Clio 182 - 72k/5 year Cambelt service - where to go?

[v15ben]

The Service light has finally come on and I've readied my bank account for a painful extraction of cash so the big question is where to take the 182 for the 72k/5 year major service?

I am based in Nottingham and don't mind travelling a little to a quality specialist, but I want the job done well and without paying over the odds if possible.

I've heard good things about Birchdown and also Grey Devil Industries but I'm on the look out for as many good recommendations as possible within say 2 hours driving distance of Nottingham.

Over to you

[Sir_Dave]

Birchdown are good
GDI were bought by Ktec so no longer exist
Rentech are in Portsmouth so a little far
Ktec are in Dorset so even further
JMS-Tuning (http://www.jmstuning.co.uk/) are very good & based in W. London - the engine guy from GDI does their cambelts. Great service from them & 2 hours from you.

Hope that helps.

[John D.]

v15ben said:

The Service light has finally come on and I've readied my bank account for a painful extraction of cash so the big question is where to take the 182 for the 72k/5 year major service?

Why have you waited for the Service light to come on exactly? The 182 does not have variable servicing intervals (like a BMW) as far as I'm aware (172 certainly does not).

SERV light means you have a fault of some kind. Could well be something minor like a lambda sensor playing up though.

Sorry can't help on where to go, I'm miles away from Notts.

[v15ben]

I was a little concerned that the Service light was for something else as it is an October 2004 car with 67k miles. Is this probably for something different?

I wasn't waiting for the service light to come on as I was expecting the service to be due in a few weeks time. However I want to get both things sorted at the same time (if indeed it is two problems.)

[v15ben]

Sir_Dave said:

Birchdown are good
GDI were bought by Ktec so no longer exist
Rentech are in Portsmouth so a little far
Ktec are in Dorset so even further
JMS-Tuning (http://www.jmstuning.co.uk/) are very good & based in W. London - the engine guy from GDI does their cambelts. Great service from them & 2 hours from you.

Hope that helps.

Thanks for the advice. I'll get on the blower and get some quotes and check availability

Edited by v15ben on Friday 11th September 10:39

[John D.]

v15ben said:

I was a little concerned that the Service light was for something else as it is an October 2004 car with 67k miles. Is this probably for something different?

I wasn't waiting for the service light to come on as I was expecting the service to be due in a few weeks time. However I want to get both things sorted at the same time (if indeed it is two problems.)

That makes more sense. I don't think the Clio is clever enough to know when its approaching 5yrs old and/or the 72k mark (although I may be wrong! ).

I'd suggest it was probably something different. Are there any other lights on? I've had the SERV light come on in the past for a couple of things but always with another light too. Once the emissions light as a loose exhaust mount had rattled the lambda sensor, and once the oil pressure light as the oil pressure switch sensor had failed. Both times the car did not actually have a problem and continued to drive fine.

Check your manual to see what the SERV light could indicate.

[v15ben]

Yep I don't think the 182 is intelligent enough (especially electrics-wise) to do much

The Oil display that comes on when you first start the car is constantly flashing so I guess it is an oil issue. The car however drives perfectly normally (or at least it did driving back from work last night after the light came on! )

[John D.]

v15ben said:

Yep I don't think the 182 is intelligent enough (especially electrics-wise) to do much

The Oil display that comes on when you first start the car is constantly flashing so I guess it is an oil issue. The car however drives perfectly normally (or at least it did driving back from work last night after the light came on! )

Have you checked the dipstick?

Sounds like you may be low on oil. The electronic oil display should come on when starting from cold (or when the engine has been switched off long enough), and say "OIL OK" IIRC . If you press the button on the end of the righthand indicator stalk whilst the electronic oil display is on it will show you in bars how much oil it thinks you have. If the oil light is flashing I'm pretty sure you are low. I trust the dipstick more though personally and always check that.

[v15ben]

That was my first thought. I will check that today and sort that problem. At least the car is as I expected, random error messages, flashing lights and general strangeness most of which is only partially relevant

[C. Grimsley]

If you yet havent had this done i can accomodate you for the repairs that you require and i am only up the road in Leicester. Free courtesy cars available should you need one.

www.cgcarsleicester.co.uk

Many thanks, Carl

[v15ben]

C. Grimsley said:

If you yet havent had this done i can accomodate you for the repairs that you require and i am only up the road in Leicester. Free courtesy cars available should you need one.

www.cgcarsleicester.co.uk

Many thanks, Carl

YHM