loose engine !

[Goodj]

Help!

When trying to find the reason behind a random rattle that's appeared under the bonnet (seems to not be speed related, so I'm guessing the fan?) I found that some big chunk of metal is rather loose.

it looks like a heat-sink or something, it's held onto the front of the block, lower than the plastic cover (which has lost a bolt somehow!) and has some wires plugging into or under it somewhere.

I'm not near the car to get a photo until later in the week, but hopefully my weak description has helped.

Simply:-
what is this big chunk of metal & what does it do?
should it be more securely fastened?
how do I get to the fasteners to resecure it?
if it came off, what would happen?

 

[_WILL_]

Here is a picture of mine, which bit are you talking about?

If it id the rectangular bit, bottom middle of this pic then I think that is call the fuel rail guard, but I may be wrong on that!!

As far as I know you can take it off but its pretty easy to just tighten it back up.

This thread may help, but if you search the guides for changing the engine oil it will explain it in there as you have to remove it to get to the oil filter.

http://www.cliosport.net/forum/showthread.php?t=492995

Hope this helps

 

[Fred@BTM]

pic? sounds like the fuel rail cover

 

[dancook]

Simply:-
what is this big chunk of metal & what does it do?
should it be more securely fastened?
how do I get to the fasteners to resecure it?
if it came off, what would happen?

I was getting a horrible rattle from mine and I've just tightened mine 30 mins ago.

I used a 3/4" drive, 13mm deep socket in the end with no further extension. Tightened up the bolts in the left two holes, looking from the front of the car. There third hole is empty.

It protects the fuel lines from damage in a head on collision.

ps. A lot of threads suggest a 10mm nut, so try this if 13mm doesn't work.

 

[_WILL_]

EDIT: posted wrong link

 

[Goodj]

I can't upload to the forum! Grrrrrr.

going on the photo uploaded (thanks _WILL_) I'd say its the fuel rail guard.

does the far-right bolt also hold the engine cover in place? because that'll be he bolt that's missing and explain the problem

 

[Fred@BTM]

I was getting a horrible rattle from mine and I've just tightened mine 30 mins ago.

I used a 3/4" drive, 13mm deep socket in the end with no further extension. Tightened up the bolts in the left two holes, looking from the front of the car. There third hole is empty.

It protects the fuel lines from damage in a head on collision.

ps. A lot of threads suggest a 10mm nut, so try this if 13mm doesn't work.

they left the factory with 10mm

 

[Goodj]

thanks gents, useful as ever.

so it looks like I need to get the sockets out

as well as this, the nt under the drivers' door holding the front wing in place has come adrift, making it look like I've got some mildly (and craply) flared arches

any advice on a ticking fan btw?

 

[Jonny1*2]

I was getting a horrible rattle from mine and I've just tightened mine 30 mins ago.

I used a 3/4" drive, 13mm deep socket in the end with no further extension. Tightened up the bolts in the left two holes, looking from the front of the car. There third hole is empty.

It protects the fuel lines from damage in a head on collision.

ps. A lot of threads suggest a 10mm nut, so try this if 13mm doesn't work.

Did you make sure you tightened up the bolt before putting the rail back on? might have not been tight into the lower inlet mani? Mine did this and subsequently loosened everything else :S

 

[Jonny1*2]

thanks gents, useful as ever.

so it looks like I need to get the sockets out

as well as this, the nt under the drivers' door holding the front wing in place has come adrift, making it look like I've got some mildly (and craply) flared arches

any advice on a ticking fan btw?

pics would be useful.

engines tend to tick them selves cool if that's what you mean. Although my clio has never done it, all others I've had have.

 

[_WILL_]

I can't upload to the forum! Grrrrrr.

going on the photo uploaded (thanks _WILL_) I'd say its the fuel rail guard.

does the far-right bolt also hold the engine cover in place? because that'll be he bolt that's missing and explain the problem

There are 3 wholes in the front of the gaurd, but as already said only the left 2 have bolts the right had one is empty, so if that what you are refering to then you shouldn't have a bolt there!

Are you missing one of the bolts that has read on in my picture??

 

[Goodj]

not on cool-down, no. It just started for no reason and is unaffected by engine or road speed, so I'm guessing it's the fan. Mind, there's always a new faint rattle to lisen for in my little Clio... Mind it is 7 years old, what should you expect!

as for pics, if I wasn't away from home, I'd have them up for everything, but alas I am not. I know the nut for the front wing needs to go on though, purely because it's not there! No worries.

 

[Jonny1*2]

the engine cover bolts dont hold anything on but the engine cover. 4 10mm bolts from memory (althought that's not been great today )

 

[Goodj]

There are 3 wholes in the front of the gaurd, but as already said only the left 2 have bolts the right had one is empty, so if that what you are refering to then you shouldn't have a bolt there!

Are you missing one of the bolts that has read on in my picture??

Not the red-marked ones no. there's a bolt-head on the very right of the block, which seems to be holding the guard on?

Like I said, there's a bolt missing from the engine cover, wondered if it was the same one.

 

[dancook]

Did you make sure you tightened up the bolt before putting the rail back on? might have not been tight into the lower inlet mani? Mine did this and subsequently loosened everything else :S

I only tightened the bolts, I did nothing else.

 

[Jonny1*2]

Not the red-marked ones no. there's a bolt-head on the very right of the block, which seems to be holding the guard on?

Like I said, there's a bolt missing from the engine cover, wondered if it was the same one.

No mate, not holding the guard on at all. Just the two bolts in the holes as described above. You might be talking about one of the lower inlet bolts maybe?