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Jon's Trackday PH1 172 project thread



  172, Tiguan
I bet i've knocked that loose then if that's where it is, because that sounds very near where the pre-cat lambda sensor wiring was headed. I'll have a fiddle round!
 
  Golf GTD Mk7
So it that the secret to disabling ABS on a clio. Just don't fit the ring ;) I presume you'll be putting some on?
 
  172, Tiguan
Haven't updated this in ages, but truth be told, not a lot has happened.

Here is a recap of what this thread is missing - there's a fair chance you've seen this before though!

Issue:

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Working wonders for my limited mileage policy though!
I've bought a new one.

A couple of exhaust pics:

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Rockingham:

I thought i'd report back after Rockingham and detail how the car went and the issues that were thrown up during the day.

I travelled down in relative ease on Friday after packing the car up at home. I'd fiddled around with a few things in the morning but had given up on the idea of fixing in the Odessey battery as there simply wasn't time to get it all sorted. I looked at putting it in front of the passenger seat but this involves a chassis rail getting in the way. Next up was putting it in the boot, but unless it goes in the spare wheel well then mounting points become troublesome due to things under the car. Finally I thought about sticking it where the original battery is under the bonnet, but with nothing obvious to attach it to in the time that was available I left it be.

The journey down took about 3 hours and the car was fine. Only the weird random idle issue causing any trouble. It blew a rear bulb as well, thanks to the 30 people that pointed that out!

We all know that the weather was crap Saturday morning but after noise testing and Darren's briefing I ventured out for my first track laps for 2 years. I soon discovered a driveshaft knock if I changed gears quickly and came off the clutch too fast (related to suspension stuff mentioned below i suspect). I also discovered the brakes were offering no feel at all. Approaching the first hairpin the brakes were simply locking up at any speed. Fortunately I managed 5 or 6 laps and came in. Everything seemed fine with the car for a first run out. I then took Chris out for a few laps and on the back straight before the final Mickey Mouse left right left the car locked up again. Luckily there was an escape road and all blushes were saved, but it wasn't much fun at all.

Things improved along with the weather after lunch ad on went the red wheels with the 888's. Pressing on it was like chalk and cheese, but it's become apparent that the H&R stuff is far too soft and the front of the car is a bit low. With the added grip the car was leaning to much and the driveshafts were catching the chassis rail. At the end of the day when swapping the wheels back over the driveshafts had visible score marks in them. I'm in two minds whether to try and get some stiffer springs manufactured for the H&R dampers or whether to save for some better suspension. I'd appreciate the input. It took all of 2 corners following Nige to see he had far better grip than i did and his car has very little body roll - I want that!!

Regardless we has some good sessions in the afternoon and the car was as reliable as i could've wished and we got a bit quicker towards the end of the day.

When it was all finished I packed up and drove 190 miles home in one go as well. I got back into Durham at about 9pm, stopped at Tesco for a Mothers Day card and the car refused to start. I pressed the isolator switch under the bonnet and she fired first time. Something is causing this to trip as it did it at Gareths last week as well. Idle is still all over the place but apparently I need to clean the idle sensor/valve thingy and that might help.

I have vowed not to spend any money on the thing for a whole month though, so nothing will happen until May, but suggestions on suspension gratefully received (cheap as poss!)

Few pics of the day, from my friend's Loz & Chris + the excellent one Louise took and finally one of Kev's I think, thanks :)

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-------------------------

I'm not spending any money on the car this month.

I've investigated getting the suspension rebuilt, turns out the H&R stuff is 90% Bilstein bits so it'd have to go off to them for a refurb. Quote from a guy that referred me to them: 'Beware it'll take weeks'. Not so sure i'm happy with that so further investigation shows Bilstein platforms (coilover rings) are available to buy separately. I need 4, so i'll order soon and see what I can do.

