Titanium ph1, Jon's Ownership Diary.

[Craig.]

It's looking great now Jon you've really turned it around great work. Who done the painting for you?

 

[JFS]

Thanks Danny, its getting there.

Cheers mate, I'll bear it in mind. Not too sure whether to go for a refurbed standard or look to change to a different steering wheel.

Thanks Craig, I had the paint done at An Illusion bodyshop on the Mandale triangle. Just needs Belts doing, a service and a few other bits and I should have it back on the road hopefully.

 

[Edd]

Nice to see a ph1 being saved.

 

[JFS]

Thanks, its looking a lot better than when I first bought it, still quite a bit more to go though.

I had a go at restoring the headlights as they had begun to haze. They came up really well and look much better than they did previously. Could do with a bit more polish but its coming along.

I also gave the badges a bit of paint just to refresh them as they had faded a little.

 

[JFS]

Managed to re-wire the rear lights today as they hadn't been working properly, mainly being the drivers side rear brake light. I also found that I have two different coloured front lights as one is a lighter shade of blue so will be looking to change to a matching set.

 

[JFS]

Some new genuine rear brake discs arrived from Renault Wolverhampton to replace the old ones. Also had a new oil filter arrive and a few other little bits. :approve:

 

[JFS]

Not much of an update but the rear number plate light and indicators had seen better days so they have been replaced for new ones.

Old

New

Still a few more bits needed for it and then it will be off to have the belts changed.

 

[BoatNonce]

Looking a thousand times better than before, great work!

I also found that I have two different coloured front lights as one is a lighter shade of blue so will be looking to change to a matching set.

Has it got HIDs fitted then?

 

[JFS]

Thanks very much.

To be honest im really not sure. Its the inside bulb on both sides and they seem to be a small cluster bulb. One side is like a turquoise colour and the other a darker blue.

 

[BoatNonce]

Oh, LED sidelights?

 

[JFS]

Yes I think so, I'll get a matching set.

 

[JFS]

I managed to get a couple of small jobs done this morning and im hoping to have it back on the road soon. My battery kept going flat so I've changed it for a new Bosch one which im hoping sorts the problem and that it isn't anything more serious. I also replaced the cabin filter at the same time and gave the car a quick rinse as it had gained a layer of dust. Im really pleased with how it looks so far but still have quite a bit to go yet.

I think im going to get some spacers as the alloys look a bit far inside the arches. I still need to fit the rear brake discs, have the belts changed and service it. The interior could do with a bit of work too but its making progress.

 

[JFS]

Not far away from being back on the road, still a few things to sort out but its getting there.

 

[Mr R.]

Good work so far mate, id be getting that + side of the battery covered just in case it touches the ecu cover. I bought a new one from Renault it was about £10 or try and get a S/H one off of here.

Also if your going to fit spacers to the rear then its better to do while your discs are off as they have to be removed to fit them.

 

[msremmert]

Car is looking great dude and it's come a long way. I like those alloys in black too.

 

[JFS]

Thanks mate :approve: If im honest I didn't know it needed a cover but I'll get hold of one, thanks for the heads up. Yeah still have the rear discs to fit, there currently sat in the passenger footwell. Think im going to get some spacers for it shortly, was thinking of 5mm for the rear and either 10-15mm for the front.

 

[Mr R.]

No problems matey, would hate to see your hard work going up in smoke.

Ive got 10 mm -1 on the rear and 20 mm on the fronts, bought them from Dan @ M.A.D

Have a look at my thread, i only fitted them last week.

 

[JFS]

Thanks, yeah its far better than it was when I first bought it. Still has a few small issues to rectify but hopefully once done it will be running smoothly.

Thanks, i'll have a read of it. Are your rear spacers fitted behind the discs or in front ?

 

[Mr R.]

Thanks, yeah its far better than it was when I first bought it. Still has a few small issues to rectify but hopefully once done it will be running smoothly.

Thanks, i'll have a read of it. Are your rear spacers fitted behind the discs or in front ?

Behind mate, lots better. and you can have - camber.

​

 

[Martin.]

Wow what a transformation from just little bits. Nice work.

