New car - new problems!

[matts-clio]

My GF decided to get a 172 and we bought one we sourced on pistonheads fairly locally and wanted to ask a few questions.

The car:

51k miles from new, FRSH and MOT and TAX untill next March (2010).
52 reg on private plate (N11 BAT) and was bought from the tetbury / gloucester area!

Few little niggles:

Get a whirring noise from an apparent grill in front of the courtesy light in the headlining? seems to go after a few minutes and is only a minor issue, more of an annoyance.

Also occasionally when driving for no apparent reason the 'STOP' and handbrake light start falshing on the dash, which is quite worrying. car has a deadlock feature where when you go over 5mph the doors and boot all lock, and if you switch this off once the lights are illuminated then they go, but they appeared tonight @ 40mph in 5th gear with the doors already unlocked. :S

Any help and suggestions welcome.

also looking for the standard Phase 2 172 exhaust back box as this one has blown all the baffles out.

matt

 

[Sean6545]

1st problem is the internal fan for the climate, theres nothing you can do execpt replace it.

2nd problem most probably low brake fluid level or a poorly adjusted handbrake switch.

 

[Kerryclio]

Wouldn't bother with a standard back box either, aftermarket one all the way it will last longer and some have a lifetime warranty

 

[matts-clio]

Thanks very much for the replys, also got told today it might be a poorly adjusted handbrake or the fluid level

and i would absolutely love an aftermarket system (i have a mongoose on my mk1 valver) but the misses wants to keep the car completely standard, she really only got the car for looks she doesnt drive it hard and i dont drive it at all.

matt

 

[Sargara]

You can get aftermarket systems that are better quality and are hidden behind the bumper like the OEM system is. So without going under the car you would have no idea it was there.

Check out KTECs stealth system for example:
http://www.k-tecracing.com/show_product.asp?id=1088&pic=1

 

[theduck]

as above on all counts tbh

 

[mickstoke]

we all have this when we buy new cars, think everything is a problem then six months down the line think back and say what a great buy.

 

[DrR]

Only stealth i'd buy is the yozzasport one.

 

[Reyes]

Come down mate.

 

[matts-clio]

Ok i can see where people are going with this, I understand but am seriously just after a decent standard one, not aftermarket as the girlfriend wants to keep it completely OEM to extremes, and Bosal etc dont have the patents for the 172 exhaust yet as renault havent released them.

and i cant quite afford to fork out for £144 quid plus VAT for an exhaust + fitting :S

sucks and if it was mine it would already be wearing a mongoose exhaust but its not and it aint.

matt

 

[Aluco]

Best off looking on ebay for a OEM one mate.

 

[DrR]

Oem ones are mega money and don't last long at all.

 

[Austin-182]

Defo be the brake fluid, mine did it then as soon as i toppd it up its never came back on since.go to take the engine cover off to top it off

 

[matts-clio]

Thank you i will check that later when shes back from work

Are these stealth systems nice and OEM kinda quiet?

If i can convince her that its a direct replacement for standard she might get one

matt

 

[DrR]

Yozzasport one is.

 

[Gaz_]

Ktec stealth certainly isnt quiet. Removed mine and bought a oem full system. I hate the stealth tbh. Has anybody actually seen/heard a Yozza stealth?

 

[matts-clio]

Thank you 197gaz this is what i was worried about.

The missus isnt into modifying at all hence why she didnt by a cup or a modified car. she bought the nicest and most standard example we could find locally.

I think i will stick with an OEM system.

 

[Sean6545]

Defo be the brake fluid, mine did it then as soon as i toppd it up its never came back on since.go to take the engine cover off to top it off

Brake fluid level is only low for 2 reasons.

1. You have low brake pads.
2. You have a leak.

So if it is low, its worth checking your pads.

 

[matts-clio]

The brakes are stupidly sharp on this car though so i dont think there is a leak, there is no sponginess at all with them. Also pads look pretty new i think its just not been topped up when pads and etc have been changed before.

matt

 

[sammyhale22]

pads are sharp on 172 anyway. Short pedal movement, overly sensitive. Mine felt sharp but they needed replacing!

 

[matts-clio]

pads are sharp on 172 anyway. Short pedal movement, overly sensitive. Mine felt sharp but they needed replacing!

I checked it and guess what...

the fluid cap was barely on and loose so took it all apart cleaned it all up and replaced the cap and fluid, bled all brakes etc etc and it is perfect now, even sharper than they were and stop light hasnt come on once.