In an attempt to solve the idle (or lack of) issue i've had the inlet stuff apart looking for airleaks. I've had the throttle body off and cleaned thoroughly and the idle valve off which was also cleaned. Everything back together again the car held an idle so I took it to work today to give it a run and see how it went. I struggled to get over the carpark speed bumps for a start and the idle is still crap. At one point it was idleing at 3000rpm. The idke does settle if you blip the throttle again.
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As i pulled up on the drive at home the car was stuck at 2000 rpm so i had a fiddle and it seems to be that the throttle body isn't closing properly. It's a cable type body on the phase 1 172's and even though the cable is totally slack the wheel where the cable clips into isn't fully closing - it's staying open by about 2mm. If you turn the wheel by hand you can close it fully and the revs sit at the correct idle. I played around with it and it seems the spring is slightly slack or sticky at this point and is causing the issues. I'd thoroughly cleaned this bit and re-greased so its obviously fecked. I've sourced a refurbed one from a specialist so when it arrives i'll give it a go. Fingers crossed.

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After a bit of a wait the new throttle body turned up. Off with the old, transferred everything across to the new one, on it goes. Final task is to connect up the throttle cable. Oh, there doesn't appear to be a clip for it to fit in?

Off it all comes.

Strip it back down, inspect the plastic wheel the cable runs round. Different.

Old one goes back on.

New one is visually identical (even same part number) but fits a Megane.
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-----------------------------------

After a bit more waiting i've got another throttle body. I've had time to give the other one a bloody good service though and I think i've fixed it. I've not got any time for a while to fit it.

Car hasn't moved in a month. lol.

I did clean it quickly the other weekend between showers.

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I've purchased a set of Ktec coilovers that were cheap to tide me over whilst i either get the H&R's rebuilt or save for something decently adjustable.

-------------------------------------

Goodwood booked for August.

----------------------

I might bring the car to FCS. Its a fair way from where we are and as we need more than the two seats the Clio has to offer It might stay locked up in the garage.
 
Last edited:
  172, Tiguan
LOL @ Seb. mmm Bounty.

Jury is out on the bonnet mate, I kinda like it, but i'm not completely sold on it. I've still got the original. I need the aerocatches for engine plans though...

Stava, thank you. Seems bloody ages ago Rockingham. :(
 
  172, Tiguan
Been fiddling about with the car but not achieving a great deal in recent weeks. I've picked up some stiffer rear springs and still haven't got around to sorting the front end out. I did remember that I'd bought a set of spacers, so i've put these on the front. It's given me 50mm of extra track, but it's also made it look a bit better.

Before:

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After:

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The weekend before the last one I got the opportunity to go for a run out in the car to a local(ish) car show at Corbridge. I thought it'd be a pretty low key affair, but when we arrived we were ushered onto a Renault Sport stand. I didn't really want to hang around too long as i'd made plans in the afternoon, so luckily it was easy to drive out of! Quite a few people asked about the car which was nice. It was an enjoyable couple of hours, and there were some great cars on show, everything from Ultima's to MK1 Escorts.

Most of these are pictures others took (thanks)

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The journey showed that the idle problem was still there, so last weekend I decided to take the entire inlet system apart looking for a seal I might have missed off. I didn't find any missing, but it was good to see everything was still as dry as a bone down there after 700 miles of mixed use.

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I rebuilt everything and put on the new throttle body I picked up. I've not had a chance to test drive it yet to see if it's made any difference, but I live in hope.
 
  172, Tiguan
Is that because I don't have 2118's or Turini's and a new style badge like everyone else on here?
 
  Turbos.
He thinks if he acts enough of an ASW he'll get a part on Geordie Shore.

Looks like far too much work to me Jon...thought of taking up chess instead?
 
  172, Tiguan
I'm not orange enough for that show Robert. I've also discovered that calling someone from Durham a geordie is akin to calling an Arsenal fan a Tottenham supporter!

I know though, I need a team to build it for me. x
 

Tom

ClioSport Club Member
  EV (s)
I do like how it's so anti purist. Proper function over form.

What?

