Clio 197......Rev's but seems slower than it should

[Evertonmarc]

Hi guys, total new guy, bought my clio this morning. Lovely little 197

Noticed that it if i floor it in say 2nd or 3rd, it seems to rev hard, but doesn't seem to accelerate as fast as i thought it would (bear in mind i've had a Civic Type-R which is pretty similar performance, although it was a couple of years back).
It's around 3-4,000 that it just seems to make noise, but doesn't really shift

Let me point out, its not that it isn't accelerating, it is....just not as hard as i think it should.

The clutch seems ok although saying that i'm no mechanic.

Apart from a slipping clutch, is there anything else it could be?

I could be totally paranoid of course that i've bought a bummer....!!!

 

[aucky]

Timing could be out.

 

[Chrisgti6]

Hi guys, total new guy, bought my clio this morning. Lovely little 197

Noticed that it if i floor it in say 2nd or 3rd, it seems to rev hard, but doesn't seem to accelerate as fast as i thought it would (bear in mind i've had a Civic Type-R which is pretty similar performance, although it was a couple of years back).
It's around 3-4,000 that it just seems to make noise, but doesn't really shift

Let me point out, its not that it isn't accelerating, it is....just not as hard as i think it should.

The clutch seems ok although saying that i'm no mechanic.

Apart from a slipping clutch, is there anything else it could be?

I could be totally paranoid of course that i've bought a bummer....!!!

How old is it? Has it had the belts changed? If so by who?

You should get a small 'kick' at around 5k revs but I've heard if the timing isn't done quite right then it can lose this and be down on power.

It could also be the weather, I know I can feel a difference in my car on these warm days.

 

[Evertonmarc]

It's done 83k (2006 model), had timing belt done at 79k apparently. Has a full renault service history.
Had service few thousand miles ago, but the renault garage haven't ticked the "oil, filters etc" on the book since 59k. Either they forgot to tick the boxes, or it hasn't been done.
Got it booked in for monday for a full service anyway.

Just seems to pause at around 3-4k.....

 

[Beasley Clio182]

It's done 83k (2006 model), had timing belt done at 79k apparently. Has a full renault service history.
Had service few thousand miles ago, but the renault garage haven't ticked the "oil, filters etc" on the book since 59k. Either they forgot to tick the boxes, or it hasn't been done.
Got it booked in for monday for a full service anyway.

Just seems to pause at around 3-4k.....

Only real way to tell if its down on performance is to strap it down to the rollers , have you driven any others ? or did you buy the first one you saw?

reason i ask is they may all feel the same to you!

Civic type Rs rev very quickly remember , my friend has a EP3, now when he revs it seams to rev so much quicker than mine, but side by side they are still the same standard!

If it is that your missing low down torque which it sounds like to me, maybe a RS tuner map will help make it feel more urgent to drive ! did my 182 world of good !

 

[Evertonmarc]

First one mate. I mean if your in 5th and you blip the throttle, you can feel the power.
Just when in low gear, at 3-4k it just doesn't seem to pull. It's probably just me....I'll get one of the mechanics to thrash it when its in for the service, they'll soon tell me

 

[Dan@SJM]

Just make sure Its a garage that know the cars!

 

[Chrisgti6]

First one mate. I mean if your in 5th and you blip the throttle, you can feel the power.
Just when in low gear, at 3-4k it just doesn't seem to pull. It's probably just me....I'll get one of the mechanics to thrash it when its in for the service, they'll soon tell me

To be honest, they don't really pull well until 4.5k ish anyway, it's probably fine!

 

[Evertonmarc]

aye, will do. If not, my mates a mechanic, i'll see when he's free. Used to be a race driver too

 

[Evertonmarc]

Just out of interest, how much should a clutch cost to replace at a non renault garage?

And "if" its the timing, does that mean the cambelt has to be re-done? (whats the cost of a cambelt?)

 

[MicKPM]

I'd honestly say start by finding yourself a reputable Renault specialist close by and seek their advice as some garages are good but most are scarily bad. Experience is everything with these cars...

... if it were one of my cars I'd start with a quick road test to rule out a clutch/brake fault followed by a full, proper diagnostics session to make sure the electronics are working along with a blast on the gas analyser. Anything raised in these tests will not be helping so should be rectified before going any further.

Mick