Clio 172 Project

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!

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!