Hopeless Heroes: Kiltox’ home for early-00s Renners and other basket cases.

[Kiltox]

Of course this one needs no introduction:

2002 (52) Renault Vel Satis 3.5 V6 Initiale. 

Purchased from @Schaefft, this 105k mile lump of absolute winner wagon feels like it has a good car lurking in there somewhere despite being rough around the edges. 

Lacquer peel galore means it’ll never be a show winner but the engine runs well and on the whole, it appears to be fairly together. 

I replaced a drop link to cure a clunk, and that’s basically all I’ve done so far. 

The gearbox is in dire need of attention - lots of shunting and general worn out AW55 box shenanigans. I’m hopeful that a fluid change/changes will at least help. Going to try and do this with a Pela pump it seems the dipstick is inaccessible from up top so even that will need to be done on a lift (which is currently housing a very broken 2021 Zoe 🤦‍♂️)

Air conditioning is inoperative. Fault code DF090 Compressor Command Open Circuit makes me hopeful that the pressure switch is the cause, but who really knows. 

Electronic parking brake doesn’t work - but the motor clearly does. I think someone has been messing with it. 

Intermittent ABS/ESP fault - seemingly related to a sensor, but who knows. 

Tyres were bald as all fuck when it arrived so I’ve put these on it

They’re fucking shit. Can make them squeal like fuck if you unleash all 245 horses from a standstill. 

[Kiltox]

Next week, chapter two will arrive

2002 (52) Renault Clio 2.0 Renaultsport 172 

Non runner, bought from @bramz7

Pretty crazy that these two would’ve been in a showroom together in 2002, isn’t it?

Of course it’ll just be the crank sensor and not something more serious. 

Of course. 

[loserone]

As I think you said when I bought a leaf for £8k in 2018, "this thread is relevant to my interests".

[Kiltox]

Vel Satis parking brake module shows “DF046 - parking brake emergency handle pulled” or similar. When I try to reset it, I can hear the motor running. It will disengage and stop telling me there’s a fault, but when I try to engage it, it shows that there is a fault again. 

Switch and motor seem fine, so I’m guessing it’s a problem with the cables?! I can see that the force being reported is much lower than the reference. 

[Kiltox]

First time ever I think I’ve ordered a part for a car that isn’t here yet. Bit worrying that Amazon want me to subscribe to regular deliveries of them 

Whoever owned this before @bramz7 must’ve been caught shagging the MOT tester’s wife I reckon - don’t think I’ve ever seen so many advisories clutching at straws before 

[loserone]

By Jove, Gary! 🤯

What a truly magnificent, sight-unseen purchase of a broken Clio 172. You absolute madman! 👏🚗💨

And to top it all off, you've already committed to a fix with an Amazon crankshaft sensor! 📦🔧 My word, that's what we call optimism in the face of insurmountable odds. A common fault on these, mind. So, statistically speaking, you've got a fighting chance of it actually doing something! 🤞

I'm not sure what's more impressive: the fact you've bought a French car 🇫🇷, a Clio 🤦‍♂️, or a 172 that's already broken 😭. That's a triple whammy of potential motoring misery right there, and frankly, I'm bursting with pride! ✨

I imagine the conversation went something like: "Is it a runner?" "Nah, mate, proper knackered." "Sold!" 💰💸 "And a crankshaft sensor is on its way!" 🚀

Bravo, sir. Bravo. You've truly embraced the spirit of Autoshite with this one. My only question is, what perfectly dreadful bodge 🛠️ will you be performing when the crankshaft sensor doesn't magically solve all its woes? (Because let's face it, it's a Clio. It'll have more woes than a perpetually damp biscuit.) 😂

Tremendous effort. Absolutely tremendous. 👍👍👍 You're an inspiration to us a

ll. 🌟

 

 

I don't think Gemini has ever really paid enough attention to @tooSavvy.  It got the spirit of autoshite in there mind.

[MrBig]

Be interesting to see what is actually wrong with the Clio (as someone who would have just bought it blind if he hadn't seen the thread too late) and will be hoping that the engine randomly falls out the bottom it's only a crank sensor.

[Kiltox]

Brief guest appearance for this 2010 Picanto I bought from @reductiongear

Runs and drives really well despite being 112k miles up, reminds me how good these actually are. I had one from brand new in 2011 in this same mega base “1” specification, Arnold Clark were fire-selling them for £5500 in white. 

It was pretty minging inside so I sent it to the expert prep centre 

lol comedy fuel gauge

Replacing the OSF ABS sensor didn’t sort out the abs/esp lights being on. Still has a code for the RH sensor being open circuit. 

