Kit’s New Ph1 172

[KitsonRis]

Ever since selling my old Ph1 I’ve always sorted wanted another. Managed to get enough funds and I’m happy with the condition and level my BMW E34 535i is at I need something else to occupy my time/ruin my life. So I’ve bought another Ph1. It’s nothing “special” as such at the moment, but that is why it wasn’t mega money. Managed to give a clean but wouldn’t mind giving it a proper polish with the DA.

I’m pretty happy with it. Although it does need some love and attention to make it look like new again. It’s booked in for a cam belt, dephaser and water pump change and they are going to sort the windows out at the same time - passenger one the regulator is broken and the drivers side motor I think is burnt out.

This one is not going to be stripped out, just going to keep it looking standard and use it as a daily when my M140i goes back. It needs all the usual Ph1 things, like centre vent, steering wheel, driver’s seat and the seat belt clips on the rear bench.
The one job I have done so far is clean the rear out, looks good now

Also looked behind the rear door cards and it all looks solid as they get now (was better than my old one tbh!), but I have put some Kurust down there and top coat of Hammerite.
The job list is:

• Cam belt etc change
• New wheels and tyres - have seen a set of Williams wheels I am tempted with
• New exhaust
• New discs and pads front and rear and bleed the brakes
• Oil change
• New spark plugs, coil pack, HT leads
• Paint all plastic so it is all black again
• New wipers and headlight bulbs
• Paint engine parts and general tidy up of engine bay
• Give inside a good clean, de sticky the centre console and paint door grab handles
• New steering wheel
• Sort out front seats - tempted to put two buckets in
• Paint bumper and mirror caps
• Possibly put new coil overs on - I need to check but have been told it has cup dampers and Eibach springs
• Power flex bushes
  

 

[Coops Mk1]

Welcome back to the fold!

 

[KitsonRis]

Welcome back to the fold!

It was only a matter of time. Bit of work to get it to where and how I want it but shouldn’t be too difficult.

 

[Matt e]

are they front head rests on the rear seats?

 

[KitsonRis]

are they front head rests on the rear seats?

To be honest no idea. They are different to the front head rests so I won’t to say no?

 

[cp1991]

They're definitely the rear headrests for ph1's, they do look like front headrests though, i must admit.

happy to see this is getting the love it deserves, was a shame it sitting in a garage not doing anything, I do miss it already though.

definitely has cup dampers and eibach springs, and in regards to powerflex, if has purple outer anti roll bar bushes and purple dogbone mount, think that's it though,

Can't wait to see this when all the jobs are done on it and looking how a ph1 is meant to look.

 

[KitsonRis]

Amazing, didn’t realise about the anti roll bar bushes, but I haven’t looked. With the damper and springs it means I can leave that for a bit and not worry about it. Don’t worry it will end up looking the part, not going to let this go to scrap

 

[morgam23]

Good Afternoon
What are the OEM part numbers for the coil pack, HT leads and the spark plugs?

Thanks in advance.

 

[KitsonRis]

Good Afternoon
What are the OEM part numbers for the coil pack, HT leads and the spark plugs?

Thanks in advance.

No idea sorry. Not looked at ones ones to get. I have previously bought a non-genuine coil pack from Euro Car Parts that was just totally wrong and wouldn't fit as the mounting points were different and the electrical plug was the wrong shape. This was despite it being a "for that car" according th ECP and the only one they do - not the first time I have fallen foul of Renault's random parts bin on a Clio. I ended up getting a genuine one. I will also be putting on red Magnecore HT leads, like I have done to a previous one in the past. Can't remeber what park plugs, NGK ones I think that I got from Geroege at RTR sports when I bought some brake discs.

 

[Kenich.]

Sounds like a good little project! Williams wheels will be a great addition for sure

 

[KitsonRis]

Sounds like a good little project! Williams wheels will be a great addition for sure

Thanks. Williams wheels were sold before I could message. Was also too late on a set of OZ F1's too. Then there was a dodgey add for another set of F1's on Facebook that I had to avoid. Weirdly I am tempted to get a set of Ph2 172 wheels for the time being. I quite like them and will be perfect in the mean time

 

[Kenich.]

There is a set on PH1 owners page still (not showing sold yet). Think there are in Shaftsbury or Salisbury

 

[Kenich.]

Can't see edit: They are Ph1 OZ F1s.

