First Car Project - Clio 172 PH1

[TheBandit]

https://cliosport.net/threads/renaultsport-specialist-near-manchester.827684/

Not the hardest thing in the world but I wouldn't do it as my first, definitely need all the right tools and double-triple checking with the workshop manual as the timing is very sensitive.

I paid a specialist to do mine, to me the cost of the labour is worth the engine not going blowy-uppy.

 

[TheBandit]

*There is also about an inch of room to do it, your knuckles will be bleeding, and you will be swearing. Unless you pull the engine out the top, then it's 'easy'.

 

[TheBandit]

Really should have put this all in one post... but this is a good vid of what you would be in for: .

Bare in mind if you have PAS and aircon there is even more stuff in the way

 

[Jakeeaton127]

https://cliosport.net/threads/renaultsport-specialist-near-manchester.827684/

Not the hardest thing in the world but I wouldn't do it as my first, definitely need all the right tools and double-triple checking with the workshop manual as the timing is very sensitive.

I paid a specialist to do mine, to me the cost of the labour is worth the engine not going blowy-uppy.

I’ve got help from my mate and his brother but they have never done one of these before, Renaults are not their cup of tea.
I have asked Gary on the forum you showed so I’m waiting for his response same truth Commerad motorsport up in Liverpool. I’m not sure they will fit my parts that I’ve bought but worth a try

*There is also about an inch of room to do it, your knuckles will be bleeding, and you will be swearing. Unless you pull the engine out the top, then it's 'easy'.

I do know that these are a bit naff to do, I had a little noisy down that side of the engine yesterday and there is literally no room.

Really should have put this all in one post... but this is a good vid of what you would be in for: .

Bare in mind if you have PAS and aircon there is even more stuff in the way

i have seen this video before, im guessing mine had PAS and aircon as it is a ph1.

I’m in two mind sets, I want to send it off so I don’t cause the engine to go kaboom and I know it’ll be done properly. However, I know I’d probs have a laugh with my mate doing it and it would be nice to know how to do it for in another 5 years. I’ll wait to see what responses I get first.

 

[TheBandit]

Could be a laugh! If you have the time I don't see why not you sound like you have your head screwed on. The manuals are available on the forum if you need them or I can dm them to you. The stone automotive vid is good but the manual has all the torque specs etc readily available, and you don't have to rewind a pdf.

 

[Jakeeaton127]

Could be a laugh! If you have the time I don't see why not you sound like you have your head screwed on. The manuals are available on the forum if you need them or I can dm them to you. The stone automotive vid is good but the manual has all the torque specs etc readily available, and you don't have to rewind a pdf.

I can’t see why I couldn’t do it, I do all the guides (well i think I do).

They don’t do a Haynes manual for the RS do they, only the lesser trims.

 

[Steve1986]

I do know that these are a bit naff to do, I had a little noisy down that side of the engine yesterday and there is literally no room.

I bought a new AC compressor and aux belt kit for my 182 while I was in the process of getting my AC working. Took one look down the side of the bay, laughed, and booked it in at a local garage

Cambelt won't be physically harder, but as others have mentioned it requires specific timing tools to line everything up correctly, and frankly I wouldn't even take it to a normal garage for that. When my belts were done I went to a local specialist and even he sighed when I mentioned it was for a timing belt change.

 

[James]

I watched that that stone automotive video and I felt fairly confident I could do it myself. You've got to have all the right locking tools though, and not the cheap s**t ones.

You just need to tripple tripple tripple check everything before turning it over

Could get a cheap 2nd hand engine that you can have on a stand and look it over and get a feel for it and practice on?

 

[TheBandit]

I can’t see why I couldn’t do it, I do all the guides (well i think I do).

They don’t do a Haynes manual for the RS do they, only the lesser trims.

Yeah there are no RS Haynes unfortunately, but the Renault workshop manuals are good if you have them.

I bought a new AC compressor and aux belt kit for my 182 while I was in the process of getting my AC working. Took one look down the side of the bay, laughed, and booked it in at a local garage

Cambelt won't be physically harder, but as others have mentioned it requires specific timing tools to line everything up correctly, and frankly I wouldn't even take it to a normal garage for that. When my belts were done I went to a local specialist and even he sighed when I mentioned it was for a timing belt change.

And you never know what you may find, it may open a can of worms.

If you think it's a one day job it's probably two. Find a cracked bracket and suddenly it's seven.

And I don't say that to scare you, it might all be fine, from experience on these cars it rarely goes to plan!

