Clio 197 flat spot. Additional info please

[Bigstu77]

Hi guys!
after a couple of weeks with the 197 I am still finding the cars flat spot a ball ache. I am having timing checked this week and car is going into renault dealer Thursday for health check.

I am pretty certain looking under car exhaust is all standard. Car is completely standard. Why would I have a flat spot?

the big issue I have is this. If the cars all had this flat spot how the hell did they sell any? Has anyone on here had one from new And if so did it suffer with flat spot. There must be a solution to this issue without mapping!

Can anyone shed any real light on this and not just theories. I fail to accept renault would develop a car spending countless money to end up with a car with this issue as end result / finished product.

Something must happen / deteriorate to cause issue! What the hell is it and how do we cure it.
HELP as I'm at the end of my tether.

 

[chongwong]

I've honestly never felt a flat spot once its 'woken up' so to speak, the second my 197 comes off of the start-up/freezing cold map it pulls smoothly from 2-4000 then it seems to step up between 4 and 6, then goes mental above. I think my car may have been mapped by a previous owner to go with the drainpipe it calls an exhaust though,so feel free to disregard this. Hope you figure yours out!

 

[Tutuur]

Emissions..... So yes, to completely get rid of it get it remapped! Healthcheck at Renault won't do a thing other than drain your pockets!

 

[Ldw93]

My standard exhaust gave me a pretty bad flat spot, if the revs were at 2k and I accelerated it literally wouldn't do anything, since fitting an akrapovic not only has that disappeared but it seems to pick up speed a lot easier in general. An expensive option but an option at least

 

[Kazumz]

Get it mapped! Solve all your problems. Also check the exhaust for corrosion before you get it mapped.

 

[Antti O]

Check few things.

- You sure that exhaust is 100% oem
- Timing
- Fault codes from all modules.

As i said before, i had Clio 197 100% stock including exhaust and there was no flat spot.

 

[Jimmy]

Have you done the tie-wrap on the MAP sensor fix?? This in many cases can help quite a lot. I think I've read that it's there because of something to do with emissions that the flat spot exists...can't remember exactly what it is though.

Perhaps yours is worse than other people - mine was noticeable but it pretty much got rid once I'd put the tie wraps on.

 

[Bigstu77]

Have you done the tie-wrap on the MAP sensor fix?? This in many cases can help quite a lot. I think I've read that it's there because of something to do with emissions that the flat spot exists...can't remember exactly what it is though.

Perhaps yours is worse than other people - mine was noticeable but it pretty much got rid once I'd put the tie wraps on.

I removed map sensor and sealed it as shown in thread, re fitted it and tie wrapped it but no real help to mine tbh

 

[Bigstu77]

Check few things.

- You sure that exhaust is 100% oem
- Timing
- Fault codes from all modules.

As i said before, i had Clio 197 100% stock including exhaust and there was no flat spot.

Car is going in this week to my local specialist. Had ecu codes checked and all clear. Still not been able to check exhaust system but will try before Thursday when it goes to garage.
if timing was out how would this present itself? Would it show a cam sensor fault?

 

[Bigstu77]

Update

Car is going in this week to my local specialist. Had ecu codes checked and all clear. Still not been able to check exhaust system but will try before Thursday when it goes to garage.
if timing was out how would this present itself? Would it show a cam sensor fault?

I have been into renault today for a free health check. They had car for 2 hours and read all modules which were all clear of fault codes.
They road tested car and advised maybe injector or o2 sensor investigation. I can buy and swap sensors on car cheaply enough to eliminate them. As suspected if timing was out it would present itself as a faulty cam sensor and throw up a code so quite happy timing is ok. What could possible injector fault be? How can I check?
Is is worth changing any other sensors in process such as temp or map?

just to confirm renault technician said car shouldn't have flat spot!

 

[Antti O]

So basically timing was not check? And how about that exhaust. Standard, all parts in place?

 

[matt9566]

Mine has a slight flat spot (standard car) found a pain at first but once I got used to the car I don't even notice it, only very rarely when I'm just pottering about town.

As long as your staying above 3k revs when your 'giving it some' it should be none existent..

My mum occasionally drives my car and she hates it, she's always saying "It doesn't want to move unless you're driving it fast" she probably dislikes it because she's never been over 3k revs in her life :lol:

Take it for a blast on some B roads keeping it higher up in the rev range and if you still feel the same I'd be looking down the remap route

 

[Bigstu77]

So basically timing was not check? And how about that exhaust. Standard, all parts in place?

timing was not checked by actually stripping down and going through procedure of belt change. They said if timing was out it would confuse car into thinking there was a cam sensor fault. As no fault codes were present I assume timing is ok.

