I hate Renaults but I'm loving this..

[Jimmycrackcorn]

The boss had this taking up space and wanted shot, offered him £100 on the basis of if I put it through an MOT and it wasn't too bad I'd have it a cheap run-around and hopefully get the missus driving.

It's been parked up for about 8 months since he had it and not moved at all.

It's a Mk1  Auto RT 1.4, and a propper old giffer car, currently has 45k on the clock and fully serviced up to 39k and only done a few k between MOTs and services.

Chucked the booster on and it fired straight up, took it for a drive a few times around the yard with the handbrake on to scrub off the brakes and it's brilliant.

I've always hated Renaults but I love this little thing, surprising comfortable and quite nippy even for an auto.

Took the what looked quite new but left for 8 months Bosch battery and bunged it on charge expecting it to be deader than dead but no it's holding and charging and starting it up no problem.

Chucked it in for a discount £20 MOT and It failed, I knew it would I just wasn't sure how bad, I was expecting quite a bit despite not really checking it over or even getting it in the air on the ramps. 

And this is what it failed on:

• Vehicle makeRENAULT
• Vehicle modelCLIO
• Date first used9 November 1995
• Fuel typePetrol
• ColourWhite

 

MOT history of this vehicle

• Test date10 February 2016
• Test ResultFail
• Odometer reading45,538 miles
• MOT test number8172 5645 4659
• Reason(s) for failure
  
  nearside Steering rack gaiter split (2.2.D.2d)

  offside Front constant velocity joint gaiter insecure to the extent that it no longer prevents the ingress of dirt etc (2.5.C.1a)

  nearside front coil spring broken (2.4.C.1a)
• Advisory notice item(s)
  
  front Exhaust has a minor leak of exhaust gases (7.1.2)

  rear Shock absorber has slight corrosion to the casing both (2.7.2a)

  front brake disc worn, pitted or scored, but not seriously weakened both (3.5.1i)

  offside front Tyre worn close to the legal limit (4.1.E.1)

  front Anti-roll bar linkage rubber mounting deteriorated but not resulting in excessive movement both sides (2.4.G.2)

  nearside damage to body

So new spring ordered off eBay £9.95 including 24hr delivery and a new steering rack gaiter for £5.49 with delivery. I have a jubilee clip to sort out the CV joint so no other spends at the moment but I will replace the other spring and the track rod ends.

And then sort out the rest of the advisories as I go.

Once that's all done I'll address the little rot and the bad paint, and maybe sort a better interior.

I'll probably try and knock that panel out next week.

Already got a quote from Footman James £124 including adding the old man so hopefully I'll have it on the road by the time I head off to Berlin and I can hopefully take it down to Stansted and back instead of the ever unreliable Jag.

Anyway some photies;

[Parky]

Always liked these, sis had a couple and both were good motors. I do believe the Automatic has a questionable reliability record though......

[Bren]

Renner + auto = disaster.

 

Top bombing.

[Jimmycrackcorn]

Fuck I had hoped I might have scored a reliable vehicle for once. Hopefully the Jag will be back on the road tomorrow after some bodging but I had high hopes for this.

What can go wrong with them?

[FakeConcern]

I love the Mk1 Clio, Mrs Concern has one

 

 

[vulgalour]

Mk1 Clios are pretty neat but the auto boxes can be problematic.  But hey, it's a Renault of a certain age, it's always going to have some problems/character.  Use it, care for it, don't throw to much cash at it and you should be fine.  Scrap it when the gearbox destroys its clutches or the arse falls out of it, whichever comes first.

[Dick Cheeseburger]

[Jimmycrackcorn]

I knew he jumped at a ton too eagerly, I love how it has central locking not on a fob where it would be handy but inside the car and the crooklock is awesome.

The radio cover is great, it has a Blaupunkt stereo that looks original as well.

I'm hoping the servicing it's had means it's been looked after, as long as I get a year out of it I'll be happy. 

The flip up bonnet is pretty awesome.

[hairnet]

auto argh but rest seems ok

 

body damage adv when its only a dent and no holes or sharp edges??

[Cavcraft]

MEGALOZ at mentioning an unreliable Jag and buy a Renault automatic.

 

To be fair though, it looks ace (in an Autoshite way) and was a bargain.

