buying valver, mechanic probs help!

[Dean]

last nite, i went anmd viewed a n reg clio 16v, the body work is a bit of a mess, and has been broken into, but i plan on getting it fully resprayed and de locked etc and badged, i can get the body work done cheap by from a mate of my dads.

mechanicaly, it has a few probs its done 100k miles, seems to be leaking transmition fluid small amounts, brake fluid or somesort of fluid nr the back of driver front arch and thee is a rattle every time you rev the engine, near the engine mount on the drivers side, the steering when turning it makes a noise like sqeueching as if summits up?!

theres a few silly probs inside the interior, oil gauge and fans not working, probs just blown fuses

if any one can give me any help on what the mechanical probs are, id be very greatfull, thanks Dean

 

[Bubbles]

How much are they asking for it?

 

[Paranoia]

My advice is walk away from it and keep looking. Most valvers are well cared for, this one sounds like its done 100k HARD miles. It wont seem such a bargain when your paying for Renault parts week in week out. Trust me, theyre not cheap when they go wrong.

 

[16V_Matt]

yea id say walk away from it unless its silly cheep like £300

 

[Mike Wright]

Sounds like its hard a hard life. Like above I wouldnt touch it as its going to cost serious money and time. Cosmeticaly it is a easy resolution but mechanically its going to be expensive at a guess, plus you may have new problems along the way.



Like matt said unless its a very very low price !

 

[Dean]

yeh, im really torn, im only 18yr old you see, and iv got a tidy mk2 vtr that iv done bits 2 and will be keeping another month or so, whilst i could ork on the clio, i just want some thing to do, on a night etc and work on it

the engine starts first time, and the vehical was traded in by a police officer, as it was ther final strw for hi when it was attempted to be stolen, the car also has 11months test, all receipts and history, they want about 750 quid, its got full leather 2 and imaculate inside, it starts first time,

i keep having my doubts, might just do it any ways as i work at a mot station on a saturday, and silly problem they can sort

its recently had a new clutch to, and iv heard they cost alot when they go

 

[RicH-]

id buy it for 750 probly not too much wrong with it ...

 

[unofficialPete]

Out of interest are you on daddies insurance?

Sounds like a good project and sounds like its just waiting for a new engine and brakes after the ousides sorted, what better than to drop a 2.0 16v and get bigger brakes?

 

[Dean]

nah, i pay my own insurance mate,

i have a fired on a trade polocy so he does all the running about when im not isured on cars

hel get it to the garage for me etc, there not to much wrong, iu dont want to spend to much money on the car, i think the driveshaft seal might have a nic in it as the gear box has been out to get clutch done, and one of the brake flexis might be nackerd, but im just fancying sorting the body out in my own time, getting it sprayed up in a cherry red and slamming it on a nice set of kahns or masitaly vt7, i wanted a valver when i just passed my test but it wasnt happening, but as the car is only cheap il go 3rd party on her, i dont want the car for speed just love the bulby arches

and bonnet vent, and its got a good spec to, like full electrics and laether seats and lumbar supports abs

still a bit unsure, might go for it any ways and take the risk, iv had a drive slowly and at about 70ish mph drives nice, and all feels well

i think it might be out of power steering fluid also with it making a funny noise when turning steering and not moving

 

[Dean]

in my own name insurance*

i have a mate*

insured*

sorry for typing so fast! poor spelling

 

[weight]

Without looking at it, seems fine!

Nothing you mentioned isnt a known problem of the 16v!

£750 notes, cant go wrong!

electrics mind you are more than blown fuses i bet! ahhh french and there electrics!

 

[Dean]

my sax electrics have been fine, but things like the horn will stop, then the fans etc and its been blown fuses lol

i know there not the best for that sort of stuff!

iv been summing up all my thoughts on paper with my mam, and shes just like live a little, if u make a mistake then, you do dont worry about it and get it, i can work on the car in my dad lock up that is empty at the mo also,

im still unsure about this rattle or what that could be, could it be a nackerd engine mount? sounds weird, when you rev it, ?