 

[KitsonRis]

I am not renewing my membership yet so I don't waste my money on spare parts and upgrades that are not needed at this stage! It is to force me to do other jobs on it to make it mechancially sound first.
But I saw those on Facebook the weekend and they are not on there anymore so assumed they have sold

 

[KitsonRis]

Some jobs ticked off the list.
Cambelt, dephaser, water pump and aux belt changed by thte local specialist. They also fixed the windows - after looking at how to do it I was not in the mood for having an argument with the mechanisms so left it to them! Garage I used was the old Renault dealer in Gloucester, the owner was very pleased that I am doing the right thing and saving it and putting it back to standard and making it look how it should.

Managed to source a set of 5 original OZ F1's for it including all matching Michelin tyres. They need a refurb but I think I am just going to paint them silver for the time being as they will be acceptable then look at a full refurb at a later date. Just need to get some centre caps - eying up the 3D printed ones on eBay.

As with all cars I own I have refreshed all plastics too - side strips, wiper arms and wiper scuttle. They have all now been painted black. Always find these little jobs make such a big difference to the overal appearance, gives it that fresh look. Also put some new Bosch Aerotwin blades on. Fitted a pair of Citroen C3 mist washer jets as per my old Ph1. However I remember them getting to the driver's eye line, these don't. Not sure why that is.

Gave the headlights a restore with the 3M kit. Came up a right treat.
Before:

During:

After, along with a new fog lamp unit:

Was nice working in the garage and having room! When the E34 is in it there is no room to do anything.

Now I need to start spending money on it as I have done all the cheaper/free jobs. Next month I am going to put new front and rear discs and pads on.

 

[KitsonRis]

Next stages of work done on the Clio.
Panited the wheels. They easily pass the 10ft test. They will be properly refurbished at a later date, would rather spend the money on something else at the time being. Just need to get some centre caps and then the wheels ballanced up, fitted and tracking done. There is a lot of paint and lacquer on them, not making the same mistake as last time when I didn't get enough paint on them and brake dust eventually ruined it. Also coated in GTechniq C5.

A little throw back to my old Ph1 and painted the "2.0 16v" on the door strips orange.

Interior door handles were painted silver. Managed to do the centre console too in the same colour.

The passenger centre vent was broken and I took it out. Not going to replace it but going to blank it off and mount a phone holder on there.

Changed the front discs and pads. What a faff that turned out to be. Got the car in my garage which turned out to be a good call as I needed to leave it for a few days. Driver's side was fine, no issues with that. Passenger was a bit tricker. Got it all apart, putting it back together couldn't get the calliper onto the carrier. Forgot to push the slider pins. Turns out one was seized. Took it all apart again. Hit it with a hammer, heated it up and nothing. None in stock from GSF or ECP. GSF gave me a part number. Found one on Amazon that I could use Prime delivery on to arrive quick. Even said it would fit the car. Turned up and totally wrong - wouldn't clear the disc and the mounting points were all wrong. Ended up getting a genuine one from the garage that changed the cam belt. So a job that was meant to take an hour or so ended up 5 days while I was waiting for parts. Oh well. A little bit annoying as if I had known this I would have been prepared to paint the engine parts while it was in my garage.
Went for Brembo HC Discs and Brembo pads bought from RTR sports. Another little throw back to my old ph1 and painted the callipers orange. Not to everyone's liking but it is a bit of fun. I will probably end up putting 4 pots on it at some point in the future.

Not sure what I want to do next. I know I need to change the rear discs and pads so that could be it along with bleeding the brakes

 

[massiveCoRbyn]

Nice to see another being saved. Would still love a nice phase 1.

 

[Coops Mk1]

nice bit of progress, any up close pics of the painted scuttle etc? always wondered about painting mine but worried it'll look exactly like that, painted. which I don't want it needs to still look plastic finish

 

[KitsonRis]

Nice to see another being saved. Would still love a nice phase 1.

Giving myself two years to do most of it then I can use it as a daily when my M140i goes back. Things that need doing are exhaust, new spark plugs, coil pack, HT leads, paint engine parts, new heat shield, gear shifter, new front seats and get the bonnet, front bumper and mirrors painted. Might do things like wheel bearings, track rod ends and ball joints. Would love to take the sub frame, rear beam etc off and get that all powder coated but I don't think it is needed yet.

