First Two Weeks of Clio 200 Cup Ownership.

[Luke_197]

Hello everyone

So I purchased a nice little 2011 racing blue 200 cup about two and a half weeks ago, have had a good few drives in it so far, I posted up here the other week I reintroducing myself to the club, but thought I would do a little write up of how thing are going so far, I'm gonna underline some bad points too so hopefully some of you can help me out with some problems.

Here she is





Right so here goes and unfortunately I'm gonna start with the bad news. And that bad news is a gearbox or clutch issue, I'm not one to abuse my cars, always let everything warm up to temp before use and cool down for a few minutes after. However after a few rather spirited drives I've notice the gearbox seems to have become a little stiff, it's at it's worse when cold , sometimes I struggle to select gears when I first fire her up first thing in the mornings, usually I select reverse gear and hold my foot on the clutch before starting, most of the time I don't have any problems when I do this, even when the gearbox has warmed up I still don't feel like it goes into gear the way it should, feels clunky, NOT CRUNCHY. I've read up on this and noticed some other people have experienced the same problem, lots of people blaming it on the cold weather but it's only been lows of about 4 degrees around my way which I don't really think is cold enough to play havoc with gearboxes.

It's not too bad,as my 200 is still under Renault warranty and I have extended it for a whole another year, I don't think Renault would do anything about the gearbox as it's not crunching, maybe an oil change will help but I highly doubt it, I am worried as I had a fiesta ST a while back which chomped through 2 gearboxes whilst I owned it and then found out it went again on the guy I sold it too, so gearbox related issue does make me slightly worried, it does irritate me more than anything and I it defiantly didn't feel this bad when I test drove the car.

Secondly I have a feeling my exhaust is noisier than it should be, don't get me wrong it sounds nice for a standard system, However I'm pretty sure when you rev up the car it should be making little popping noises, and also on idle I can hear little burbles from the exhaust, they are quite hard to hear but it defiantly coming from the exhaust.

But any way enough of the bad bits. I'll say also the two problems above are annoying but haven't put me off the car at all. Comparing it to my full fat 197, it's defiantly an improvement, very happy with the mid range torque now which my 197 seemed to lack, being a cup it feels planted and very well balanced. I'm actually wondering if coil overs will be necessary in the future. Every friend I have taken out has been impressed with the handling. Can't be happier with the recaros, and I'm so happy I went for racing blue, stands out in day light light and looks stealthy a night, defiantly gets a lot of attention.

Bought some dodo juice and chem guys cleaning products, last week from elite car car care, gave her a wash and she scrubbed up nicely here she is,





Me and my mate in his 182 cup



Sweetshop meet in Bristol last Sunday found a friend




Let me know if anyone has experienced the same gearbox issue and if they have, how the have resolved it.

Thanks guys

 

[Sarah A]

Lots of people seem to be thinking their gearbox is gone but there is a good chance if it's just difficult to select gears and not grinding when engaging it's the clutch. Mine was difficult to select gears so had new clutch and slave cylinder and it was like new again. Ignoring the issue will result in the box getting chewed to bit as well. Get it sorted ASAP

 

[FISHBOY]

Just out of interest how high does your clutch bite? On my 197 cup mine is about an inch from the top and sometimes I have trouble getting it into first.Only owned the car for just over a week so putting it down to me getting used to it.

 

[Mentalpen]

About an inch is correct

 

[nicknameless]

Not being able to get it in gear when cold is not unusual. Mine's done this ever since I've had it (nearly 2 years now). Read somewhere it might be the clutch slave cylinder? Anyhow, I start it in gear if need be and let the box warm up and it's fine. Fluid change might well do some good. Mine felt a lot smoother when changed about a year ago (car was on 35kish).

 

[chris1888-197]

Hi mate I had this very issue when I first got my 197 2 years ago. It was stiff going into gear every morning (especially when cold) I had autocare through arnold clark and I got a brand new box and slave fitted and 2 years and 21,000 miles is fine (no issues) I could have lived with it but as others have said to ignore it, would most certainly get worse!! If you dont have a warranty with it the 1st thing I would try wpuld be changing the gearbox oil. Quick and easy to do.

 

[Luke_197]

Thanks for the advice guys, I do appreciate it, Chris car is booked into Renault a week on Monday for them to have a have a look, I recon they will do the oil first but I'll be letting them know about the clutch and slave cylinder. Hopefully it gets sorted

 

[Jonny200]

Thanks for the advice guys, I do appreciate it, Chris car is booked into Renault a week on Monday for them to have a have a look, I recon they will do the oil first but I'll be letting them know about the clutch and slave cylinder. Hopefully it gets sorted

Mine has the same problem when you're really going for it and change gears at the 'pip' it really struggles to go in. Very frustrating

let us know how you get on. My Renault dealer said you're revving it too high, I was thinking are you bloody kidding me!!! Might go to a renaultsport specialist, just means a bit of traveling

Jonny

 

[RSinclair]

On the Clio it has a self adjusting clutch like most new cars these days so the bite point is always around the same point if it's nearly worn or not.

 

[benclio200]

I have same issue with my clio 200 cup. I finish at 6am so most mornings always cold, start car clutch in but will not get in gear. After a few attempts its ok and theres no crunching at all

 

[Hassleheff]

Just noticed your comment about popping and burbling, My 200 full fat cup does the exact same on a standard exhaust, it wont pop for around 30 seconds on idle then pop and burble for about 5 seconds then stop again for another 30 or so. Have you looked in to it any further??

 

[Yiannis197]

Mine does that as well (not the gearbox but the popping even when my exhaust was stock). I also noticed that the engine's move pattern on idle is not stable and the pop occurs when the engine kind of ''knocks'', like a misfire or something. I haven't got any lights showing in the dash and the car feels normal but I know that something is not right there. I changed the throttle body (luckily under warranty), plugs and I tried a different set of coilpacks that a kind member in here gave me with no luck. Next thing is to check the injectors.

Here is a video where you can hear the popping (stock exhaust)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WM700T80o-Y

And here is a video that shows the move pattern of the engine on idle

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-uCOcedMZ7U

 

[Hassleheff]

That top video is like for like exactly the same as I am experiencing, however I tried the glass of water technique and it was pretty stable. I think checking the injectors is a good shout, I have booked mine in to do the same.

 

[gaz]

they all do that, all the way down to the 172's.

 

[Hassleheff]

Is it known what causes it?/can it be mapped out or resolved?

 

[gaz]

dont see the issue, i think it sounds purposeful (ish?)

Its probably an emissions thing IMO

 

[jamesgw200]

mine pops and farts on idle too. Think shes just happy

 

[Hassleheff]

I think it sounds ace! but if it's a sign any significant amounts of un-burnt fuel are making it through the system I want it sorting

 

[connor_rs200]

Can confirm I was having the same issue for two months and it was the clutch slave cylinder...going to pick my car up from Bristol in a hour or two as that's what was causing the fault so I'm told