My Clio 182: Project Make it Mint

[arranshuker]

Hi everyone,

Thought I'd start a thread for my recently purchased 182. Here she is the day I bought her.

Since I got it home I've spent about £600 on it. Firstly I had the oil and filter changed because I didn't know when it was last serviced. The last stamp was 3 years ago, but I'm lead to believe the previous owner did it himself. Whilst there I found out the car has a snapped n/s front coil spring which needs replacing and both the front splash guards are missing.

The good news was that it has a single silencer John Ashley exhaust, Powerflex bushed dog bone engine mount and uprated suspension top mounts.

Other bad news is that the car has developed a bad knock when excellerating from a stop, which is made worse when turning left. Can anyone advise what this might be? Doesn't sound like suspension because it only does it when loading up the engine, so I'm thinking engine or gearbox mount. Hopefully nothing too expensive. It's booked in for the spring to be changed, I've got one splash guard but need the o/s.

I've just had the cambelt, aux belt and water pump changed, but they were too busy to look at the knocking noise for me.

I've replaced the door speakers, ordered some proper headlamp washer blanks and I attempted to polish the headlamps as they have gone cloudy. They look marginally better but need much more work. I've also replaced the indicators at the front for silvertech ones.

My plan is to make the car as good as I can within a decent budget, so it is reliable and good to drive. I've got a small track day booked so need it in tip top shape for that. So if you can help, I appreciate it.

Thanks, Arran.

 

[arranshuker]

Anyone experienced a knocking noise like I have before? I did a search on here but after reading through a good few threads I didn't really find any answers, most appeared to be suspension related.

 

[N4TH4N]

Anyone experienced a knocking noise like I have before? I did a search on here but after reading through a good few threads I didn't really find any answers, most appeared to be suspension related.

Most likely an engine mount. Usually the dog bone mount.

 

[arranshuker]

That's got Powerflex bushes in it. Can they play up? I don't know how old they are. Sounds like it's coming from the n/s. But I guess it will do being sat on the o/s.

 

[arranshuker]

Just been and fitted my itg panel filter and found a couple of old looking bolts on the scuttle panel. Must have been left out by the garage who did the cambelt. I hope they're not on important!

 

[LeeRS]

Who did the belts for you mate? Did they use the timing tools?

 

[arranshuker]

Sj Autos in Stourbridge. I hope they used the right tools! Car feels fine so I'm taking it that it has been done right or I'd have noticed the problem. A few people recommended them. The place isn't very big, clean or organised, but I hope that just means they concentrate on the cars rather than other things.

 

[cs_dave]

Sj Autos in Stourbridge. I hope they used the right tools! Car feels fine so I'm taking it that it has been done right or I'd have noticed the problem. A few people recommended them. The place isn't very big, clean or organised, but I hope that just means they concentrate on the cars rather than other things.

Is it the one just down from the kfc n tesco?

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[arranshuker]

Is it the one just down from the kfc n tesco?

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That's the one.

 

[cs_dave]

That's the one.

Yeh there good there and use correct tools the place does look a dive mind lol


Car looks good by the way!

 

[arranshuker]

Thanks Dave. Hopefully it'll be looking even better soon. I really need to get this knocking noise sorted out though, it's driving me mad. I hate the sound it makes. It seems to be worse if I'm turning left for some reason.

 

[cs_dave]

Thanks Dave. Hopefully it'll be looking even better soon. I really need to get this knocking noise sorted out though, it's driving me mad. I hate the sound it makes. It seem to be worse if I'm turning left for some reason.

Dog bone is the std one to vreate knock but its prob worth swapping out for all 3 top gearbox and dog bone as they are all likely quite old its not a hard job buddy.

 

[arranshuker]

Dog bone is the std one to vreate knock but its prob worth swapping out for all 3 top gearbox and dog bone as they are all likely quite old its not a hard job buddy.

What is the best to go for, genuine Renault?

 

[Mr Plums]

Is it a knocking or a clicking?

I had a clicking noise when turning and it turned out to be the two steering rack bolts that needed nipping up.

 

[ForceIndia]

I had the same knock, was the engine mount (left hand side as you open the bonnet).

 

[cs_dave]

What is the best to go for, genuine Renault?

Vibratec top and gearbox and a fresh poly dog bone. Its worth it in the end

 

[arranshuker]

Vibratec top and gearbox and a fresh poly dog bone. Its worth it in the end

Do the vibratec ones increase idle rattle? Or are they just better but feel similar to standard?

