FAO: MK1 172 OWNERS

[vavavoom172]

Hello Peeps,

Ok, just recently bought my mark 1 172 and its fast as feck but because ive not owned a clio 172 I dont know if the cars doing what it should be. ie does everyone agree with the following statements.

the car sometimes has trouble starting only sometimes, you turn the key, the engine starts but then dies down in the revs and cuts out or kicks back in at the last second and is fine then.

also Im getting a sqeaking sound coming from the engion a cold wet start that lasts for about half a mintue and then disappears. if you sit in the srivers seat it sounds like its coming from the right of the engine bay at the top like a belt of some sort squeking but only when its been raining or the car is cold.

any help would be gbreatly appreciated,



Phil.

 

[MarkLD]

Hi phil



I have recently bought a mk1 172 and am having the same problems as you, starts but doesnt always pick up the revs properly. I also have a slow idle speed of about 600rpm which seems rather slow to me. I have read somewhere that its down to the ecu mapping on the mk1 but im not sure. Does anyone know for sure?



Mark

 

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Phil M, I dont have a MK1, but I had the squeking noise, It got steadily worse but started off when the engine was cold. Apparently there is a technical note for the cams and pulleys and pretensioners on the 172. Renault will replace these with the modified parts if you take it in. I assume that car is still under warranty???

When starting are you pausing with the ignition on before starting up??? This usually stops the stalling.

 

[vavavoom172]

I am pausing more now and letting the ligts go out on the dash, when i do this it starts first time but now and again it does what I said above, is this problem serious or shouldnt I worry about it.



as for the squeking sound the cars a W reg and I think the warranty run out a month before I bought the car. Had a rapid fit guy look at it today and he said it might just be the alternator belt, might be a bit dry or old. he sprayed some wd40 like substance on it so I shall see if the problem persists. what do you mean when you say a technical note for the pulleys, cams and pretensioners?

 

[cerbera4.5]

my mk1 only ever fails to start when its really warm!,as u describe revs just fall off and it cuts out,does it a few times then ok.

 

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Its a revision of the design, but one that they will only do if the customer makes a request or a complaint. I think it is quite a big job, but worth asking them about, did you buy it private or have you got a renault used warranty, as it may still be covered by renault.

 

[viceroy]

Ive got a mk1 too and every now and again when I start it has a little trouble just as you describe.

The 600rpm idle is normal, although mine fluctuates sometimes, especially cold

 

[vavavoom172]

not sure about the warranty, the car was first registered on the 01.06.2000 so I think im a month to late for warranty because its only three years isnt it????? the last owner could of had this done and spared me the hassle. If I have to pay for this then theres no point is there??? will it harm the car in future????

 

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Renault swore to me that there is no chance that the problem could cause the cambelt to snap, as this is what the AA said would happen if I kept driving it. Apparently the modification is to stop the whining noise as opposed to stop any mechanical damage from occuring. I cant imagine its cheap to get done as renault had my car for 2 days to do. Also Im pretty certain this involved dropping the engine out.

You are right, the warranty will have expired. If its any consolation, you would have probabley paid for the majority of it anyway. For peace of mind Id get them to check it over. At worst youll have to pay a £25 diagnostic fee. If it continues to become an issue you could always purchase the modified parts and have them fitted at a local garage. Bound to save you loads. Hope this helps.

ADAM

 

[matt4478]

Phil M - Just for your info, I think youll find that all Clios of that age only came with a one year manufacturers warranty (I know as I bought mine new in Sept00 on an X plate) and you can then buy an additional (transferrable) 1, 2 or 3 years cover from some Renault warranty place that ring up a few months into ownership - so Id check to make sure yours isnt actually still warranted.

Also, I complained a few times about a noisy cambelt and my local Renault dealer swapped the cambelt, tensioners, this that and the other (all sounded very expensive to me!) FOC, but it didnt make the car any less noisy anyway! They showed me the technical note and it did mention that it would only be offered if the customer repeatedly complained about the noise, and that it wasnt actually necessary for any other reason.

Hope thats of some help and enjoy your new motor!

Matt

 

[vavavoom172]

thanks for all your help with this matter everyone.

I guess I will put up with it as its only every now and again. just think its a bit daft that on such a powerfull expensive car there seems to be so many little niggly problems that everyone else has experianced to. Maybe they could have made the cars a bit better if thats the case.