Recent content by PaulV

  1. PaulV

    Unstable idle

    Hi, my 197 has displayed all these issues and run like a dog for a year and a half, luckily i broke the MAP sensor and replaced with new original renault sensor and the car is fabulous. Idles perfectly, no hesitation. Returns +5 to +10 improved mpg.
  2. PaulV

    Stuttering under acceleration and rough idle SOLVED

    For a while I've been having issues with serious stuttering under acceleration (not to be confused with a misfire, or a cold start kangaroo, nor a flat spot or a brain haemmorage) along with a really rough idle, so I've been chasing down the most obvious candidates for vacuum leaks after already...
  3. PaulV

    'Heads Up' on Paper Panel Air Filters

    the Autofactor I purchased the filter from assured me it was compatible. Was just a matter of convenience and not a cost issue. Having always purchased filters from Autofactors before (for a C2 VTS) without any issue, I just came unstuck this time with same on the RS197. Normally I like to...
  4. PaulV

    95 Octane vs 97/98 Octane?

    I have a stock 197 Cup. I get the opposite results: For me 98 RON causes lumpy idling, stuttering from start, occasional misfiring, bogging down or kangarooing away from junctions, juddering on lift off or take up, weak acceleration and difficulty driving in slow and stop start traffic. 95...
  5. PaulV

    197 alternatives for the same ish money.

    Yeah fair comments to all. OK shoot me down, but I agree with what's being said here and I'm sure the 197 and 200 are great drivers cars when new or well maintained. As far as I remember I only bitched a few times about my 197 being a pile of the proverbial. I guess I lost the plot and got...
  6. PaulV

    'Heads Up' on Paper Panel Air Filters

    Have found out through experimentation and frustration that some 3rd party paper panel filters which are supposed to be compatible with the RS197/200 aren't. The OEM paper filter from Renault has 2 glue strips on one side of the filter and a central glue strip on the other. I've been running a...
  7. PaulV

    197 alternatives for the same ish money.

    I wouldn't hesitaste to push my Clio 197 Cup off Beachy head and go get a low mileage Fiat Coupe 20VT for about £5k. After spending approx. £5k in less than a year fixing this Renault I am determined to get a return on my investment. Otherwise I would SELL it in an instant and also have Chris...
  8. PaulV

    'lurching' when changing up?

    Yeah, when I was looking to buy an RS I settled on the 197 Cup over the 200 Cup because various reports on internet were saying that its suspension is 17% less stiffer/harsher than the 200 Cup suspension ( though could be wrong, fake news and all that!) and frankly the 197 was already on the...
  9. PaulV

    'lurching' when changing up?

    Aw my 197 is great, really. Not a lemon. It does run well when I commit to it ( revving it out, keeping it in the right gear and losing all hearing in the process!). Handles very well and the harder the you push it the better it gets. Has taken about 9 months since purchase to get rid of all the...
  10. PaulV

    'lurching' when changing up?

    lurching in 1st and second coming on an off the throttle is a problem i have. I think its just the piss poor throttle response to small movements of the accelerator pedal. By whiney do you mean the timing belt? My timing belt is whiney compared to previous C2 VTS which was pretty silent. My...
  11. PaulV

    Gear change noise

    Hi I get the same thing, also only when cold. Though mine sounds like a clunk coming from the rear hatch, or perhaps the exhaust backbox knocking on something, though its more of a knock resulting from something sliding backwards and forwards as the car transfers weight from front to back to...
  12. PaulV

    Living with a 197 cup.. Vilnius or bust!

    I bought my 197 Cup with FSH at 60k in June of 2017. it looked very tidy in nimbus grey with the cup spoiler and the red rear quarter logos that matched the red calipers. What niggled me was that the cambelt was changed at 55k, so the previous owner had sold it soon afterwards (should have been...
  13. PaulV

    Chris Harris on 197

    yeah its the one where he reviews the twizy.. gets bored and drives the 197/200 instead
  14. PaulV

    How did you choose your Clio

    My C2 VTS at 92k was getting a little long in the tooth so I looked around for a suitable go-kart upgrade that wouldn't disappoint. The only car that I could think of with more grunt and better handling was the 197 Cup. I thought about the RS200 and 200T as well, but a low cost and low mileage...
  15. PaulV

    New owner with pools of oil around 1 & 3 spark plug

    hi Pav, thanks very much. I managed to use a big screwdriver with an 8mm socket to do the job without removing anything else to get access. I can't understand why there are no seals under any of those cover bolts fitted from factory, or oil seals in the bolt holes if oil is moving freely around...