Those lights (which i hate and find hillarious in equal measure) and the bonnet, which is so incredibly gash. Are pretty much there to wind people up. f**k i've just noticed the tow strap. FLOL.

Anyway in conculsion, i have no idea what i think of it. But it does make me smile.

It'll have lexus lights on the back next week or something.
 

Rob

ClioSport Moderator
What?

Those lights (which i hate and find hillarious in equal measure) and the bonnet, which is so incredibly gash. Are pretty much there to wind people up. f**k i've just noticed the tow strap. FLOL.

Anyway in conculsion, i have no idea what i think of it. But it does make me smile.

It'll have lexus lights on the back next week or something.

Bonnet is light and aids with cooling surely? ;)
 
Hows the engine been since the build, all ok?

I've unfortunately just built another F4 for someone (after saying never again!), not run it yet mind!
 
  172, Tiguan
I've thought about replacing the throttle cable but it does appear quite a new one. I can't see any damage to it.

Engine seems fine mate, save for the idle issue. It pulls well, or seems to, so i'm quite chuffed with that bit. I've also built a 'spare', it's sitting on the stand in the garage incase the worst happens on track one day. I'm going to use it for a bit of a project when i get time to have a fiddle at some point.
 
  172, Tiguan
What?

Those lights (which i hate and find hillarious in equal measure) and the bonnet, which is so incredibly gash. Are pretty much there to wind people up. f**k i've just noticed the tow strap. FLOL.

Anyway in conculsion, i have no idea what i think of it. But it does make me smile.

It'll have lexus lights on the back next week or something.

Don't knock the tow strap, i've got two more in the BM!
 
  172, Tiguan
Progress!

So the other day I rolled the car out of the garage in preparation to fit the Leda coilovers.

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Shortly afterwards it all got a bit mental up here and started to rain a bit:

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It was quite a bit worse in Newcastle, but it was virtually about to flood the garage. An empty plant pot in the rear garden had 3 inches of water in it, all in about 30 minutes. Crazy.

Good deeds done yesterday I got up early and started again this morning.

Up in the air...

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... everything still shiney....

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... chassis notching on the old H&R's....

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One to remember settings

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First side on. It was actually fairly straight forward. Luckily all the bolts came off easily enough - the H&R's have only been on 5 months.

I set the camber to max (seemed a good starting point, and the height to what i thought would be sensible)

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Hmm. I think it's too low.

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However it looks great.
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Passenger side done. All set the same.

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Max camber appears to be 7 - 8 degrees! lol.

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At that point the rain started again so I gave up and put the car away. I did take it round the block and it's still got this crap idle problem even though it's had a new throttle body and i've checked everything for air leaks.
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I've ordered a new Idle control valve to see if that cures it.

I'll raise it up a bit and back the camber off in the week.
 
  53 Clio's & counting
Whats the idle doing mate? 95% it will either be TB or ICV.

I love your magic jack, which jacks the car up even though it's not touching the sill lol
 
  172, Tiguan
It's my Jedi powers!

I settles to an idle fine about 10% of the time. The rest of the time it either hunts between 1000 and 1400rpm and the majority of the time it just idles at 2000 rpm. If you then blip the throttle it settles down fine. Does it all the time!

I've changed the throttle body and thoroughly cleaned the icv thats on it, but it's made no difference. I've even had the entire upper and lower inlets off, but no joy.
 
  53 Clio's & counting
ICV mate, i went through 4 before I bought a new one, used to rev mine like yours but then hold revs at 3000rpm - imagine how that looked at a set of traffic lights lol
 
  172, Tiguan
I hope it's that mate. As if you don't look enough of a prick already driving a red bumpered Clio with a Martini stripe down the middle of it through the middle of a city centre, for it only to sit there and rev itself to death. This is why it's only done 8 miles in 3 months. LOL.

I've bought a new one on ebay, but if thats rubbish i'm off to bend over at a renault parts department.
 
  53 Clio's & counting
Good plan dude, buy as many 2nd hand ones as you can too, law of averages say you will get a good one adventually lol
 


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