Renault Clio MK2 problems

Hi all, I've had just about enough of my Clio. I have this horrible vibration noise coming from either the front of the engine bay or the rear or below. It only does it when you labour the engine so when your driving around 30 in 5th or 20 around 4th etc. It does it in all gears. I've had everyone looking at it and no one can tell me what the hell it is. I've had both driveshafts done, both complete front suspension, fan belt and pulley, engine mounts. You name it is has been done.

Last recommendation I had was he seems to think it's may inlet manifold. I dont agree because she hasn't lost power or fuel consumption. She does sound loud on idle and especially going up a hill, sounds like a plan taking of. I'm wondering if it's my exhaust system??

Any help would really be appreciated!!!

No one else has replied or given any advice on your post...…..

First, it really helps if you can be more specific, some things can really help encourage some worthwhile comments.
Things like "I've had everyone looking at it", but has a mechanic looked at the problem? hearing the noise is far better than any online diagnosis.

Next, when did the 'noise' appear? did it come gradually or suddenly? was with the car when you bought it? was it after one of the repairs you have had done?
Not trying to be clever, but those answers could help us point you in the right direction.

It could be something simple, like a missing air filter, holed exhaust, a loose exhaust shield, but would have thought any mechanic would have picked that up immediately.

obcuz said:

No one else has replied or given any advice on your post...…..

First, it really helps if you can be more specific, some things can really help encourage some worthwhile comments.
Things like "I've had everyone looking at it", but has a mechanic looked at the problem? hearing the noise is far better than any online diagnosis.

Next, when did the 'noise' appear? did it come gradually or suddenly? was with the car when you bought it? was it after one of the repairs you have had done?
Not trying to be clever, but those answers could help us point you in the right direction.

It could be something simple, like a missing air filter, holed exhaust, a loose exhaust shield, but would have thought any mechanic would have picked that up immediately.

Click to expand...

Hi, the noise has been there ever since I brought the car nearly 4 years ago but it was very very quite. I've had all sorts of mechanics look at my car and they have all also drove it. I've had exhaust specialist, gearbox specialist, normal mechanics, you name it they have looked.

As far as I'm aware I don't think it got worse after a repair but it has got worse probably over the last 6 months to a year. It only makes the noise when you labour the engine, so driving 30 in 5th, 20 in 4th etc. It's the easiest way of getting someone to make the noise, it does it in every gear but under different circumstances so like stoping on a hill then pulling away in 1st, going to 2nd etc.

The last 3 mechanics I saw said no1) gear box differentials, took it to a gearbox pro and said no, No 2) gearbox pro said it's something plastic, like my inlet manifold has a split, took it to a normal mechanic No3) normal mechanic said it would normal loss power and more fuel consumption if it was my inlet manifold.

Back to square one. I am debating whether it's my cat. Maybe its nakered inside? Maybe the gasket between manifold and cat has deteriorated and they are running when the engine moves? Maybe its the flexi bit on the cat has got stuff???

Help please!

What car is it, why are you driving at 30 mph in 5th gear?

In that order!

You shouldnt really be labouring the engine. Its probably a combination of worn engine mounts causing something to rub at a guess. Use the right gear for the speed required.

I knew someone was going to tell me that because no one reads posts properly. I know you shouldn't and I don't, it's the way to get people to hear it on the get go rather than drive it for miles to hear it. And no not that order either, I do know how to drive and in my first post I have already said I have changed engine mounts!

I can't see this ending well lol

its probably not broke, just noisy when labouring the engine?

Description far too vague prob airbox rattling or something or worn lower dogbone mount, poorly fitting exhaust the list is pretty much endless

The car passed its MOT a month back so nothing to do with suspension and I've had both ball joints, both springs, shocks and top mounts replaced.

Air box is tightly secured and have been trued without it. The noise is definitely coming from somewhere in the engine bay, sounds like a vibration, like the exhaust hitting a heat shield. All that had been looked at by several mechanics. Thats why I'm wondering whether it's my cat, apparently it was replaced in 2013 before I brought the car but my god it's rusty, it looks like the original. I told the mechanic that it has been replaced and he said it doesn't matter, it still can get stuff and brittle, still can burn through the gasket etc etc

The car passed its MOT a month back so nothing to do with suspension and I've had both ball joints, both springs, shocks and top mounts replaced.

Air box is tightly secured and have been trued without it. The noise is definitely coming from somewhere in the engine bay, sounds like a vibration, like the exhaust hitting a heat shield. All that had been looked at by several mechanics. Thats why I'm wondering whether it's my cat, apparently it was replaced in 2013 before I brought the car but my god it's rusty, it looks like the original. I told the mechanic that it has been replaced and he said it doesn't matter, it still can get stuff and brittle, still can burn through the gasket etc etc

Midg said:

I knew someone was going to tell me that because no one reads posts properly. I know you shouldn't and I don't, it's the way to get people to hear it on the get go rather than drive it for miles to hear it. And no not that order either, I do know how to drive and in my first post I have already said I have changed engine mounts!

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" I have a mk2, 1999 Clio alize, 1.4 petrol "

Found the answer digging through your 1st attempt at this.

You say you have changed the engine mounts, but did this include the top gearbox mount? and have you checked that the battery tray that the top gearbox

mount bolts to is securely bolted to the shell of the car?

I have seen some with sheared bolts. a cracked tray itself, or even a broken gearbox to mount bolt.

Yes, all mounts have been replaced. The battery isnt really on a tray, it sits over the top of the mount and bolts down but either way they have all be changed, all bolts are tight and nothing is cracked, broken or loose. The engine is pretty solid.

Midg said:

The battery is not really on a tray,

Click to expand...

So you are schooling me now?

STEVE.M said:

So you are schooling me now?

Click to expand...

No just mearly saying

Midg said:

No just mearly saying

Click to expand...

A lot of people would not realise that the K4J engine in your 1.4 is to all intents & purposes, a smaller version of the 2.0 L F4R engine found in 172/182`s, to the

extent that it requires the same timing tools.

https://www.tooled-up.com/artwork/ProdPDF/VS4960.pdf

172/182`s are notoriously sensitive to incorrect valve timing, and the same would be true of the 1.4 L.

Have you, at any time in your 4 years of ownership, had the valve timing checked by someone using the correct tools as it would seem that it is not running

correctly ?


I am not recommending the Sealey tools, the OE Renault ones are the ones to use, but it is proof of my point.

STEVE.M said:

A lot of people would not realise that the K4J engine in your 1.4 is to all intents & purposes, a smaller version of the 2.0 L F4R engine found in 172/182`s, to the

extent that it requires the same timing tools.

https://www.tooled-up.com/artwork/ProdPDF/VS4960.pdf

172/182`s are notoriously sensitive to incorrect valve timing, and the same would be true of the 1.4 L.

Have you, at any time in your 4 years of ownership, had the valve timing checked by someone using the correct tools as it would seem that it is not running

correctly ?


I am not recommending the Sealey tools, the OE Renault ones are the ones to use, but it is proof of my point.

Click to expand...

Mine is not that engine, it's the 8valve E7J. I have had a full service including timming belt and water pump if that's what you mean? I would have thought if it wasn't rimmed correctly then it would be running fast and poss juddering?

Midg said:

Mine is not that engine, it's the 8valve E7J. I have had a full service including timming belt and water pump if that's what you mean? I would have thought if it wasn't rimmed correctly then it would be running fast and poss juddering?

Click to expand...

There is a lot of juddering when you are rimmed correctly?