Renault in Australia

Flocar · Posted: Fri Oct 02, 2009 6:37 am Post subject:

Still having trouble with the master cylinder. So rebuilt another only to discover it was not designed to fit the power booster but came off an R12 without one. So will have to pinch the one off the R12 Replica G and will rebuild the one off the R17G for the 12GR. Evil or Very Mad

Any how the 12GR should have the double acting servo. I cannot understand why the first master cylinder will not work there seems to be no reason. Evil or Very Mad

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A one eyed Renault enthusiast.

Flocar · Posted: Sun Oct 04, 2009 7:46 am Post subject:

As I Have said before I really hate this car. Transfered the master cylinder and the alternator, as well as the front brake hose from the R12G. Shocked

It is not possible to have both these cars running at the same time depite having the R17G for additional bits.

Yes I bought a new alternator and it will fit perfectly but R15/17 have a special pulley that protrudes out about an inch past the end of the shaft. I have searched most of my shipping container of spare bits and cannot find the alternator off the R17G to pinch the pulley. The R18 altenator has the same sort of pulley but designed to fit a longer shaft and so won't fit.

Then one front brake hose was blocked ( only 3 years old) and had to order new ones so got 4. I'll replace the ones on the R12RG as well. So in the mean time to get the R15 going got one off the R12RG. Put oil down the cylinders and went to spin over the motor to get oil back into the system. No starter motor. The solenoid was open circuit. Look through my spares but none that worked. So took the one off the R17G.

Then the auto box filler tube started to leak where it enters the gearbox. Would you believe this is at the bottom of the gear box. Why would you take a filler tube all the way to the bottom you ask. Because it also houses the dip stick, but there are other design possibilities I would have used.

The filler is always a problem as it is only a push fit with an "O" ring. I will have to drain my now unavailable AFT200, the last of my drum, to try and repair it. These gearboxes have a special oil only used by BMW, Merc, Renault and no longer available. Yes I know others do work but....!

Then after all that the battery was not charged enough to turn the motor over and for it to actually start.

So all I am trying to do is see if my work on the auto box has fixed any problems but getting this car to run and take a drive in it is impossible. It seems as if it is contiriving to stay in the garage for as long as possible.

It must be a love hate relationship as it is one of the few cars I have owned for a long time and yet it always has problems so that I have never ever been able to say that everything mechanical or electrical is working.

Crying or Very sad

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A one eyed Renault enthusiast.

Alan M · Posted: Sun Oct 04, 2009 4:19 pm Post subject:

Flocar · Posted: Sun Oct 04, 2009 5:03 pm Post subject:

Thanks Alan. Well half a Smile

. Finally the R15 hits the pavement. Well not exactly the pavement but at least the gravel drive. The electric fan relay was not working and so car over heated. Fixed that and it still will not idle why ??????? But the auto box seemed ok in the drive way and in reverse although need to re adjust the kick down and also the T bar position to allow the park lock to engage properly. I am 90% sure it is an adjustment on the T bar itself as it doesn't quite line up with the indicators and although the manual gives settings I did have trouble with them so I know I should move them a little more. The filler tube still leaks but we wanted the car off the ramps so as to put the R12RG up and install the rear disc brakes and rebuild the front brakes. May be R15 will be ok for the midnight to dawn although I would prefer the Floride I think.
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A one eyed Renault enthusiast.

Flocar · Posted: Sat Oct 10, 2009 11:09 am Post subject:

Several longish drives on the road and the auto works great after resetting the govenor cable. Very Happy

I have also reset the T bar but the park is still not right. Will try again as it is guess work really. The diff still whines a bit but it is not possibe to do any adjustment in the normal way as it is basicly sealed when put together so will just have to put up with it. Went to wash the dust off only to find black over spray on the rear half and the roof. My fault I did spray some metal on the floor at the rear of the car when the car was up on my high stand. I didn't think it was that much spray. It won't polish out either so a respray is now essential. The brakes are as good as they have ever been, used my new brake bleeder but that is for another thread. The fan relay came good after a contact and armature clean. The difficult starting was caused by incorrectly set points but the timing was perfect when I put the light on it. Still have a significant leak out of the auto over night and cannot prove where from but think it is a drive shaft seal. They are new and the shaft has no wear. Mad

Went for a drive and now no evidence of a leak. Mad

Still have a list of not working lights like the blinker tell tail and the interior lights that stay on. Also the key will not always operate the starter. Mad

That will be an ignition switch I just know it. The alternator is now only putting out 12 volts after I replaced the regulator with a new generic model. Perhaps its not right for this altenator. The car is now drivable although I still have a lot of small jobs on the list to make it better but going on past experience with this car there always will be.
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A one eyed Renault enthusiast.

renman · Posted: Sat Oct 10, 2009 4:54 pm Post subject:

Congratulations - you've really had to stick with it to get this one going Very Happy

From my limited experience I know that once the overwhelming problems are licked, its easy to then overlook the minor annoyances because I'm pretty much sick of buggering around with the car.
So I give you my best wishes to press on and get the car how you'd like it - you're over the crest Smile

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Renault Megane RenaultSport 225 Turbo Cup
Renault Alpine GTA Turbo
'Phil' the Fuego
50%Renault Dauphine Gordini
50% Bolwell MK7

Flocar · Posted: Thu Oct 15, 2009 8:09 pm Post subject:

