Clio 197/200 common issues.

[FatRS]

I'm in the market for a 200 with limited mechanical knowledge.

I'm aware these would have been covered numerous times in part but to have in one place to answer my questions, what are the issues that "dog" the 197/200?

I'm aware of the 3rd and 4th gear syncro and flexi manifold.
Something about hub bearings?

How can you determine the problem in the first instance when viewing a car?
What is the fix for each of these?
What cost to repair?
Any aftermarket parts to rectify in the future?
Any specialists that would be advised to do these? (Thinking more gearbox syncros-ideally down South)

@NorthloopCup Where are you located and what do you charge?

Would buying a car needing the syncros be a good idea as they tend to be so common that by repairing it to start with you are starting from new and having more time before future failure?

 

[imprezaworks]

None centering wheel is a sign, i think?!?.

Gearbox and exhaust as you say. Ive looked at them alot over the past few months. Would have to be a 200 for me, well budget dependent.

 

[hsustyle]

Hubs you'll notice pretty quickly. Steering should be really sharp and a tad heavy. Mine would be really vague and pull all over the road when the hubs were worn.

With synchos, by now any with issues would have been been sorted. Mine never had an issues and I had it for two years and gave it hell. A mates one had crunching and his had a pretty gentle life.

 

[FatRS]

One I’m looking at has the gearbox issue at 5k in third.

 

[NorthloopCup]

@FatRS i’m in Lichfield mate.

Look at the inner edges of the tyres up front. Another sign that the hub bearings are goosed.

 

[R3k1355]

One I’m looking at has the gearbox issue at 5k in third.

Don't buy anything with gearbox issues

 

[Gus]

There is also the so called flat spot, you go to pull away quickly and the car sometimes Kangaroos a bit.

 

[bloke]

There is also the so called flat spot, you go to pull away quickly and the car sometimes Kangaroos a bit.

Not really so called as it's a flat spot.

 

[DaveL485]

I'm in the market for a 200 with limited mechanical knowledge.

I'm aware these would have been covered numerous times in part but to have in one place to answer my questions, what are the issues that "dog" the 197/200?

I'm aware of the 3rd and 4th gear syncro and flexi manifold.
Something about hub bearings?

How can you determine the problem in the first instance when viewing a car?
What is the fix for each of these?
What cost to repair?
Any aftermarket parts to rectify in the future?
Any specialists that would be advised to do these? (Thinking more gearbox syncros-ideally down South)

@NorthloopCup Where are you located and what do you charge?

Would buying a car needing the syncros be a good idea as they tend to be so common that by repairing it to start with you are starting from new and having more time before future failure?

Scuttle drains blocking and wipers failing (test the wipers on a test drive even if its not raining, I did on mine and they didnt work, he fixed them before I bought)
Keyless lock button failing on the door
Exhaust flexis, listen for a blow - itll be more evident at cold start
Engine mounts shitting themselves, feel for lurch when you come on/off the power
Any of the EIGHT balljoints in each front corner. Drive on and off a low kerb and listen for knocks, vague steering and not self centreing, you should budget to replace most of them tbh - the drop and anti rotation links aren't too pricey and neither is the tie rod end, but the bottom arm balljoint and both swivel hub joints are about fifty quid each and can be a b*****d to fit.
Crunches in the box. This will be most evident on higher rev downshifts, you always feel the bad engagement there first. Go into sixth at >3000rpm and start to slow and downshift through the box aiming for about 4k downshift rpm, do fairly fast shifts don't tickle it. You will feel any drag in engagement through the gearstick.