I never got to speak with technician so not 100% certain what else he had done. He never said anything regarding exhaust. I will try check over weekend. What does a full standard system consist of? How many cats, boxes etc?

they said next step would be checking oxygen sensors, injectors and all associated wiring. Might be a good starting point but not sure.

 

[Bigstu77]

Mine has a slight flat spot (standard car) found a pain at first but once I got used to the car I don't even notice it, only very rarely when I'm just pottering about town.

As long as your staying above 3k revs when your 'giving it some' it should be none existent..

My mum occasionally drives my car and she hates it, she's always saying "It doesn't want to move unless you're driving it fast" she probably dislikes it because she's never been over 3k revs in her life :lol:

Take it for a blast on some B roads keeping it higher up in the rev range and if you still feel the same I'd be looking down the remap route

I know it's slightly different but I drove a friends Clio 200 silverstone GP on Wednesday and that drove very similar but had no flat spot. Not even a hint of a flat spot. If my car drove like that I know I will like / keep it.

The issue with mine I think may also be affecting power slightly although it feels ok. I've had that many high powered turbo cars maybe I've been spoilt.

I'm sorry guys but I fail to accept the flat spot on the the 197 is normal and ok. I vow I will get to the bottom of it and cure it. I have to for my sanity. If not its gonna be a gallon of unleaded and a box of swanvesters

 

[DS197]

timing was not checked by actually stripping down and going through procedure of belt change. They said if timing was out it would confuse car into thinking there was a cam sensor fault. As no fault codes were present I assume timing is ok.

I never got to speak with technician so not 100% certain what else he had done. He never said anything regarding exhaust. I will try check over weekend. What does a full standard system consist of? How many cats, boxes etc?

they said next step would be checking oxygen sensors, injectors and all associated wiring. Might be a good starting point but not sure.

Exhaust Manifold (with first cat) - Secondary cat - Middle silencer - Backbox

 

[Bigstu77]

Exhaust Manifold (with first cat) - Secondary cat - Middle silencer - Backbox

Thanks for that! Will pop it on ramps tomorrow

 

[DS197]

Thanks for that! Will pop it on ramps tomorrow

No worries mate, let us know how you get on

 

[Bigstu77]

Hi Guys
Just thought I would add an update. I have finally had chance to spend a bit of time on the car. I have removed,cleaned the vvt solenoid, bought and fitted a new cam position sensor and fuel filter (not fitted fuel filter as yet but will asap). This seems to have greatly improved the drive and the awful flat spot I had. As yet after a few decent runs it hasn't done it.

I am thinking of putting car on a rolling road to see if they pick up anything and to get a bhp figure. I am going to buy a performance panel filter for the car. Has anyone any ideas which is best? I had a k-tec panel filter in my r26 meg which seemed bang on so was going to buy same for the clio. Any input regarding panel filter would be great!

I am yet to inspect the exhaust BUT it does sound like it has a blow. As soon as I get chance / weather I will investigate further as im sure this if blowing won't be helping.

Just to note I had car in for Renault health check and the car had no fault codes in any modules. This confirmed what I had already been told by a local specialist indy who had scanned car and again no faults stored / showing. When at Renault they did suggest I book car in for further investigation, they said the cars flat spot was NOT normal and wanted to check 02 sensors, injectors and associated wiring.

I will see how it goes and keep you all updated

 

[DS197]

Good to hear that it's improved the flatspot Tbh panel filters don't make much difference at all if any when comparing them. You may get a small noise increase depending on which one you go for but any aftermarket one should suffice. Most people go for one by company preference really. The exhaust blow might be the flexipipes on the exhaust manifold, before the first cat. It's very common for them to degrade and start to blow. Btw the fuel filter only needs to be changed at 144,000 miles as it's part of the sender.

 

[CallorFold]

I am going to buy a performance panel filter for the car. Has anyone any ideas which is best? I had a k-tec panel filter in my r26 meg which seemed bang on so was going to buy same for the clio. Any input regarding panel filter would be great!

Most people seem to rate the ITG Panel filter as the best. It comes in at ~£55

Personally, I opted for a PiperCross one - I believe they're made of the same material (so I'm not sure what, if any differences there are), and it came in at ~£30