Collecting Clio a tale from the past

[stephen01]

Collected a clio last Saturday, seller picked me up from my home, so no trains He's my brother so only fair.

 

Brother hasn't had much luck selling it apart from the usual gumtree '£50 quid tunite mate, scrap value.'  ​

 

After being parked up under a tree for 4 months it was covered in crap and I actually had to wash it before driving it home, didn't want to attract any more attention than normal, as no MOT yo.

 

I charged an unknown 10 year old battery the night before and to my amazement the little 1.2 power plant started straight up. no hesitation. not sure what impressed me more, the battery or the car!

 

let it idle for 10 mins or so and then went on my way, the car drives superb, didn't miss a beat on the way home and I must admit was nice to drive for a 17 year old car!

 

I was going to get fuel but the excitement of it possibly not starting was enough to make me drive straight home so no Pez shot. (this will come!)

 

Hopefully I'll have some time the weekend to do the couple of MOT fails, the big one that I don't want to spend any money on is the airbag light, I've started soldering the airbag wires under the seat, but still on, any ideas?

 

 

[sierraman]

I had a Focus ages ago and it turned out to be the Airbag Module. Could be something along those lines.

[stripped fred]

I like that model of Clio for some reason. I think it's the headlights.

[Arthur Foxhake]

I had.one.with the diet engine. Particularly slow generally but no need to slow down for corners as decent chassis.

All of the everything broke or snapped off and the carpets didn't fit at all. The handbrake even pulled clean off the body one day.

Hatefull little cars. Enjoy.

[stephen01]

​checked all airbag shiz and light still on. I assume the wires going to the seat belt are just for the seatbelt warning light? only one on the drivers side mind.

 

 

​I assume this is the airbag ecu..

 

[saucedoctor]

Resistor on the airbag connector F T W.

 

Look like dis:

 

Used on my MG ZArse

[FakeConcern]

Daughter No 1 had one of these to learn in (7 years ago) only got rid at start of this year. We all really liked it and were sad to see it go. Never had an airbag light problem that wiggle the wires under driver seat didn't cure.

[SiC]

 

That tube thing is the airbag pretensioner. In the event of an accident, it'll fire it off to tighten the seatbelt up and pull you back toward the seat. The seat belt warning light on Renault's of this era is usually a small wire coming down from the socket and is not connected to the airbag system. Possibly won't have a seat belt warning on this age though.

[SiC]

I _think_ on this age Clio, if you disconnect the airbag module, the light will extinguish. Might be wrong on that though, can't remember 100%

 

If light doesn't stay lit on key-on, then it can't be failed for it.

[stephen01]

Started on this today working on the fail list,  Main points are the drivers side track rod and anti roll bar linkage, decided to do both sides as parts were cheap.

 

 

 

 

​Then turned my attention to the exhaust, its got a blow, found it after a little investigation, I can get a back box for 30 quid but doing it on the drive is a pain in the arse. I'll be buying some aluminium tape and taping it up  

 

​Stupid things like bulbs and filling up washer bottle also done.

​

Treated it to some new wheel trims because one was missing,

 

 

 

 

[stephen01]

I _think_ on this age Clio, if you disconnect the airbag module, the light will extinguish. Might be wrong on that though, can't remember 100%

 

If light doesn't stay lit on key-on, then it can't be failed for it.

 

 

when you turn the ignition on the light goes out but comes back on after about 15 seconds. Same when started, it goes out but comes back on.

[barefoot]

Black tape over warning light?

[Faker]

The airbag brain from memory is under the cup holder in the centre console (was in mine). Drips and spills can take their toll on the brain... You'd be as well taking it to a dodgy spark. Diagnostic device to show which tensioner, detonator, contact is at fault. Then said dodgy spark can wire in a transistor to replicate dodgy part. Has been done in the past for mot and worked.

[stephen01]

Black tape over warning light?

 

 

The airbag brain from memory is under the cup holder in the centre console (was in mine). Drips and spills can take their toll on the brain... You'd be as well taking it to a dodgy spark. Diagnostic device to show which tensioner, detonator, contact is at fault. Then said dodgy spark can wire in a transistor to replicate dodgy part. Has been done in the past for mot and worked.

 

My MOT man wont take kindly to black tape. He's official but fair.

 

I've located the airbag ecu, this clio is nice and basic, no fancy cup holders and the ecu looks fresh, which was a disappointment  as I'd hoped for an easier fix..

 

I do however want to replace a tyre as it's cracked to buggery,

[stephen01]

how can two MOT tests provide such different results? Results below. The most recent MOT was done by my local garage  who I trust and is generally fair.

 

the car is now MOT'd, the thing that he's pissed me off for is the fact that he's replaced both track rod's even though one was brand new and i'd supplied the other one for him to change over but he decided to buy a new pair and bang them on, I now have an extra pair (matching) track rods for the car, hopefully they need replacing again next year, Like I'm going to remember where I'll put them!, and I don't have the boxes so they can't be returned -  great.

 

 

Date Result Details 14/11/2016 Fail

Date:

14/11/2016

Result:

Fail

Mileage

49825 miles

Mileage Notes

• The mileage recorded at this MOT is below average for a vehicle of this age. (Average mileage of 130400)

Refusal Notices

• Offside headlamp aim too high (1.
• Windscreen washer provides insufficient washer liquid (8.2.3)
• Parking brake lever insecure (3.1.3b)
• Battery insecure (1.9.1)
• Nearside front lower front suspension ball joint dust cover insecure so that it no longer prevents the ingress of dirt (2.4.g.2)
• Rear exhaust has a major leak of exhaust gases (7.1.2)
• Nearside rear tyre has a cut in excess of the requirements deep enough to reach the ply or cords (4.1.d.1a)
• Rear brake application uneven (3.7.b.2)
• Emissions not tested (7.3.a.1)

Advisory Notices

• N/s and o/s t/r/e not a matched pair
• Front tracking visably out of adjustment

18/08/2016 Fail

Date:

18/08/2016

Result:

Fail

Mileage

49819 miles

Refusal Notices

• Rear brakes imbalanced across an axle axle 2 (3.7.b.5b)
• Windscreen washer provides insufficient washer liquid (8.2.3)
• Offside front position lamp(s) not working (1.1.a.3b)
• Offside track rod end ball joint has excessive play (2.2.b.1f)
• Nearside anti-roll bar linkage rubber mounting deteriorated resulting in excessive movement (2.4.g.2)
• Parking brake lever insecure (3.1.3b)
• Rear exhaust has a major leak of exhaust gases (7.1.2)
• Exhaust emissions lambda reading after 2nd fast idle outside specified limits (7.3.d.3)
• Battery insecure (1.9.1)
• Drivers airbag obviously defective (5.4.1)