Is it a knocking or a clicking?

I had a clicking noise when turning and it turned out to be the two steering rack bolts that needed nipping up.

It started out as a very slight click, but has now turned in to a knock within 100 miles of driving.

 

[cs_dave]

Do the vibratec ones increase idle rattle? Or are they just better but feel similar to standard?

It started out as a very slight click, but has now turned in to a knock within 100 miles of driving.

Not really imo there just miles better.

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[jamesycc]

had a knock under acceleration, polybushed the dog bone and it sorted it. There is a small amount of backward/forward adjustment on the dog one mount might be worth loosening the bolts and see if the engine will move forward a touch. My knock was the manifold hitting the subframe. Only when accelerating ie under torque. New bushes, small adjustment and gone now.

 

[arranshuker]

Ok thanks gents. Will look in to all this.

 

[arranshuker]

Damm those Vibra Technics mounts are dear! Cheapest I have found is £218 for the pair.

 

[arranshuker]

Just replaced the upper and lower gearbox mounts and the upper.left engine mount. I bought the standard ones from ktec in the end because I didn't want to spend a fortune on engine mounts to find out the knocking noise is coming from something else. The dogbone mount is still at the royal mail collection office so I'll be doing that this week hopefully. But I've just been out in the car and the knock is still there. It's much quieter, hardly noticeable, so something has helped. I'm just hoping a new dogbone will cure it completely.

Tbh though, only the awkward lower gearbox mount was the original.

Just need to find the code for the stereo now.

 

[cs_dave]

Just replaced the upper and lower gearbox mounts and the upper.left engine mount. I bought the standard ones from ktec in the end because I didn't want to spend a fortune on engine mounts to find out the knocking noise is coming from something else. The dogbone mount is still at the royal mail collection office so I'll be doing that this week hopefully. But I've just been out in the car and the knock is still there. It's much quieter, hardly noticeable, so something has helped. I'm just hoping a new dogbone will cure it completely.

Tbh though, only the awkward lower gearbox mount was the original.

Just need to find the code for the stereo now.

I can give you a code pal post a pic of the side of ya radio should be a securaty code on there

 

[arranshuker]

I can give you a code pal post a pic of the side of ya radio should be a securaty code on there

I managed to find it. On a sticker in the warranty book label as 'car'! Put that in and it came back on. Thanks anyway, appreciate it.

Also, I read the guide to changing the top engine mount on here and went and made some adjustments, so I'll have to try the car again tomorrow and see if that's helped.

What I have noticed is a noise coming from the cambelt area of the engine. It was there before, but only since having the belt done. Do they need 'running in' or should I take it back?

 

[N4TH4N]

I managed to find it. On a sticker in the warranty book label as 'car'! Put that in and it came back on. Thanks anyway, appreciate it.

Also, I read the guide to changing the top engine mount on here and went and made some adjustments, so I'll have to try the car again tomorrow and see if that's helped.

What I have noticed is a noise coming from the cambelt area of the engine. It was there before, but only since having the belt done. Do they need 'running in' or should I take it back?

What sort of noise. And no running in. Where in Wolvo you at?

 

[arranshuker]

Bit like a rumbling noise you can hear at idle. I'm in Penn.

 

[arranshuker]

Been out in the car this evening, felt smoother, quieter, seems to go in to gear better and the knocking has got much less. Still there though. I need to get that dogbone off, I'm hoping it's that.
It's now developed a rattle that sounds like a heat shield. Joys of clio ownership!

 

[arranshuker]

Dog bone replaced, noise still there. Not sure what it is and neither is the mechanic. I might need to have a look at the non standard suspension top mounts.

Took a couple of pictures of the car which I quite like so thought I'd share.

 

[arranshuker]

Went on track on Friday.

All was going well until someone queueing behind me told me I was losing fluid. Turns out it was powersteering fluid. Sprayed all over the front of the engine bay.

It's not 100% clear where it's coming from, but it looks like the powersteering pipe as it turns from metal to rubber has cracked. The sensor is also snapped.

Not having very good luck with this car so far. The knocking noise is still there, I think the exhaust is blowing and I've got a vibrating noise now too. Sounds like a heat shield. But they seem tight. I think the cat might have gone as it only happens when the car is warm.

Fitted the replacement air intake pipe and door mirror caps tonight. For some reason the bottom air intake pipe to the air box was missing.