@Coops Mk1 I used black satin spray paint from Halfords. Doing all the plastic makes a difference but i don't think it is too obvious, if you did a bit of it then I think it would stand out.

I do find it a bit odd that the door strips are not black, but a blue colour where the badges in them and the rest of the plastic is black.

 

[KitsonRis]

Need to investigate a horrible noise I get on full lock, noticed it parking it earlier. Only does it on full right hand down, I think - soon as you take it off max lock it stops. Makes the noise when hardly moving/not moving. It's not like a continual noise and not consistent. I thought I hit somethine first time I heard it. Either steering rack, power steering pump or drive shaft? When putting receipts away in its folder I did notice one from 2015 suggesting to replace a drive shaft, which make me think it could be that, but makes no sense if the car isn't moving. Hmmm. Any suggestions on how to check those three things? If something is broken I would prefer driver's side drive shaft as it is the cheapest and easiest to replace.

 

[KitsonRis]

Got some time on the Ph1 today.
Standard wheels fitted and tracking done. No wonder it was awful to drive it had nearly 2deg toe out. So much better now and it actually driveable. Looks so much better too than the ones I took off. Just need to get some centre caps to finish it off, also might get some studs too.

Need to sort out the ride height as some how it is in 4x4 spec!
"Fixed" the oil leak that was an advisorary on the last MoT Test.....fitted an undertray.

Cleaned my seat bets too. They came out really good. No pictures of after though, but they were pretty grim. Just need to do the rears.

Sourced a spare wheel jack kit thing too.

Put my other registration on too. Ever since having my E34 I have not been able to use both my number plates as it is too old. Dug out the old plates I removed from my old vRS and they were in good knick so transferred it over.

Also gave it a bit of a clean inside and out. Need to get some mats for it too, might have to settle for non-genuine mats for the time being.
Now that it is nice to drive after the tracking being done I might use it a bit more, but I need to sort the exhaust out as the back box hits the chassis as it is the wrong one and also paint the mirrors.

Next job is to do the rear brakes.

 

[Coops Mk1]

Looking good man and nice progress

 

[KitsonRis]

Few more jobs ticked off the list.
Rear brake discs and pads changed. Genuine discs and Brembo OEM pads along with new hub nuts and those little spacer things.

Haven't got an after picture but yeah they look good! Used it a bit before I fitted the new wheel centre caps to make sure the hub nuts were still tight. They are 3D printed ones from eBay. Painted the same colour as the wheels with orange Renault diamonds. Wonder how long they will last! Ignore the rusty looking dsics, it rained a lot last night and I haven't used the car today.

Was missing a centre vent as per most Ph1's. Got a bit creative and made a phone mount. Cut a piece of wood the correct size, painted it black and fitted it with some black grab adhesive. Screwed a phone holder onto it. Works a treat. Not a fan of the ones that stick to the window and this one does not move about like the ones that clip onto the vent. Will be a good addition when this becomes my daily car. One day I might swap the dash for a better one without a missing vent but that is future problems.

More exciting things happened. Got a new exhaust made for it. Went to the usual place at Infinity Exhausts (they made the one for my old Ph1, Octavia vRS and my E34). Also fitted a new rear exhaust mount. The sound is spot on. Really hard to get photos of it but these will do.

Next up is some bad news.....it broke down, or more accurate wouldn't start. Knew exactly what it was - crank sensor or a relay. As I wasn't at home I had to call the AA for assistance. They arrived within 30mins and he agreed with me when I told him what I thought it was. He cleaned up a few relays and it fired into life. All in it was about 45mins from calling them out to being on my way. Very impressed with that service. Although it is another job to add to the list. I was using it a bit more these past few days and this is how it repays me!! But forgot how fun they are to drive! I am very happy with it and can't wait to use it more and more.

Oh also painted the mirrors black. Only because they needed doing and it was asn easier colour to match than titanium! When I get the front end of the car painted I will get them done back to standard.

Need to sort out why it is pulling to the left slightly when I brake hard. Didn't notice it before I changed all the brakes, although the brakes were a bit naff before so I never really gave it some. It also tracks to the left too, which is annoying as I had the tracking done a few weeks ago and not really used it since. I also need to figure out what it making a god awful noise on full lock. Pretty certain it is steering rack or PAS pump.