 

[James]

Yeah there are no RS Haynes unfortunately, but the Renault workshop manuals are good if you have them.



And you never know what you may find, it may open a can of worms.

If you think it's a one day job it's probably two. Find a cracked bracket and suddenly it's seven.

And I don't say that to scare you, it might all be fine, from experience on these cars it rarely goes to plan!

On any cars

 

[Jakeeaton127]

Ive decided that im going to send it to Cormorant Motorsport up in Liverpool. He’s happy to use my parts and the coolant that’s in the boot. I’d rather do that and save the Absolute faff that is doing it myself. As you say, all it takes is a bracket to snap and then I’m buggered.

It’s a job I’ll probably end up doing myself when it next needs doing in 5 years time so Im not missing out on much.

In the meantime, I’m going to crack on doing some of the jobs needed for an MOT so it can get its belts and drive home.

 

[TheBandit]

You would have learned so much in five years it will be so much easier by then (although most owners leave it 8+ years for timing belt... Aux belt/tensioner needs doing every 3/4).

And not that you are thinking of selling (nobody ever is, until they do) but knowing the belts have been done at a reputable garage will hold the value well.

 

[Jakeeaton127]

I’ve changed my decision, I’m going to do the belts on my own with some help from better more experienced mechanics. If I’m not happy I don’t have to start the car,

You would have learned so much in five years it will be so much easier by then (although most owners leave it 8+ years for timing belt... Aux belt/tensioner needs doing every 3/4).

And not that you are thinking of selling (nobody ever is, until they do) but knowing the belts have been done at a reputable garage will hold the value well.

As you say it’s better for the history knowing that It has been done at a proper garage but I doubt I’ll be selling it anytime soon.

 

[TheBandit]

Let us know how you get on, I have been tempted to do it - be good to have an honest take on a driveway belt change.

 

[Louis]

They're not particularly complex, you just need to remove so much car to do them its probably faster to pull the whole engine.

 

[TheBandit]

They're not particularly complex, you just need to remove so much car to do them its probably faster to pull the whole engine.

And while the engine is out chuck in a new clutch

 

[Jakeeaton127]

Let us know how you get on, I have been tempted to do it - be good to have an honest take on a driveway belt change.

It doesn’t look to bad at all, ive just watched the video of the 172 Cup and another I found a trophy. Them two videos have covered what I need to do and with the Renault guides it can’t be that bad.

 

[Struggler]

I did a timing belt on my ph1 for the first time recently.

Engine was out the car on a stand and I still had a little tantrum on my third try getting it to line up. Got it eventuality only to find cylinder 1 was dead and had to strip the block

I wouldn't say its hard per se, but you try as hard as you can to get it perfect, only to spin it over a few times, realise it's frictionally out and you have to start again.

If you have infinite time and patience and space then why not give it a go, as long as you follow the steps and torque everything to spec the only thing you're going to screw up is the timing a fraction and be down on power. And then you can just give up and go to a specialist if it's still out, hopefully they'll have space on their books by then!

 

[AUS-172]

Yes, it can be done without a ramp.

As far as changing timing belts go, it's definitely one of the more punishing cars to do it on - that is, there's f**k all room to access things, no timing marks, special tools required etc.

That said, it's obviously not impossible and there's plenty of info around on how to do it if you wanted to have a crack.

 

[Jakeeaton127]

So I’m currently looking into the door lock and I’m pretty sure it needs a new lock on that side. Is the thing the screwdriver point too meant to be loose as it is on this door.

I

 

[gudger12345]

i bet the plastic tab has snapped and will not hold the bar on the lock mechanism

 

[Jakeeaton127]

i bet the plastic tab has snapped and will not hold the bar on the lock mechanism

I think I’m just going to buy a new mechanism for it. I think that’s someone didn’t care too much putting this door together a few things are broken so I wouldn’t be surprised.

 

[Jakeeaton127]

Is this read light something to do with the immobiliser/locks? Only just noticed it stays illuminated all the time.

Perhaps something to do with the passengers door?

 

[James]

View attachment 1795741

Is this read light something to do with the immobiliser/locks? Only just noticed it stays illuminated all the time.

Perhaps something to do with the passengers door?

Yeah that's the immobiliser light mate. Passenger door won't have any impact on that

 

[Struggler]

always illuminated even when the ignition is off?

As James said it's the immobilizer light. Staying on solid means it's unhappy.

Did you have another thread saying your key we mega dead?

 

[Jakeeaton127]

always illuminated even when the ignition is off?

As James said it's the immobilizer light. Staying on solid means it's unhappy.

