mynickers

Hello everyone,

Borrowed my mothers clio yesterday (for today) so I could drive to work.

Was p1ssing down with rain, didn't drive hard from cold, but I was running late, so I did rake it a few times when there was no traffic - not such a bad thing on a cold day to get temps up. Got caught outside Richmond in a massive line of traffic, and stop / start on the clutch. Eventually panicking about being late for important meeting, I spinned around, and shot off in other direction, let off clutch pretty hard didn't just drop it, but did get wheel spin (not hard in a clio in the wet).

Then weird stuff started happening.

Got moving again, and upto 4th about 40mph odd, let off to slow down while person infront turned off, car had lost speed, and was coming up to lights so bliped throttle on low revs to boost me on a little toward the lights (small cars never like this) but normaly it would just labour and wobble a bit in wrong gear - but nothing drastic. However, I got a pause and a loud knock from under the bonnet and the car lurched back and forth as if the clutch was slipping (or the clutch was slipping)! and double

Then pulling off gently from lights it started to make a grindy / gurlge noise and I could feel something rough going on through the accelerator and it made a vibration through the car (which already rattles enough - rattles come as standard in clios). Obviously I was hearing something above the engine as well, and then you start to get paranoid, and every little sound becomes potential problems. I was duely concerened. This carried on, and the clutch slipped several times, especially on low revs or pulling off. Once the car was running in gear above say 2.5k it was fine. Out of gear revving engine - nothing seemed amiss. But what I can only guess was the clutch was behaving weirdly, and making worrying noises. I am just not that technical to know, I am just guessing using quasi-logic!

When I left the office just now, the gurgling and grindy noises / vibratoins were still hapeening as I let the clutch out and up through the lower rev ranges from cold start. Drove very steadily.

However, about half way through the journey about the time the temp guage got up to right place - it stopped altogether and was fine all the way home. Altough by this stage my objectivity had been taken over by pure paranoia of breaking mothers car!

Any suggestions?

Post script.

Clio 1.2 16v standard, 2 years old, 10k miles.... Not very old, very low milleage. Still under manufacturers warranty, although I hear that isn't worth the paper it's printed on with Renault dealers

Too dark to check oil, I wonder whether it's really low on oil, it's never been checked, and they do get pretty hot, cause the engines are quite revvy.



I hate breaking other peoples things, especially my parents, I always get the blame whether it would of happened anyway or not.

scrappydoo

Sounds like the gearbox to me mate or drive shafts.

Scoob99

iTrader: (1)

Who's a naughty boy then

mynickers

I know, she'll surely stop my pocket money?

Trucker Ted

A car with that mileage and age should be able to withstand a mild occasional caning if driven reasonably sensibly.Its maybe just the clutch thats glazed over slightly and might be okay after some normal driving.(fingers crossed)

what would scooby do

fart in a clio and something will break

hawkeye

class

hawkeye

hey bobbie whats french for va va voom

ahh thats it MERD!!!

Scoob99

iTrader: (1)

vava voom= I have broken it Mum

mynickers

The oil was slighly down, but not drastically, topped it up..

Well weirdly last few days it's been as normal, giving it back 2moro, been driving it with kid gloves. Today however, it started again but the knock from beneath the bonnet happened when I started with clutch down, and when it was in low revs coasting, and having power applied again - slight knock from under the bonnet.

It's obviously nothing drastic, but it makes me wonder if something is starting to go? Think it's still worth taking it to a mech at Renault, trouble is - it's not consistant, and I bet it won't happen if I took it down to them...

mynickers

You're relaly enjoying this aren't you?

Scoob99

iTrader: (1)

Nah not me

mynickers

To conclude, I am sure you've all been waiting with bated breath...

Got it down to those 'technical whizz kids' at their Renault dealers, they drove it around, ran some tests, and wait for it...

It was a small bracket that had come loose and dropped between the engine and the bulkhead! Aparently a common problem in areas with speed bumps, as clios like most small french cars have so much travel in the sus. that you can pretty much go over them at 30mph, well my mum does, but the impact and vibration makes things like this bracket get loose!

Sighs, a big sigh of relief, so wasn't me trying to get lift off oversteer

Brendan Hughes

...But it could be next time, eh?

mynickers' mum

thats the last time I lend you the car pal, no tea for you tonight, I may go over speed bumps quickly but YOU still broke the car

mynickers

LOL: who took the trouble to register a new profile? Someone needs to get out more eh? Nearly fooled me, but I don't think my dear ol' ma would ever call me 'pal'!

"COULD BE NEXT TIME"

Yeah I don't even wanna borrow it any more, I find it very hard not to rake anything with wheels, I used to brake mountain bikes and BMX when I were a kid... There is a place around the corner that (i think that is url) hires Celica for £40 a day.. Might go and brake his cars instead...

Scoob99

iTrader: (1)

You mean she won't let you have it anymore, and BTW did she stop your pocket money, glad it worked out Ok for you.
Cheers
Colin

mynickers

No I can borrow it, like I said, I'll drive sensiby for a while, then see a nice little corner, and end up chucking it around sideways .. But no it wasn't really a problem, I was just worried because if it did brake, I would of felt duty bound to get it fixed, and if it was major stuff - would of hand to brake my piggy bank open!