PIKEY COWBOY MOTHER F**KER!!

[vibez666]

Bought my Clio 172 about 2months ago

So...... I've just picked my car up after having new cam, and aux belts fitted (for piece of mind) the garage have advised me of a few problems they found whilst working on the car (you'll have to excuse my terminology, I'm not very mechanically minded).

First, it needs 2 new front tyres, O.K, can cope with that, noticed that when i bought it.

Second, it needs new front discs and pads, can cope with that too, noticed that on the test drive and want to change them for something better anyways.

But get this...... Thirdly, they have found an air leak around the inlet manifold, and I quote "it's sucking in sh*t loads of air"
Turns out the inlet manifold has been removed at some point to be painted, and in doing so 2 of the bolt have been snapped/sheered off, and when the manifold was replaced the bolts weren't, so now its being held half on!!!!! WTF??!!!! (explains the post title)

Now the reason I have put this post in the Engine, Gearbox, Exhausts & Running Gear section is beacause I'd like to know if this is an easy thing to sort, I've got a best mate whos very good with cars, he's done engine, gearbox & clutch changes, cam belts, services etc etc....

Im guessing its just a case of removing the inlet manifold, drilling out the broken bolts and replacing them, is this correct?? and how easy is it to do??

If any body has any info or pics explaining what to do, this would be a massive help!!

Cheers.

 

[markkram]

Common issue. Lots of people have snapped them when tightening them up. Made of butter to stop you stripping the threads in the expensive to replace plenum/manifold.
As you said get the old ones out and just replace taking care to not over tighten them as you will be right back where you started.
Worth getting a new gasket as well if its been badly fitted before.

 

[Scott™]

I would say its easy enough. Surly you would notice if your car was sucking in shed loads of air? I.e a ridiculous idle? Didn't this concern you before you bought the car?

 

[mat-nos]

you will need to drill and extractor them and possibly re-tap if they are snapped flush with the head, make sure you spend time taking stuff off thats in the way as you need to be drilling at the right angle...
if there is a decent amount of the bolt sticking out you might be able to weld a nut on and srpay some wd on it and get it out??!!

fiddly job either way :-(

 

[vibez666]

I would say its easy enough. Surly you would notice if your car was sucking in shed loads of air? I.e a ridiculous idle? Didn't this concern you before you bought the car?

That's the thing, it doesn't idle badly, not that ive noticed anyway, the garage say it would be down on power, but obviously if I've never driven it with that power in the first place I wouldn't bat an eyelid.

So in all it is a job that could be done on a driveway, and not have to go to a garage who will charge me £30+ an hr just for labour!

 

[blambert]

I'd pay £30/hr to avoid the hassle personally. It's one of those realllllly annoying things to do.

 

[McBunny]

That's the thing, it doesn't idle badly, not that ive noticed anyway, the garage say it would be down on power, but obviously if I've never driven it with that power in the first place I wouldn't bat an eyelid.

So in all it is a job that could be done on a driveway, and not have to go to a garage who will charge me £30+ an hr just for labour!

£30 per hour is cheap

 

[vibez666]

£30 per hour is cheap

I did say £30 "plus" All garages are different, just seems such a small thing to be paying nearly 100 quid for, although it depends how fiddley the job is I suppose.

If anybody else has any info/tips, feel free to post.

 

[Finny]

well to get bolts out the only way i can think of if its snapped flush is as said before tap the bolt the other way and screw another into that to get it out...once out beat, burn, crush and kill the little c**t for snapping

 

[JonniP]

try and shock it with a centre punch then tap it out with a hammer and chisel? cant imagine that its a old rusty bolt.