Clio Trophy Engine failure .....

[bearne1]

Had a very low pitched 'whistle' between 2 and 3k revs for the last 24 hours and filled the car with oil this afternoon. On driving back to work (fairly low revs) the car decided to make a noise, continue driving (just) and now sounds rough as nails.

The car still starts and idles for a handful of seconds and then cuts out, cannot see any leaks, no dashboard lights. A friend listened to the engine and said it sounds very 'metalic' so assume this does not sound good?

Any thoughts or suggestions?

 

[NorthloopCup]

Upload a video if you can mate. Make it easier to try and pinpoint the problem.

 

[bearne1]

I'll see what I can do, don't really want to run it if I can help it until it's relayed to my local Renault expert.

The noise is not apparent on idle but more so when the car is revved, I have a gut feeling it will he internal but here's hoping!

 

[Dannyeff]

I'll see what I can do, don't really want to run it if I can help it until it's relayed to my local Renault expert.

The noise is not apparent on idle but more so when the car is revved, I have a gut feeling it will he internal but here's hoping!

when where the belts done?

 

[H182]

You said you filled it with oil, what was the level before this?

 

[bearne1]

Belts done 2/3 years ago or so and had 'all' tensioners / pulleys for both the cambelt and the aux belt using all genuine Renault parts (i'll check all my receipts tonight).

The level was above the minimum line and topped up to just below the maximum line but unsure why this would cause any fail as it was running fine before the top up and for a mile or two after the top up.....

 

[gambit]

Oh dear, hope it nothing terminal for engine. Good Luck with it.

 

[Martin.]

Mileage on the engine?

 

[McGherkin]

I'll see what I can do, don't really want to run it if I can help it until it's relayed to my local Renault expert.

Who?

 

[bearne1]

It's covered 98k to date, I don't wish to 'name and shame' on here but I trust my garage who fitted the belts and the car has covered ample mileage since they were last replaced, therefore ruling out any poor workmanship!

 

[Mr Plums]

Hope its nothing serious lad, hopefully it will be a simple fix.

 

[McGherkin]

It's covered 98k to date, I don't wish to 'name and shame' on here but I trust my garage who fitted the belts and the car has covered ample mileage since they were last replaced, therefore ruling out any poor workmanship!

I just wanted to know!

 

[bearne1]

No worries and thanks all for the positivity!

Checked my service book and the belts were replaced in Feb 11 on 38k miles so don't think it will be anything related. The aux belt and kit was replaced again after this and the belt from a quick visual inspection looked fine.

Have a feeling it will be valve / spark plug related.

 

[Matt W]

May well just be running on 3 cylinders.

 

[Diagro]

No worries and thanks all for the positivity!

Checked my service book and the belts were replaced in Feb 11 on 38k miles so don't think it will be anything related. The aux belt and kit was replaced again after this and the belt from a quick visual inspection looked fine.

Have a feeling it will be valve / spark plug related.

Well its due its belt in a few k and 1 year anyway. So hopefully not too much damage is done and can be fixed with new belts and the such

 

[bearne1]

Very true, and a service at the same time!

 

[Gibbo4k]

Have u had the car long mate never seen it around in paignton before . Do you know amc motors in preston
Lad who owns it knows his clios used to have the blue turbo one on orange wheels.

 

[bearne1]

Yes know AMC very well!!

Been in Paignton with the Trophy for nearly 6 years now! Used to go to meets but haven't been on here for ages!

 

[Gibbo4k]

Be worth asking Andy to have a look then he your best bet around here . He used to be a Renault tech and has built his turbo one enough times. Else it's a fair trek to Glastonbury for the closest specialist

 

[bearne1]

Andy, hats off to him, had a look at the car this afternoon at very late notice and appears something has failed near the cam belt as bits of black plastic were embedded in the belt itself. He believes the timing is out and believes it to be 2/3 teeth although is confident there is no internal damage, still too early to say. The compression test on each cylinder showed no signs of any issues and the scope (not sure on the technical name) didn't appear to show any images of any damage to the top of the pistons.

He is going to order a cam belt kit and dephaser will a view to fitting and running, fingers crossed it will be ok!

 

[Gibbo4k]

i did reply last nite but seems it's not come thru.
Any news on this today mate.
Was gonna pop down andys for a
Look but had loads on today

 

[bearne1]

Hi mate, no update today but would rather it's looked at in time as want to get it back running sweet and with no more problems. Trust him to fix it right and known him for years. He seemed confident it will be ok. The fact it has good compression at all 4 cylinders can only be positive.

 

[Gibbo4k]

Yea fingers crossed then. Did u ever go out in his turbo one.

 

[bearne1]

No but I've been in a lads over in Bishopsteignton who sold me the Trophy, that thing was epic!

 

[Gibbo4k]

Was that the black one he had for sale in metro motors. I had my cossie at that time was hoping for a burn up with one of these turbo clios.

 

[bearne1]

Correct! Metro Motors is where I bought the T, nearly 6 years ago.
Had some very positive news, no internal damage and car should be fully repaired and running next week. New belts and kits, replaced dephaser and service = time to go and buy a lottery ticket!!

 

[Gibbo4k]

That's good news then .
I did have a look at the black one when it was for sale think it was a ktec car once.

 

[bearne1]

To my amazement the car is complete and running again. Rather happy!

 

[Gibbo4k]

Wow that's good going. Does it tick over smoothly . Well as smooth as one of these can be anyway.
Did he say what caused it at all

 

[bearne1]

It would appear that something has impacted and damaged the cam belt cover causing the debris to mingle in between the belt and its drivetrain causing the jump. I'm going to run an insurance claim as technically this isn't a mechanical failure, more 'accidental' damage.

 

[Ol’ Tarby]

Glad its fixed and running, it could of been a lot worse.

You're going to claim on your insurance though? Surely that's a silly idea?

 

[Diagro]

I suppose it depends on how much it's cost for repair vs his. Premium and what extra next year's premium would be.

 

[Matt W]

Good luck with the insurance phone call...

'I'd like to make a claim please'

'Ok what was the nature of the accident'

'Well there wasn't an accident....'

 

[Diagro]

Does insurance actually cover this sort if thing? In my mind the word insurance is just that, Insurance against anything going badly wrong.

 

[bearne1]

My premium is less than £200 with a very low excess so a claim in my position is going to have a minor effect on my policy. A policy doesn't necessarily just cover accidents, it also covers any sudden occurrences and in my books, this was a sudden and unexpected impact of an object, assuming from the road.
Whilst the insurers are likely to challenge the claim, there is nothing to stop me claiming, and if they reject, nothing ventured nothing gained (I have been in the insurance industry for 10 years + )

 

[Gibbo4k]

Is it all back up and running now then.
Be handy if the insurance pay out for it. Or even some of it

 

[Dan@SJM]

Cambelt idler breaking up is neglect, so IMO insurers won't cover that. Otherwise we could all drive round without changing the oil then when it throws a rod out the block claim for it.

 

[bearne1]

No damage to the cambelt idler or tensioner to the best of my knowledge.

 

[INZ 18]

Belts done 2/3 years ago eh!

60k and 4 years since belts done.
count yourself lucky you dont need an engine and change things well in advance next time.

 

[bearne1]

When you say in advance, how early would you recommend?

I've had the full Aux belt kit replaced twice since the last cam belt but that's a different story!