 

[Mike Wright]

£750!!!!!!!!!!!!!! buy it

 

[Dean]

lol

the lad is bringin it round my house in a couple of mins just so i can hav a last look over it and say yes or no

i think im going to do it!

 

[Bubbles]

take some piccys if you can.. im sure people on here will help you out with parts if they have them

 

[Dean]

good idea mate, if i get it which im leaning towards doing at this moment

all parts it needs il get put a wanted post up and show pics

 

[Nick Read]

for 750 sheets its worth having and it seems youre prepared for the worst. Just as well really cos tatty valvers are a money pit seriously. Nothing particularly bad about them mechanically compared to other cars, just that working on them is a nightmare because a lot of otherwise simple engine jobs take hours because there is so little room to work in. Plus there are very few pattern parts about, the majority of stuff youd want to save a few quid on and get from Partco are Renault only. Some parts for valvers are shockingly cheap from Renault eg. front wing £30, bonnet just over £100, gearbox £600. Others are mega expensive - eg. Rubber boot for back of one foglight £20, rubbing strips £100!!!!

 

[Dean]

yeh, im prepared for it to all go worng and think why on earth did i buy it lol

but im young and want some fun!



the engine seems to be a very weird set up, and can se they dont look easy to work on!

 

[Paranoia]

Your right Dean. The engine is a peach but a pig to work on.

£750 seems alright so long as you know initially youll be spending out on it left right and centre. Youll also have the bonus of leather at that price too. That must be worth a few quid on the for sale forum alone.

Besides all that youll have a valver which is a superb car. Especially for a 18 year old. I had to put up with 2 Nova SRs before I got my 16v.

 

[Dean]

yeh, there kewl cars, im still undecided as i was saving all this money to sell my car and buy a saxo vts

the vts still seems faster than a 16v, but i just love the clio, and its a change from saxo to another faster saxo

i think il just do it, after all its only a few daft problems that can be sorted and iv got the bonus of working at a garge part time and theyl sort any problems, i only plan to keep the car for 1yr and i only do about 6k miles so hopefully not much will go wrong

il need to tax it

then spent 100 on bits to sort leaks out etc,

then 400 on the paint but after that it will be a tidy car i hope

 

[steve_rt]

get it!sounds like relatively small things - wheel clinder, driveshaft seal, tho the inside things like ppl have said could be a b**ch to fix, my heater direction selector doesnt work and i reckon the whole dash will have to come off for that - but a project valver (if youre prepared for the work) for less than a grand (tho i bet chris_h would say theyre not worth that even in mint condition ) would sound cool, perhaps have another car on standby in case it spends a fair amount of time off road?!

 

[adiclio16v]

doesnt sound too bad stuff like the probs u sed could go at any time

power steering is usually noisy anyway mine is really loud, leaking box could jus be that its overfilled an pushin past the seals

750 sounds a bit of a bargain leather alone wud fetch 250-400 depending on condition

adi

 

[Dean]

leather is in mint con!

had it round my house again for a few hours, its got a blowing exhaust, but the engine sounbd nice not tappy or noisey

chris_h? why wouldnt he reconmend it? has had a bad experience, i do fancy it but iv got this doubt for sum reson saying dont!! lol

 

[Chris_H]

I wouldnt pay that much for it. You could get a decent 19 16V for that.

Also a 16V is plenty faster than a VTS, I beat VTRs in my 1.4 19.

Mechancal probs wont be to hard to overcome as although the access is tight they are simple machines.

 

[Dean]

whats all this with chris h sayin i wont pay etc etc!

mate i bet u beat vtrs all day long in a 1.4 19, if u want to come round my way and show me how your beat a vtr then fair play lol, as i own 1!

i wouldnt want a renault 19, dated and look sh*t imo, sorry to any 1 that owns a tidy one, the clio can look nicer and im in small cars

 

[Dean]

16v is not plenty faster than an S both are very simlar, try saying that to a member such as craggy hel tell u a bit about speed in a vts

 

[epic]

are you aware how much the insurance will cost u?