Did you have another thread saying your key we mega dead?

Yeah I did, someone’s having a look into the key next week. I’m pretty sure it’s the mircoswitch that’s left the circuit board a bit but I’m not the best with stuff like that and I don’t have a soldering iron small enough to fix it.

I imagine that’s what’s causing, it only thing is I dont remember the light being on last week. Might just be me though.

 

[Struggler]

That would be my bet, i think solid light means key not detected, doesnt explain why the light would have suddenly come up.

 

[Jakeeaton127]

That would be my bet, i think solid light means key not detected, doesnt explain why the light would have suddenly come up.

I have cut the aux belt off and cranked it over for a turn to make sure it definitely wasn’t seized. Could that be it?

As it’s had the key turn it over it’s detected it as dead?? I’m definitely no where near and expert on this kind of thing.

 

[Struggler]

Absence of the aux belt wont trigger anything (other than the battery light).

I imagine it will try to detect the key as soon as turn the ignition on and not finding it will mean it wont spark/run the fuel pump, so maybe that is what triggered it. Was that the first time you turned the ignition on?

 

[YorkshireKyle]

Sounds daft, but I've done it on a few PH1s

Make sure the red button in the engine bay near the ECU hasn't been messed about with or pressed. I spent 10 mins farting about pulling my hair until I realised the red button of despair had been pressed

 

[Jakeeaton127]

Absence of the aux belt wont trigger anything (other than the battery light).

I imagine it will try to detect the key as soon as turn the ignition on and not finding it will mean it wont spark/run the fuel pump, so maybe that is what triggered it. Was that the first time you turned the ignition on?

Nope, the fuel pump primes and it has started now. I know I shouldn’t have due to the belts which is the reason I cut the crank off.

It’s definitely not the first time the ignition had been on, had it on a few times mainly to try and sort out the locks and lights it needed doing.

My idea was that as it’s started with a key that’s dead, it could have caused the light?

 

[Jakeeaton127]

Sounds daft, but I've done it on a few PH1s

Make sure the red button in the engine bay near the ECU hasn't been messed about with or pressed. I spent 10 mins farting about pulling my hair until I realised the red button of despair had been pressed

Now it has, but it never pressed down so I left it. Would that cause any issues? Other than it not firing up which it has done now.

 

[YorkshireKyle]

If you've pressed it then you'll be sound

It's a fuel cutoff switch, but pressing it in will reset it. Again, probably sounds daft, but give the relays a wiggle on the UCH and in the engine bay. Sometimes they get a bit sticky after being sat around, especially if there's any moisture gotten near them

 

[James]

At least it starts

Very brave that though haha!

 

[Jakeeaton127]

At least it starts

Very brave that though haha!

I thought it’s not going to snap after a few seconds of running. Also thought, if the key didn’t start it then it might give me more of a clue into its issues.

I wasn’t expecting how loud it would be without a back box on. I did get some strange looks from the neighbours.

 

[Jakeeaton127]

If you've pressed it then you'll be sound

It's a fuel cutoff switch, but pressing it in will reset it. Again, probably sounds daft, but give the relays a wiggle on the UCH and in the engine bay. Sometimes they get a bit sticky after being sat around, especially if there's any moisture gotten near them

I’ll give it a try when it’s next out of the garage on Sunday for the timing belts.-

 

[James]

I thought it’s not going to snap after a few seconds of running. Also thought, if the key didn’t start it then it might give me more of a clue into its issues.

I wasn’t expecting how loud it would be without a back box on. I did get some strange looks from the neighbours.

Tbf you did say you wanted to hear what it sounded like with no exhaust on

If it started though then there's no issue with the immobiliser/key. The remote central locking will be the microswitch definitely

The light is a bit of an odd one though

 

[Jakeeaton127]

Tbf you did say you wanted to hear what it sounded like with no exhaust on

If it started though then there's no issue with the immobiliser/key. The remote central locking will be the microswitch definitely

The light is a bit of an odd one though

I have a feeling the light is caused by the door wiring. My dad put that back together and after he did the door didn’t work with the internal central locking so he messed with it and it fixed it. That’s when I noticed the light for the first time but as I’ve said I can’t remember if it had it before then.

My neighbours are really going to hate me this Sunday once the timing belts done. I’m sick of pushing the thing in and out of the garage and I think I’ll have to keep the back box off for a bit longer .

 

[Louis]

At least it starts

Very brave that though haha!

Haha that's crazy after you timed it just before selling using tipex!

 

[Louis]

Oh s**t this isn't a dm