[eddyramrod]

The presence of a sunroof is disturbing.  The immobiliser lives up there in the lining, near the mirror, and is very susceptible to even the slightest water ingress.  Apart from that, good luck!

[Jimmycrackcorn]

The presence of a sunroof is disturbing.  The immobiliser lives up there in the lining, near the mirror, and is very susceptible to even the slightest water ingress.  Apart from that, good luck!

Surprised it has an immobiliser, the key is just a bog standard metal key no plastic or transponder. There does appear to be an after market alarm of some variety badly wired in that will be taken out asap.

[Jimmycrackcorn]

auto argh but rest seems ok

 

body damage adv when its only a dent and no holes or sharp edges??

I had to make a structural repair to the wheel arch with gaffer tape til I can get it welded up properly.

[Jimmycrackcorn]

MEGALOZ at mentioning an unreliable Jag and buy a Renault automatic.

 

To be fair though, it looks ace (in an Autoshite way) and was a bargain.

Unreliable Jag, LDV, Citroen and now a Renault, I iz winnar!!!!

[FakeConcern]

Surprised it has an immobiliser, the key is just a bog standard metal key no plastic or transponder. There does appear to be an after market alarm of some variety badly wired in that will be taken out asap.

You'd know if it has the immobilizer as after about 50 seconds it re sets & you have to plip the key twice to start the car.

[outlaw118]

Seal the sunroof ASAP. They leak like bastards, into the little central locking pod/sensor dubrey, which is probably why you've not got a plip key, and then all the water falls out onto youir lap while corninering, making it appear like you've pissed yourself. The plip receiver is available - but you'll need to get the keys recoded which cost ££££, so not worth bothering.

 

 

I KAN HAZ HEXPERYENSE.

[FakeConcern]

The sunroof on ours is ok, but had leaks in the aerial a few times, fixed with mastic!

[Jimmycrackcorn]

The sunroof was sealed until the oldman decided to open the bloody thing so that'll be redone. Is it worth cleaning out the drains and fitting a new seal?

[Jimmycrackcorn]

Oh yes and the arial has been sealed 

[FakeConcern]

As I said no problems with our sunroof. Both my kids have a Mk2 Clio (a phase 1 & a phase 2) & I've taken off & re sealed the sunroof on both.

[For Fiats Sake]

MegaWinnage!

[robinmasters]

And this is what it failed on:

 

• [*]

Vehicle makeRENAULT

UNEDITED QUOTE.

[HH-R]

Nice!! Always liked these, proper shite. WHY U NO LIKE RENOZ?

[djimbob]

Bought my daughter one of these exact ones in auto flavour from an elderly couple, was great and never any bother for a couple of years, then the cambelt snapped, leading to the journey of shame on the back of a transporter to the scrappers - recommended, top buy

[twosmoke300]

Nicole's boobs were outstanding in that advert !

[twosmoke300]

Bought my daughter one of these exact ones in auto flavour from an elderly couple, was great and never any bother for a couple of years, then the cambelt snapped, leading to the journey of shame on the back of a transporter to the scrappers - recommended, top buy

Another good car ruined through lack of maintainance 😄

[DVee8]

It has lasted this long.

[UmBongo]

The sunroof was sealed until the oldman decided to open the bloody thing so that'll be redone. Is it worth cleaning out the drains and fitting a new seal?

 

It looks like they used putty.

[Zantimisfit]

Had one of these ages ago, a manual diesel that was about 5 years old at the time. I quite enjoyed it Anyway driving back to Manchester from London (in the slow traffic on the M25)I lost fourth gear, then second started jumping out etc etc. Called for the recovery man and proceeded back north with it on the truck.

 

He dropped it off outside the Renault place in Bury who rang the next day with the message "your gearbox is shagged, you have no warranty so you're not covered....but Renault will replace it free of charge anyway because it shouldn't fail at this age. It'll take a week, what car would you like to borrow in the meantime?"

 

Renault = excellent customer service if slightly suspect cars.

[Jimmycrackcorn]

It looks like they used putty.

Putty kitchen sealant and gaffer tape for extra sturdiness.

 

How much of a job is the cambelt on one of these, I'll admit that's the one job I've not done on anything and always been a little scared of.