Clio 197

[mike5619]

havin a few problems with my 07 plate 197, first the rear brakes are persitetly binding on which leads me to think discs and pads change or possibly worst case scenario caliper fault, secondly the gearbox is bad after starting up in the morning gear selection is very diffucult to engae you have to sometimes run the car for 5 mins to warm it up ?
to this i have warranty on the car with the garage i bought it from and i have only had the car since april and it is beginning to annoy me with the thought of changing back to a 172 or 182.
the garage have twice tried to rectify the binding problem and have changed the gearbox oil and lookedat other stuff but if this continues it maybe time to change as i payed a fewbob for it
all help is apreciated

[John D.]

Do you park with handbrake on? My 172 Cup used to bind slightly (not excessively) when I did that so I just park it in 1st gear and leave the handbrake off. Not the solution you're looking for I expect but works for me!

Gearbox sounds like something more serious is not right.

[mike5619]

I spoke with a few ppl in the know and i reckon my clutch release springs may be fooked or i have clutch drag which p to my warranty to sort out or its bye bye 197 hello 182 trophy.
tried that thing with the 1st gear before with our 172 and still wont make much a diffrence reckon thehandbrak needs to be adjusted.

[BigMans197]

Unfortunately, both of the problems you describe are pretty common on the 197.

The gearbox, like the engine works much better when it's had a chance to warm up. Mine is a bit sticky when cold, but some report actually struggling to engage first, but mines never been that bad. Using a higher quality gearbox oil (which i assume heats up quicker) can apparently help.

But if you think it's something more serious then you may as well get it checked out whilst its still under manufacturer warranty. Renault have been very good for the couple of warranty bits of work I had done.

[mike5619]

thanks m8 cars going to renault soon so hopefully new oil or better standard of oil

[mike5619]

went to renault yesterday and low and behold nothing wrong with the car ! funny that must be imagining it then

[GingerRob]

I used to find my gears were stiff in the morning on my r27, I gt Renault to change gearbox oil and it was alot better, with rear brakes that's common, I used to get a big clunk ESP if weather was wet or it was a damp morning.

[mike5619]

thanks threw it about today and the guy who tried to race me who i left to take over me crashed with no harm to himself and plenty to the car, nice wet weather

[CatherineJ]

I seam to recall when we had our 197's that the gearbox was a problem on a few cars and that some ended up having new gearboxes fitted with the longer ratio in 6th.

[GingerRob]

The longer 6th ratio was to improve fuel economy and to stop the droning noise when going along the motorways.

Rob

[CatherineJ]

Yes I know Rob, but what i'm saying is that people who's cars had gearbox replacement under warranty found that the gearbox they received was the later spec one in some cases, rather than it being the same as they originally had fitted.

[GingerRob]

Soz Cath

[mike5619]

cheers for the help guys