Going to order spark plugs, HT leads, coil pack, inlet gaskets, solid engine mount, heat shield and then get some paint to paint the engine parts up. Try and get this done over Christmas/before January as I will get it into my garage while I do this so need to move my E34 out then back in so then i can SORN it before I need to re-tax the Clio.

 

[KitsonRis]

This is the reason I haven’t bought a house yet...I’ve “invested” it in cars instead

Also waiting on an engine mount insert and a few other pieces. Will fit the engine stuff over Christmas and at the same time paint the inlet manifold and give the engine bay a spruce. Not going to get an induction kit as I know it will end up with ITBs at some point in it’s life (I meant to do it with my old one and it’s an itch I want to scratch. It’s either do it on this or my E34 which will sound biblical on ITBs).
Hope the new plugs, HT leads and coil pack will give it a bit of zest again.
May have found why it was tracking to the left- front left tyre was flat. It’s held air over night so hope it’s not punctured.

Will book it in to get the clinking steering rack sorted along with fitting the wish bones and get them to fit new wheel bearings and track rod ends. With all that should tighten the handling back up.

 

[Coops Mk1]

just caught up again, keep the updates coming

 

[Kenich.]

Ph1 is coming along great. Bet your well happy with it!

QUOTE="KitsonRis, post: 12014773, member: 101761"]
This is the reason I haven’t bought a house yet...I’ve “invested” it in cars instead
[/QUOTE]

Life is for living!

 

[KitsonRis]

Ph1 is coming along great. Bet your well happy with it!

Now that the exhaust is sorted, as it was undrivable with how much it banged was unbarable, plus the tracking being done it's made me really pottering about in it. Once the kncoking noise is sorted then I will be more than happy to use it more often as I don't know what it is and want to get stuck if the driveshaft/steering rack fails. It has to be one of those two - receipt from 2015 mentions a knocking driveshaft and needs replacing but knocks without the car rolling which makes no sense if it is that. First job in the new year.

I've enjoyed doing the bits on it so far an got a few more to do - tidy the engine bay up with some more service items is over Christmas. Then it is the larger, and more expensive tasks of the suspension and interior.

But it's not the only project car I have as my E34 is the one that gets most attenion! So yeah, if I didn't have this, my E34 and an M140i I would be able to buy a house - think I am the only one of my friends who hasn't got one yet. However I am not that bothered really.

Oh and I got some mats for it and a new rear numberplate light

 

[Kenich.]

Your doing all the right things though, this time next year it will be well sorted!

 

[KitsonRis]

Needs to be in good working order as it will be my daily car! So want all the mechanicals sorted and basically give it a good service and change all consumables.

 

[KitsonRis]

Car decided it wanted to be eco friendly today and fire on les cylinders than 4. Great. What was odd and not seen before is the immobiliser light was quickly flashing after I started it. Then it ran like a sack of crap. Hadn’t been used for two weeks and we had all that rain the other day. Left it running for about 20mins and it didn’t get any better. But today is not the day to rev it and try and clear it as I’m sure it’s just got a bit damp. Although I have new plugs, coil pack etc to go in.

 

[k_Leo]

Nice thread ! @KitsonRis Could you show a photo of your steering wheel with that cover on ? Wanna see how it looks because planning on doing same on mine.

 

[KitsonRis]

Nice thread ! @KitsonRis Could you show a photo of your steering wheel with that cover on ? Wanna see how it looks because planning on doing same on mine.

It’s a cheap after market one that will be removed. But it’s going to reveal a typical peeled Ph1 steering wheel so I’m not doing it yet.

 

[KitsonRis]

Gone to start it now, key wouldn’t unlock the central alarm. Manually unlocked the door (probably shouldn’t have done) then the hazards came on and the little light by the gear stick is on. No alarm sound (thankfully!) car was very weak to start again and then the hazards/alarm(?) didn’t go off. Then I got out still running shut the door and then it went out. Back on and off again. Battery is reading 14V charging. Wonder if the flat battery is causing the immobiliser not to disarm? Keeping it running for the time being, although static reviving isn’t showing signs of less than 4 cylinders and it idles fine. Will test the battery again later to see if it has held charge.

Damn thing!!

 

[Louis]

Battery is fucked

 

[KitsonRis]

Battery is fucked

That is my thinking now after mulling it over for a while. Will check what the voltage of it is the morning to confirm.