 

[Dean]

yes mate, going 3rd party if i get it, as its not worth much

im not into going fast or thrashing cars/drving like an idiot so all should be well, i just like a nice spec and a few subtle tidy mods

 

[epic]

k cool just checking cos insurance can be a really killer at 18

how much did you get quoted?

i am 19 2 ync and tesco wanted 260 extra for a k&n on an n reg 16v which takes the piss

 

[Jim172CUP]

id rather have a dated 19 1.4 and beat vtrs all day than have a boy racer mobile. They maybe old but theyre pokey. I used to take great delight in pissing bmw 318s off in my F reg 19.

 

[Dean]

lol ok then! m8

just they cant beat vtr thats the thing! iv got a mate whos got 1 and its feels very underpowerd for a 1.4 but its old!

 

[VoRN-182]

My old 1.2 Nova beat my mates Renault 19 1.4 upto like 90, and when I had a 1.4i Nova I could beat a 19 1.4 all the way?!

Seriously though, why not sell the VTR and get a more looked after 16v? One with less miles etc?

 

[Dean]

iv been thinking that, but i want a car to mess around with and have some fun on my drive? it seems like a good oportunity for that, if i sold my car i think i just use the money and get a vts as its newer and there will be more resale in it

im unsure!

 

[VoRN-182]

Yeah I know what you mean! If you dont mind a bit of work then go for it!



Ill be hunting for a 16v this time next week hopefully!

 

[Dean]

kewl, how old are you?

there wicked little cars,

 

[VoRN-182]

19, nearly 20, Im just waiting on someone to come pick my car up on thursday, then the hunt begins!

Yeah they should be a laugh, Ive got a newest Escort now, which is ok, but lacks the power!

 

[u33db]

Dean, this car your after sounds in similar (or slightly better shape) than my K reg i got a few months ago - it has nearly cost me 3k in repairs and a few more in mods so be careful! On mine: the interior gauges are down to an £80 sender unit on the enginea and the oil leak could be down to leaking shocks. I wouldnt think the rattle is anything serious so if you can handle the bodywork probs then go for it, otherwise walk away cos there is decent ones out there!

 

[VoRN-182]

3K? what went wrong?

 

[cat171]

Dean, if you feel its worth it and youve got the knowledge/patience go for it,

ok so it sounds like its had a bit of a hard life, but for that price its a steal, if it looks like ur goin to spend more that anticpated you could always break it (if the worst came to the worst) on the other hand its probably goin to be sweet once done so youll have a bargain.

also you get a car where there arent that many around any more !

 

[Chris_H]

Good for you Dean, you will fit right in here you seem an arse.

As for my 19 not beating VTRs, I clearly forgot you live in my glovebox and go everywhere with me and I am sure the numerous witnesses I have to show of the 1.4s feats are makign the stories up with me. Could your VTR do over 300 miles between 5 and 6 krpm? No didnt think so. But my 188k 1.4 did this very feat 2 weeks back. Well thats a lie it done nigh on 3 times that distance but I was reffering to the last return leg from leeds to glasgow.

When I had soneji in the car with me in edinburgh some gimp in a vtr seen the urgency of a the knackered carb on the 19, kept up with him till about 60 then the bloody thing stopped pumping fuel! lol Oh yeah he was on his own and I was 2 up.

Also when I give George (Soneji on the forums) back his head hes gonna be able to do VTRs in his clio RT. If you wanna see his head pics then go here http://www.renaultsportsclub.co.uk/forum_3403/topic.asp?TOPIC_ID=9979http://www.renaultsportsclub.co.uk/forum_3403/topic.asp?TOPIC_ID=9979 oh yeah this (doing heads and building engines) is my living so I know what I am talking about.