Yesterday was a real !@#$% day. Took the R15 for first long run 20 miles and it went really well. Perhaps the gear changes were a little harsh but an adjustment of the govenor cable will probably cure that and any how it wasn't that bad. Stopped out side my shed and all was well. I was pretty happy. Got out and was thinking what will I do now. Then I decided to start it again and put it into the shed and just up the idle speed a tad. Got it into the shed and was just about to adjust the idle screw and next it spewed coolant every where. It was coming out of the resevoir. It was boiling and the electric fan wasn't running. Yep thermostat switch was no good didn't turn on the fan. Today I did a check on compression down a bit but all cylinders within 4 lb of each other. No water in the oil. So put water back in and started it same result immediatly spewed out every where but wasn't really boiling. OK what is the problem. It has no thermostat so it ain't that. Confused

: Probably isn't headgasket because no water in the oil although it can happen that way but unusual. Pump impeller not turning broken shaft. Confused

: Crack in head in near exhaust valve but still will usually let water into the oil if valve is open. Confused

: Blockage on inlet side of water pump Confused

:

Then after several days with no oil leak from the auto box big puddle on the floor. Mad

Told you it was a !@#$% of a car.

What do I do now Confused

:

:
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A one eyed Renault enthusiast.

renman · Posted: Thu Oct 15, 2009 8:55 pm Post subject:

Crap - there goes my 'you're over the crest' theory.

Gee for it to pump coolant out without it being hot sounds like one of those 'one way' type head gasket leaks. Compression and combustion is enough to push the hot gas into waterway, but the seal still holds up on the sucky strokes so no water in oil.

I've had this one, but I hope the explanation for your trouble is easier fixed.
_________________
Renault Megane RenaultSport 225 Turbo Cup
Renault Alpine GTA Turbo
'Phil' the Fuego
50%Renault Dauphine Gordini
50% Bolwell MK7

Flocar · Posted: Thu Oct 15, 2009 9:11 pm Post subject:

Seems like it, but the motor was secondhand and have no idea of it's history the compression is down a bit and it seems a bit tired. But no blow by or oily smoke so do I just buy a head gasket or rebuild the original motor that has done only 25000 miles from a rebuild and was balanced, but had an oil plug come loose and it hit the fly wheel bolts. I thought it was a big end but wasn't. Trouble is I left it with out plugs or rag in the ports so will be a bit rusty inside I think. Rolling Eyes

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A one eyed Renault enthusiast.

renman · Posted: Thu Oct 15, 2009 9:27 pm Post subject:

Rost Off or Penetrene or WD40?
Dunno but maybe its worth a try unless you just want to go the whole hog and pull an engine apart.
I guess thats the good thing about small engines though - its not real hard work.
_________________
Renault Megane RenaultSport 225 Turbo Cup
Renault Alpine GTA Turbo
'Phil' the Fuego
50%Renault Dauphine Gordini
50% Bolwell MK7

Flocar · Posted: Fri Oct 30, 2009 7:08 pm Post subject:

Waited a day and started car when cold and before I could get out of the car water spewing every where so definately not hot.

At the car club meeting asked BS and BG what they thought and both had a suggestion

Spin it over with no plugs and see if it still occurs.

Start it with the belt off the water pump.

Did the last one tonight and guess what no water spewing out must be a blockage and probably in the radiator. Whew that will probably be less work than a motor. Very Happy

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A one eyed Renault enthusiast.

renman · Posted: Sat Oct 31, 2009 9:08 am Post subject:

Clever them......
I hope the blockage is easy to fix.
And now you know the water pump works well Laughing

_________________
Renault Megane RenaultSport 225 Turbo Cup
Renault Alpine GTA Turbo
'Phil' the Fuego
50%Renault Dauphine Gordini
50% Bolwell MK7

Flocar · Posted: Wed Nov 04, 2009 8:15 pm Post subject:

Blew out the radiator and seems to have cured the problem but I am still going to put some chemical cleaning agent in the cooling system and drive it for a bit to clean it out properly.

Now for the alternator. The one from Rods R12G was only putting out 12.4 volts. I had purchased a new alternator but it needed an offset pulley. I finally found the alternator off the R17 that I knew was burnt out but I needed the offset pulley, and with much difficulty took off the extended pulley for the new altenator. I was taking off the pulley on the new altenator when I discovered it had a spacer that was able to be swapped from one side of the pulley to the other giving me the required offset. ARRRGG. All that searching for the R17 altenator for nothing.

Another trap for young players. The new alternator had a label stuck to it showing the connections pattern for a plug that had been plugged into the back of the alternator. But cast letters on the side of the alternator showed the connections at the alternator were actually a different pattern. Yep the wires were swapped around in the covering. Probably so the alternator would match two different vehicle wiring looms.
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A one eyed Renault enthusiast.

renman · Posted: Fri Nov 06, 2009 9:29 am Post subject:

I spose there was sediment and crud in the block that loosened up and made its way into the radiator tubes when the engine had been used a bit?
_________________
Renault Megane RenaultSport 225 Turbo Cup
Renault Alpine GTA Turbo
'Phil' the Fuego
50%Renault Dauphine Gordini
50% Bolwell MK7

Flocar · Posted: Mon Nov 09, 2009 5:28 pm Post subject:

All is well with the charging circuit. A new alternator and new regulator solved the problem.

After the chemical clean of the radiator the car runs just above cold. Probably it needs a thermostat now, guess I will have to wait till I go to French Car Care as these are the type that fit into the rubber hose.

Even gave the car a wash and am thinking about a cut and polish. Won't help much the paint is very poor.
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A one eyed Renault enthusiast.