 

[Ol’ Tarby]

Does sound like the battery mate 👍

 

[KitsonRis]

Next lot of work is to finish the service stuff off and pint engine parts. Moved my E34 out of my garage and storing it elsewhere so I can get the Clio in so I can use the garage as a spray booth and also have it off the road. Greeted with a flat battery on in the E34

Then went to start the Clio and that was also dead, but was expected due to the battery being duff.

So one out of three cars started first time this morning. Clio also was still running like a bag of nails still, crap idle was also popping under the smallest of throttle input. I am guessing that that is due to firing on 2/3 cylinders. Hoping the new coil pack, spark plugs and HT leads will sort that out. It hasn’t been used for a while so it’s probably just a bit damp somewhere. Hasn’t thrown an EML error but might scan it and see if there is something that has been logged
When doing the brakes I thought there was something missing. Then I saw a picture the other day and realised it was the spring things on the rear pads and also the dust cap thing for the hub nuts. Sourced some of them and put them on along with the PMS stud conversion on all four wheels

Then I stripped the engine parts out and have started to paint them. They are going silver and going to paint the engine cover orange. Took @Coops Mk1 tip and used the Autoglym die for the heat shield fabric. I am very surprised with it and looks really good. It will do until the engine is removed and I can swap it out for the metal stuff.

Just need to do a few more coats of paint throughout the week and can then put it all back together and see if I am running back to normal!

 

[Coops Mk1]

For a tenner makes a huge difference innit

 

[KitsonRis]

I'll start with the good progress....

Managed to get what I wanted done regards to the rest of the service items. Now has new genuine Renault spark plugs, new coil pack and Magnecore HT leads. Did notice some of the retaining tabs on the MAP and inlet temp sensors have broken so have got some on order to go back on. Also had to get a new upper inlet as the one I took off had some sheared bolts in. I did order some genuine new bolts which haven't turned up yet but managed to salvage enough from the current and some that were supplied with the inlet. When they do arrive I will be swapping over for some shiney new ones. Gave the throttle a good clean too while that was off, but I know it is only time until it gets plagued by the typical Ph1 sticky throttle.

Old ones looked alright but now I know they have been done.

Had to get a bit old school with the throttle gasket and made my own as apparently they are not available anymore

Also fitted a Powerflex engine mount insert while I was at it. Now the engine bay is looking good. I need to get a new coolant bottle but will do that when I change the hoses and the coolant is all out. Have an engine cover I am going to put back on, just need to source the oil filler flap as mine was missing

Now the bad news....it wont start 😭 I have no idea what I have done. I have gone back over everything to make sure it is all connected back together and in the right way around. Have even swapped parts back to the older stuff to make sure that I have't got new duff parts. I am out of ideas, don't have the time or space to sort it myself so it was collected earlier and will be at the garage to resolve. I thought changing all this stuff would make it run back on 4 cylinders but the total opposite has happened!
I had to thoughts earlier at what it could be after the car was collected so I couldn't check. Has the nakard battery messed up the immobiliser? Although I had it running fine with the immobiliser off before I had it apart. The little red light on the dash wasn't indicating the immobiliser was still on either so not sure if this is the problem. I have had the battery on a trickle charger the past few days too as I knew I was going to start it this weekend and cranked fine. I even pressed the red fuel cut off button by the battery to see if that needed doing and still nothing. The other idea is has something got into the engine and causing problems - I had the inlet off for about two weeks. I didn't drop anything in there and I wasn't missing anything to go back on so sure this isn't the issue but it was just a freak thought I had, I would expect it to fire up and then destroy itself that was the case. I am not too concerned as having it broken now means it can be resolved before I need it to be more reliable. More annoyed that I ran out of time and no space to do more diagnositcs myself. What was even more frustrating is I picked my E34 up earlier and had to sort of break into that as that battery was so dead the doors wouldn't unlock 🤦‍♂️ then the drivers door was locked open so couldn't shut it as the locking mechanism got out of sequence. I have had zero luck this weekend on cars.

While it is at the garage they are also going to fit new front wheel bearings, track rod ends and the wishbones I have bought along with investigate and fix the knocking noise I have on full lock. The plus side of all this happening is that it should be running sweet once all fixed! I will be using it more when it is back working as the little bit I was driving it I was really enjoying it.

 

[VenomUK]

@KitsonRis Did you get the message about Renparts discount on injectors?