Clio 172 Project

So I had the cambelt kits and aux belt done…but forgot about the waterpump until I collected the car.  TWAT!  But figured it would be fine…bad mistake.

Spotted water drops on the drive under where the car had been parked a few weeks later, checked the water level and it had dropped.   Went all over the car and guessed at waterpump, ran it down to the garage and they confirmed it.  So got it booked back in and got the aux pullies changed at the same time, something else I forgot lol, and a new aux belt.

Job done, and once again the coolant is staying where it should!

Ok so I struggled with a witty title.

Anyway a THRILLING update blog fans!  I fitted my “aero” flat stylee wiper blades.  Needed to replace the old ones as they were smearing like fuck and god only knows when they were last replaced so after searching about and trying to find some Bosch Aero Twins, or whatever they are called, and then attempting to get some of the Tesco’s brand I gave in and bought some povo eBay ones lol.  £11 delivered and direct fitment for the Clio.  I fully expected them to be shit…and I was wrong.  Work perfectly, even at speed, and look a shit load better than the old crap ones I had.  Nice build quality too and really quickly delivered.  So I’ll probably grab another set for spares and add them to the pile.

Before and afters:

In other news the car is now MOT’d for another year but I’ve also discovered the water pump is leaking.    I meant to get it replaced when I had the cam and fan belts done…but forgot all about it until after I’d picked the car up.  Thought it would be alright, but obviously not so back in it goes to the garage.  Ah well, I’ll be able to buy my new exhaust at some point lol just means that the track session around Rockingham at FCS is out of the window as there is no way I’ll pass the noise limit of 98dB with the current chavtastic exhaust that’s on at the minute.  Gutted tbh but thems them breaks when it comes to owning a Renault PMSL.

So the car went into the garage to have the cam and aux belts changed along with all the tentioners/idlers.  Done in a day and for a bargain price too.  Picked the car and up and straight away I’ve noticed that the idle is better.  Drove it home but it was rush hour so no chance to really test the car out.  On the way I got stuck for a minute or so and noticed a slight wisp of smoke/steam rise up from the end of the bonnet, checked the temp gauge and it was reading fine and as I was close to home I carried on.  Got home and disaster, the header tank is empty .  Stuck my head under the front bumper and the n/s of the subframe is piss wet through but it was getting dark so I left it alone.

Next morning I removed the front bumper, with the “help” of my Dad, and tried to see where the leak was coming from…but I couldn’t see fuck all yet water started slowly dripping from the bottom of the rad once up to temp.  So I gave up, rang the garage and they managed to squeeze the car in “this week”.  So I quickly rebuilt the front end, topped up the header tank and slowly drove it back down to his garage and there it will stay until fixed.  Turning out to be a really cheap month.

In better news though the nice people at Opie Oils, especially Guy, kindly arranged a group buy on ClioSport for 5l of Silkolene PRO S 5w-40 Ester Oil for a bargain price.  I ordered 6l so I could add it to my pile of service bits and still have some to top up with once done.  Just two days later and it’s here already!  Amazing service.

So just the air filter…actually no just the air filter and air box to go as I discovered some chav cunt has kindly drilled the fuck out the bottom of mine and then I can do most of the service.  Then as long as I get a problem free month in April I can order my exhaust (WOOHOO) and then brake discs and pads.  But April is already looking expensive as I need two new tyres for the back, it’s MOT time on the 14th and it’s ISTS show as well which I need to buy a helmet for too.

Spend, spend, spend!

Sent the car into the garage for the replacement of it’s o/s CV following it deciding that it no longer wanted to stay in place or keep the grease where it should be.

An hour and £50 later the jobs a goodun. I could of done the job myself, but for £50 why would I? I fucking HATE doing CV boots and hate even more the horrible grease.

Unfortunately though the aux belt has started making a shit load of noise and has moved over on the alternator pulley or was never fitted correctly in the first place plus it’s due to be replaced anyway. So it’s booked in on the 16th for new cam and aux belts along with all the tensioners, cam isn’t due till next year but the aux belt has to come off to do it anyway so might as well get both done at the same time. £520…but it’s better to pay that than buy/repair the whole engine.

In other news I’ve had a load of deliveries recently, nothing all that exciting. Engine cover bolts and washers, silver bulbs, engine cover replacement sticker and most of my service kit (genuine Renault pollen, oil and fuel filter).

I still need to get an ITG Profilter air errm filter, NGK PFR6E-10 spark plugs and make a decision on what 5W-40 oil I’m going to go for, currently thinking it will be Silkoline PRO S though.  Think I’ll be leaving the service until after Internatioal Styling and Tuning Show (ISTS) in April though as I’m doing a track session there so it will no doubt need it after that anyway.

However next month is MOT time.  So I’ll be getting two new Toyo T1-Rs fitted to the rears just in case the scuffing causes me any problems there and unfortunately I’ll have to put up with another month with the chav Powerflow exhaust as thanks to two companies screwing me over this month with hidden charges or fucking up my direct debit payment I’ve had to pay out a lot for stuff I wasn’t expecting.    Wank.  Just have to hope that I pass the dB tests at Donnington, it’s a loud day though so fingers cross it will be fine.

Once everything has calmed down and the exhaust has FINALLY been sorted then I’m going to uprate the brakes.  They don’t really need it as it stops on a 5p as it is, but as I’ll be doing a few track sessions this year I’d rather know they were up to the job.  Not going for anything rediculous just some Brembo High Carbon (HC) discs and Ferodo DS-2500 brake pads at the front, then standard 172 jobbies at the rear, braided hoses all round and some Castrol Responce Dot 4 brake fluid.

Well ok it’s not drastic.  The CV boot as I thought has gone, don’t think it’s split though just the circlip has come off, the boots slid back and then grease and spunked everywhere.  So it’s going in next Saturday, I’m too lazy to do it myself and it’s a fucking annoying job lol, to the garage in Ilkeston  to get it sorted.  Once it’s done I’ll grab some AutoGlym Engine and Machine Cleaner and get to work on the arches, might as well do them all, to clean them up and remove the CV grease from the o/s/f.

Also got a bargain on a replacement rear bumper from Daniel on ClioSport so once the new exhaust has arrived and been fitted, won’t be this month now due to an unexpected bill, I’ll get that fitted too.  It’s got a few small imperfections such as light scratches in the laquer and a few tiny bits down to the plastic.  So I’ll see how it comes up after a good wash and polish today and if it needs a spray I’ll take it somewhere local to get done, probably end up doing the prep myself though depending on the quotes they give.

Some pictures of the replacement rear bumper before, during and after a good wash and polish.  Took most of the light scratches out TBH, but I’ll still probably get it resprayed at some point along with the front for that minty fresh look.

O HAI Mr Bee!

Also got some replacement engine cover bolts and washers coming from davo172 on ClioSport which I’ll use with my other engine cover when I get around to spraying it, probably this month depending on my cash.  Hmmm just thought I need a replacement 2.0 16v sticker for the engine cover too…

This month though it’s Cam and Aux belt replacement.  Big expense, but it will give me peace of mind and it’s cheaper than replacing 16 bent valves!