Suspect it might be the pump (hoping it’s not the wiring harness 😅)

Guess I’ll do something really important like sort the scruffy wheel trims out 

[MrGTI6]

I had a Picanto as a stopgap a couple of years ago. Not the sort of thing I'd usually give a second look; I only bought it because it was very cheap and within walking distance from my house. 

It got me out of a hole for a few weeks and must admit I ended up being really impressed by it. Can totally get why you like them so much.

[Kiltox]

Even though it didn’t need it, it was impressively easy to change the 15 year old ABS sensor too. Proper 10mm hex head bolts everywhere, no fucking about with rusty knackered Torx screws. 

[Kiltox]

[Kiltox]

👀 

Crank sensor sorted it - didn’t even need to change the wiring, it already had the “new style” 

[Kiltox]

Head lining sag is hilariously bad - do those weird little stud/pin things work?!

[urpert]

On 31/05/2025 at 21:45, Kiltox said:

Brief guest appearance for this 2010 Picanto I bought from @reductiongear

Runs and drives really well despite being 112k miles up, reminds me how good these actually are. I had one from brand new in 2011 in this same mega base “1” specification, Arnold Clark were fire-selling them for £5500 in white. 

It was pretty minging inside so I sent it to the expert prep centre 

lol comedy fuel gauge

Replacing the OSF ABS sensor didn’t sort out the abs/esp lights being on. Still has a code for the RH sensor being open circuit. 

Suspect it might be the pump (hoping it’s not the wiring harness 😅)

Guess I’ll do something really important like sort the scruffy wheel trims out 

Wow, those dials are worthy of a Fiesta Popular in their minimal feedback. 

[Kiltox]

Took it out for a shakedown run earlier and it drives very well! I think the two winter, one all season and one summer tyre need changing though  despite them all having plenty of tread. 

There's a *very* comprehensive service history folder with it, clearly been well cared for.

[Wibble]

Just watched the vid 👍 Bargain!

[sierraman]

I’ve got some Sportchasers on, they’re fine in my experience. 

[Kiltox]

2 minutes ago, sierraman said:

I’ve got some Sportchasers on, they’re fine in my experience. 

Presume you don’t have a 3.5 V6 with slightly knackered gearbox 

[sierraman]

Just now, Kiltox said:

Presume you don’t have a 3.5 V6 with slightly knackered gearbox 

No, 140bhp and this lever thing at the side of your legs that lets you choose the gear ratios. Out of curiosity how much were a pair of the factory spec Michelins? With the correct load rating - I think they were shared with some S-Class Mercedes on that size. 

[Kiltox]

About 3x the price  

 

[Kiltox]

Speaking of tyres - 172 tyre recommendations anyone? I’m told Uniroyals are alright. 

(If anyone wants to buy some part worns get at me and I’ll stop the tyre place binning them) 

[loserone]

I had uniroyals on mine and they were fine.  Would have preferred a bit more sidewall though 

[hairnet]

what is it with sctsch and smol renos

is it a thing you cannot escape? 

 

[IronStar]

1 hour ago, Kiltox said:

Speaking of tyres - 172 tyre recommendations anyone? I’m told Uniroyals are alright. 

(If anyone wants to buy some part worns get at me and I’ll stop the tyre place binning them) 

I assume you're not looking to spend a whole lot of money on top-tier rubber. Wanna give my preferred budget-conscious tyre a choice this time around? 😄

Sava Intensa UHP2

[Kiltox]

1 minute ago, IronStar said:

I assume you're not looking to spend a whole lot of money on top-tier rubber. Wanna give my preferred budget-conscious tyre a choice this time around? 😄

Sava Intensa UHP2

I do and I dont - conscious that a performance oriented car should have decent rubber on - but if these are a decent middle ground that’s also good? 

[loserone]

Side by side drag race with an R135 would be very interesting.  Never had ours at the same time to do it.

[Kiltox]

Taking it for an air con regas shortly. Place bets now. 

[IronStar]

20 minutes ago, Kiltox said:

I do and I dont - conscious that a performance oriented car should have decent rubber on - but if these are a decent middle ground that’s also good? 

I really rate them, and found them much better than some more upmarket rubber. The Continentals I had after them weren't as nice IMHO. Just get them in XL for stiffer sidewalls.

Reference car is Alfa 159 with 200-odd HP / 420Nm. 

[loserone]

25 minutes ago, Kiltox said:

Taking it for an air con regas shortly. Place bets now. 

Absolutely no chance.

[Kiltox]

3 minutes ago, loserone said:

Absolutely no chance.

Engine speed changes when you turn AC on/off so I am slightly hopeful