward gears in any other position.

I'd happily undertake another gearbox change on stands in my driveway than set up another PMS Shifter ?

We had to do last minute changes on my mates track car on a trackday. Tried everything to get reverse and 5th, just wasn't happening, the linkage rod was hitting the tunnel no matter what we tried. Gave up in the end, but at least he had 1st-4th ?

 

[JB21]

This is probably the solution and I think I'm slowly coming to terms with that. It's a shame because these are cracking little motors

I've always fancied a classic Impreza turbo (UK2000 perhaps?) Although I feel that would be a worse can of worms to open hearing all the stories of bottom end woes!

Maybe a charged and diff'd ep3? Still a car that's on my bucket list to own. Or what about a 250 cup...

 

[imprezaworks]

Strip it and move on, sounds like hassle you can do without?

 

[R3k1355]

I've always fancied a classic Impreza turbo (UK2000 perhaps?) Although I feel that would be a worse can of worms to open hearing all the stories of bottom end woes!

Engine is the least of your worries, it's the rusty chassis/body and the fact most have been thrashed to death.
and to be fair they need a good chunk of extra power on top of stock to actually feel fun, the sort of enjoyment you get from your Clio I mean.

 

[Landyman]

The gearbox is still available brand new from Renault for £1500+VAT before any discount you might negotiate.It’s going to cost you maybe £2,000 but as you said each time it was £1500 anyway, it might be worth putting a brand new box in it.

 

[R3k1355]

Isn't there a conversion to a VAG box?

 

[Ol’ Tarby]

Engine is the least of your worries, it's the rusty chassis/body and the fact most have been thrashed to death.
and to be fair they need a good chunk of extra power on top of stock to actually feel fun, the sort of enjoyment you get from your Clio I mean.

This!

From anything other than a standing start a standard uk2000 isn't quick at all. I think 0-100 the Clio is quicker

 

[RIC172]

Engine is the least of your worries, it's the rusty chassis/body and the fact most have been thrashed to death.
and to be fair they need a good chunk of extra power on top of stock to actually feel fun, the sort of enjoyment you get from your Clio I mean.

Yeah I owned one 10 years ago which had a few mods (decatted, prodrive exhaust, panel filter, Apexi Power FC ecu and remap). I enjoyed driving it, and didn't have to spend a penny on it (other than the abysmal fuel economy) but it wasn't as fun as the Clios in my opinion.

 

[RIC172]

This!

From anything other than a standing start a standard uk2000 isn't quick at all. I think 0-100 the Clio is quicker

Yeah a standard one isn't all that but with a few mods like mine had they'll make nearly 280bhp and a Clio 182 won't keep up. Plenty tried it and failed.

 

[NorthloopCup]

The gearbox is still available brand new from Renault for £1500+VAT before any discount you might negotiate.It’s going to cost you maybe £2,000 but as you said each time it was £1500 anyway, it might be worth putting a brand new box in it.

I made the enquiry when @Rystar sent me the box and they were no longer available from Renault.

I’m as interested to see what’s happened with this gearbox as everyone else as this is the only one I’ve had fail.

 

[Rystar]

What about a meg225 for fun factor?

I have to admit the whole Subaru thing would be childhood nostalgia of watching Rallies and playing the games and having the likes of Burns and McRae engraving the infectious boxer rumble in my mind as a bit of a goal to own. Even if in UK2000 turbo or import WRX/STI variants

Truth is, after dumping £5k into the Clio last month, I ain't exactly flush for cash to fork out on something desirable for the next couple months at least

 

[Rystar]

I made the enquiry when @Rystar sent me the box and they were no longer available from Renault.

I’m as interested to see what’s happened with this gearbox as everyone else as this is the only one I’ve had fail.

Haha I always told you with my luck it would end up breaking! Just a shame it was so soon!

 

[NorthloopCup]

Haha I always told you with my luck it would end up breaking! Just a shame it was so soon!

Lol yeah but not this quick!!
I’m going with one of the following items as a potential failure:
1) clutch
2) driveshaft
3) stripped teeth off a gear/gears.

 

[JB21]

I made more splitting my Clio with a knackered engine than I would have selling it working mate, you just need to be patient and have another mode of transport. Going from your list above most items would move quickly.

 

[DanMateX]

Oh Ryan what have you done haha

 

[RIC172]

What about a meg225 for fun factor?

I have to admit the whole Subaru thing would be childhood nostalgia of watching Rallies and playing the games and having the likes of Burns and McRae engraving the infectious boxer rumble in my mind as a bit of a goal to own. Even if in UK2000 turbo or import WRX/STI variants

Truth is, after dumping £5k into the Clio last month, I ain't exactly flush for cash to fork out on something desirable for the next couple months at least

I'm not convinced you'd find the Megane 225 fun. Plus, it could end being another money pit. How about an MX5? These are a lot of fun, and very cheap to run.

 

[R3k1355]

or just a relatively stock 1*2, still good fun to drive but you're far less likely to explode the gearbox and cost mega monies every 6 months.

 

[JamesBryan]

or just a relatively stock 1*2, still good fun to drive but you're far less likely to explode the gearbox and cost mega monies every 6 months.

His car was stock when he blew the other 2 boxes though ?

 

[RIC172]

That's some serious bad luck. I've had 5 Clio 172/182s and never had a gearbox blow so I must've been lucky. A couple of engines did blow though!

 

[bloke]

Seen plenty of standard power cars kill a box.

Forst guess I'd say is sleeve on drivers side shaft.

 

[NorthloopCup]

Seen plenty of standard power cars kill a box.

Forst guess I'd say is sleeve on drivers side shaft.

Good call! I’d forgotten about that sleeve

 

[Landyman]

I was at Lookers Renault Stockport yesterday and was told the gearbox was available at £1500 + VAT
I normally get 10% discount on parts and l’m not sure if that price is before or after discount.
What’s no longer available he said, is the recon box which was £900+ VAT