General questions on the Clio 172

[Hanny]

Hello all, just a few question on the 172's (Phase 2):

1) Is there any history of bearings or front suspension wearing, if so what sort of mileage/age etc?

2) Does the ECU chip have a re-write protection or can be used with units like 'One Click' as used on the Audi's/VW/SEATs etc?

3) Am I correct in my understanding that the service interval is 12500 or 2 years which ever is first and is there any opinions/views on oil/plug changing more frequently?

4) Any other points on parts that may show signs of premature failure that need to be kept an close eye on?

Cheers

 

[Turkish]

Hello all, just a few question on the 172's (Phase 2):

1) Is there any history of bearings or front suspension wearing, if so what sort of mileage/age etc?

No more than any other car IMO, obviously how its driven will affect the rate of wear but they dont seem to need replacing any quicker than you would expect.

2) Does the ECU chip have a re-write protection or can be used with units like 'One Click' as used on the Audi's/VW/SEATs etc?

The ECU's can be remapped but very few tuners seem to offer this on Renaults preferring piggyback ECU's they can manipulate instead.

3) Am I correct in my understanding that the service interval is 12500 or 2 years which ever is first and is there any opinions/views on oil/plug changing more frequently?

Servicing is every 12k or 2 years whichever comes soonest. Some people change the oil every 6k particularly if they do track days other than that most seem to stick to the renault schedule.

4) Any other points on parts that may show signs of premature failure that need to be kept an close eye on?

Exhaust back boxes are known to fall off due to the pipe rotting where it meets the box.

Cheers

.

 

[edde]

1) I know fo a few which have gone but there on very hard driven track day cars.
2) Nope nothing like that as presnet you can get replacment ECU's with different mapping (often refered to a R-Sport ECU's for about £200~250).
3) Ever 12k or 2 years there a 1k/1month allowance though.
I'd personally change the oil ever 6k / 6 months. if you drive it very hard but do little milage ever 4k or as and when it gets dirsty would be a better idea.
4) Not realy exhaust can rattle at 4k thats about it just change the brake fluid ever year maybe for better stuff and check the fluid levels etc.

 

[Hanny]

Thanks Loony for your quick reply.

Interesting about the ECU's then - this must mean that the ECU chip is write protected thus using a piggy back system such as Unichip will allow the mapper to manipulate the voltages-signals to allow the AFM/MAF lambdas not effect added more advance to the ignition.

Does the Clio have an AFM or a MAF senor?

Also is it correct that two lambdas are used one pre cat and one post cat, if so have those who have changed to a free flow exhast with high flow cat had any problems with idle etc?

Thanks for putting me write on the other points, am relatively new to the Clio's, I sold my Coupe and gave the money to the misses and she got a Clio - since I modified my Coupe quite a bit I intend to learn what I can about the Clio and see whats worth doing etc.

Cheers again.

 

[Hanny]

Thanks edde.

 

[Turkish]

Thanks Loony for your quick reply.

Interesting about the ECU's then - this must mean that the ECU chip is write protected thus using a piggy back system such as Unichip will allow the mapper to manipulate the voltages-signals to allow the AFM/MAF lambdas not effect added more advance to the ignition.

I think its possible to remap but most tuners find it easier to use a piggyback as its a cheaper way for them to use a laptop and the piggyback rather than buying expensive equipment and software to rewrite the maps on the standard ECU.

Does the Clio have an AFM or a MAF senor?

MAF IIRC

Also is it correct that two lambdas are used one pre cat and one post cat, if so have those who have changed to a free flow exhast with high flow cat had any problems with idle etc?

Two lambdas yes, i used to have a 172 put a decat on and disconnected the second lambda (this one only checks the cat/1st lambda are working it doesnt affect engine running) and had no issues or fault lights.

Thanks for putting me write on the other points, am relatively new to the Clio's, I sold my Coupe and gave the money to the misses and she got a Clio - since I modified my Coupe quite a bit I intend to learn what I can about the Clio and see whats worth doing etc.

Cheers again.

..

 

[Dan@SJM]

Thanks Loony for your quick reply.

Interesting about the ECU's then - this must mean that the ECU chip is write protected thus using a piggy back system such as Unichip will allow the mapper to manipulate the voltages-signals to allow the AFM/MAF lambdas not effect added more advance to the ignition.

indeed

Does the Clio have an AFM or a MAF senor?

a map sensor

Also is it correct that two lambdas are used one pre cat and one post cat, if so have those who have changed to a free flow exhast with high flow cat had any problems with idle etc?

shouldnt pose too many problems

Thanks for putting me write on the other points, am relatively new to the Clio's, I sold my Coupe and gave the money to the misses and she got a Clio - since I modified my Coupe quite a bit I intend to learn what I can about the Clio and see whats worth doing etc.

engine mounts are the main culprits!

