Clio RS200 (59)
Hi all, and welcome to the most unreliable Clio on the internet
It’s an RS200 (59 plate) on 103,000 miles (unused for 2+ years)
It starts first time, without issue. It has a rough idle and feels as though it’ll stall when you get it off the line, like you’ve started in 3rd. It sometimes backfires and has surges in power at low speed. This started 18 months ago after it had not been used for 6 months
It feels like it has 20hp at most and limited to 30mph
There is a 1-2 second delay when you accelerate and sounds like it’s a cylinder down (whining noise under load)
There is a single code for a VVT wiring fault. There wasn’t previously an engine management light but has now come on since then 2nd garage has worked on it
There is a very rich smell of petrol, but no unusual smoke from the exhaust.
There are no knocking, rattling or grinding noises
The heater no longer works and just blows cold air.
There is a small amount of smoke from the engine bay after several minutes idling
The car passed its MOT – almost failed due to the wiper not completing a full motion (it’s always had small electrical glitches like this)
The emissions results are fine, so I don’t think its Cat related
I thought that because the car was so damp that some of the wiring or ECU were compromised. It rained solidly for 4 months and then one morning I started her up and found there was no power and a significantly quieter engine note.
I have had the ECU swapped out and cloned and an auto-electrician confirm that the wiring loom is intact and not the cause
The following have been replaced since the fault occurred (All new OEM parts)
I have had 2 garages work on it, with totally differing opinions:
I’d really appreciate some help finding a specialist who can work on it or hear from anyone who has had similar issues.
I love this car but its forever breaking. Owned for almost 7 years and it’s been off the road for most of that time.
Just praying the fix isn’t an entire engine rebuild
Many thanks
It’s an RS200 (59 plate) on 103,000 miles (unused for 2+ years)
It starts first time, without issue. It has a rough idle and feels as though it’ll stall when you get it off the line, like you’ve started in 3rd. It sometimes backfires and has surges in power at low speed. This started 18 months ago after it had not been used for 6 months
It feels like it has 20hp at most and limited to 30mph
There is a 1-2 second delay when you accelerate and sounds like it’s a cylinder down (whining noise under load)
There is a single code for a VVT wiring fault. There wasn’t previously an engine management light but has now come on since then 2nd garage has worked on it
There is a very rich smell of petrol, but no unusual smoke from the exhaust.
There are no knocking, rattling or grinding noises
The heater no longer works and just blows cold air.
There is a small amount of smoke from the engine bay after several minutes idling
The car passed its MOT – almost failed due to the wiper not completing a full motion (it’s always had small electrical glitches like this)
The emissions results are fine, so I don’t think its Cat related
I thought that because the car was so damp that some of the wiring or ECU were compromised. It rained solidly for 4 months and then one morning I started her up and found there was no power and a significantly quieter engine note.
I have had the ECU swapped out and cloned and an auto-electrician confirm that the wiring loom is intact and not the cause
The following have been replaced since the fault occurred (All new OEM parts)
- Fuel Injectors
- Water Pump
- Coil Packs
- Spark plugs
- Dephaser Pulley (Garage installed fine but mentioned it was ‘sticking’)
- Timing belt and tensioners
- VVT Solenoid
- Camshaft positions sensor
- Aux Belt
I have had 2 garages work on it, with totally differing opinions:
- Garage 1 (Aug 2024) suspects that worn piston rings are causing the low compression and lack of power (Readings attached) and that an engine swap would be the most economical solution
- Garage 2 (Sep 2025) thinks the piston rings are intact, and the low compression is caused by either the ECU or a broken camshaft
I’d really appreciate some help finding a specialist who can work on it or hear from anyone who has had similar issues.
I love this car but its forever breaking. Owned for almost 7 years and it’s been off the road for most of that time.
Just praying the fix isn’t an entire engine rebuild
Many thanks