 

[JFS]

Thanks mate, its coming along

Had the Cambelt, Aux belt, dephaser & water pump changed this week. I also had to have the cam seals changed as they advised they needed doing. Hoping this will sort the oil leak issue I had. It runs a lot quieter now so cant wait to get it back on the road having confidence the belts have been done. Ive got a new oil filter as well so will give the oil a change and hopefully it should be running better than ever.

With it back in the garage I trimmed the back off the fog light surrounds and gave them a quick spray of black before refitting.

My front seats had started to wear on the sides and I had read another member using a scuffmaster kit to restore them so I gave it a go and was very pleased with the results.

Before

After

Still have the rear brake discs to fit and a few other things before its back on the road but its not far away

 

[Craig.]

Looking great Jon :approve:

 

[JFS]

Thanks Craig, its looking a lot better than when I bought it and im hoping it runs a lot better too. Its a long way of the sunflowers standard though :dapprove:

 

[JFS]

Few little bits to fit over the weekend hopefully, 5mm spacers from Myldan Auto Design and new aero wipers.

 

[Craig.]

Where did you get the spacers from Jon?

 

[JFS]

I got them off ebay mate but the guys a trader on here too. These are the 5mm ones I went for but there is other sizes.

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/2X-RENAUL...heels_tyre_Trims_Trims_ET&hash=item1e77290a63

 

[welshname]

Cracking little project this! Looks a lot better than when you first got it.

Good work.

 

[JFS]

Thanks mate, its come a long way since I bought it. I was planning on cutting my losses and breaking it originally so im hoping it will be something worth keeping now.

 

[JFS]

New rear brake discs now fitted along with 5mm spacers, still have the front spacers to fit next week. :approve:

 

[gudger12345]

Very nice
There are loads of Ph1 in the North East, planning on coming to the big breakfast??

 

[JFS]

Thanks mate, yeah we will have enough for a Ph1 meet :approve: Erm not sure I've heard of it, is it local ?

 

[JFS]

Back on the road at last.

I have found a few other issues which need addressing. The throttle still sticks a lot which is a persistent issue and giving the throttle body a quick clean doesn't seem to have cured it. I have noticed the cable isn't in the best shape so planning on changing the cable to see if it helps at all. Im also getting a lot of movement in the engine on idle so it looks like new engine mounts will be needed as well. The front brake calipers seem to be sticking but not sure if its just one or both. It had been doing this before it was taken off the road but think its gotten worse now its been stood. Finally I have found the speedo to be temperamental and seems to just stop working when it likes.

Hoping to start tackling the list of jobs asap and will probably find more along the way :S All that aside its good to have it back and it seems to be running okay.

 

[JFS]

Managed to change the throttle cable yesterday and its running much better, feels a lot more responsive and no more sitting at traffic lights revving up and down. I also wound the front coilovers up a bit more as it was having a bit of trouble with speed bumps. Two more things done off the list :approve:

 

[JFS]

Having a bit of an issue currently with the ph1 cutting out whilst driving. Battery and stop lights come on but a quick turn off the key and its running again with no warning lights. Think its gonna be an issue with the coil pack / Leads so will need to do some investigating. Still has a few other small problems to be rectified too so will keep me busy for a while.

 

[JFS]

Unfortunately after a year of ownership my 172's life has come to an end. It will be broken for parts shortly so if anyone's in need of anything please let me know. I will start a thread shortly.

 

[yeecup]

How come?

 

[JFS]

It just keeps losing all of it's oil unfortunately and seemed to be slowly dying. Made the decision with a pending mot that it was time for a change

 

[steve!pax]

After that transformation it's a shame! I recently restored my phase 1 and im still loving it.
If your selling your wheel spacers il be interested.

 

[matt911]

It just keeps losing all of it's oil unfortunately and seemed to be slowly dying. Made the decision with a pending mot that it was time for a change

Aww dude what a shame, i was having a good read and now i feel sad lol. Better luck next time.

 

[JFS]

After that transformation it's a shame! I recently restored my phase 1 and im still loving it.
If your selling your wheel spacers il be interested.

It really is but unfortunately it was just burning to much oil yeah definitely mate, I've got a set in the car and a set at home.