Cheers again.

hope this helps

 

[Clarkie172]

i though most cars had maf sensors these days? mass air flow meters? just ppl with turbos go on about them all the time! Subaru and VW/Seat turbo owners seem to worry about them quite a bit. replacing air filters tend to mess them up and make the car run lean leading to det??

 

[KDF]

Ive just had to replace a whole load of bearings.. but they lasted 40,000 miles and didnt actually go till my area was littered with speed bumps.. infact ive had no end of suspension/steering related problems since the speed bumps were put down.. and I dont exactly race over them !

 

[MarkM]

I have just had a 200cell cat and 2.5" bore exhaust put on my 182. Idle is fine and no SERV light on so the management hasnt detected any problems.

IMO car revs more cleanly between 3000 to 5000rpm.

First lambda is in the manifold the second after the cat. My exhaust was custom so they reconnected the second lambda after the sports cat.

 

[Hanny]

i though most cars had maf sensors these days? mass air flow meters? just ppl with turbos go on about them all the time! Subaru and VW/Seat turbo owners seem to worry about them quite a bit. replacing air filters tend to mess them up and make the car run lean leading to det??

Hi - I used to run a highly modified turbo car and that used an AFM, the AFM has greater restrictions than a MAF and can cause the management to r****d slightly resulting in reduced performance.

MAF sensors have a wider voltage range for signal so arnt so hard to tune but the down sides are that the safety features are less detailed.

In principle the engine management will use the the AFM/MAP for high rpm adjustments and the lambdas for idle, this is when the engine is at normal working temps - when cold the water temp sender is active and tells the ECU management to ignore both the lambda and AFM/MAF until normal temps are reached - one of the reasons for lumpy cold start/driving.

This is the case with turbo cars - am reasonably confident that the same principle in general is again used for normal aspirated engines etc.

 

[Hanny]

I have just had a 200cell cat and 2.5" bore exhaust put on my 182. Idle is fine and no SERV light on so the management hasnt detected any problems.

IMO car revs more cleanly between 3000 to 5000rpm.

First lambda is in the manifold the second after the cat. My exhaust was custom so they reconnected the second lambda after the sports cat.

Thats good to know, I did some R&D with an exhaust company called Milltek and was behind a design for the Fiat Coupe Turbo, this involved to a 2.5" cat back with a 100 cpi race cat that was sourced from a company in Germany who made the internal 100cpi cat for the M3 touring cars.

Most OE cats are 400 - 600 cpi and when replaced with either a cat by pass pipe or a race cat you will find that mid range torque will increase as seems to be the case as you have described, only down side is that you may have to run the engine are higher rpm to a standard cat'd car as a lower cpi cat takes longer to heat up and will cool quicker thus emissions are higher if the race cat is not kept hot.

 

[edde]

I have just had a 200cell cat and 2.5" bore exhaust put on my 182. Idle is fine and no SERV light on so the management hasnt detected any problems.

First lambda is in the manifold the second after the cat. My exhaust was custom so they reconnected the second lambda after the sports cat.

Some cars can survive less than a few minutes before throwing a light some don't throw a light for month.
The 182's seem to have more problem as even if you unplug the sensor it can throw a warning light due to the ECU programming being different.
I'm not sure how many cell the standard cat is I thourght it was 200 so maybe you won't have any trouble.

 

[gh172]

I have just had a 200cell cat and 2.5" bore exhaust put on my 182. Idle is fine and no SERV light on so the management hasnt detected any problems.

IMO car revs more cleanly between 3000 to 5000rpm.

First lambda is in the manifold the second after the cat. My exhaust was custom so they reconnected the second lambda after the sports cat.

MarkM - I'm shopping for a sports cat for my 172 Mk2 at the moment. So far I only have the Janspeed (£300, unknown cpi) or a custom H&S (£450, 100cpi) as options. Can you say any more about where yours was made, and approx. cost?

Cheers,
Gareth

 

[Hanny]

Why not give Milltek a call they specialise in exhausts for Audi RS4/6's and a load of others, I have worked with this company with R&D on an exhaust system for another car and they seem to be the UK leaders in quality 100cpi high flow cats with good warranties.

If they dont have a design for the Clio you could have a very cheap or at cost exhaust for them doing the design etc.

How ever beware as many have purchased cheap cats but the less cpi (cells per inch) if not of high grade material will colapse in a relativly short time.

 

[MarkM]

hmmm, cheap sports cat mine was £160.

This did seem cheap and when I looked at it was not what I expected see pic. Others I have seen are tubular metal where as this is pressed and flatter. Oh well if it fails I will have to invest in a better one.

I am getting an Omex fitted next week so my SERV will be on anyway!