First day with an R5, first problem lol...

[kayzee]

Hi guys. So I recently purchased an R5 (finally!) from a member on here. I bought it knowing I had to get the keyfob working (as the doors have been smoothed over I'm currently having to unlock from opening the boot!) and also quite a nasty crack on the windscreen.

However after a good drive home from picking it up and another drive out later, unfortunately I've noticed quite a heavy fuel leak! it's dripping away at quite a rate from just in front of the rear drivers wheel. It has been mentioned to me that there might be some kinda bung in place which can cause a leak/split? Any help appreciated as I obviously want to get this sorted asap either by repairing what's causing it or getting another tank or something. Does this sound expensive lol? I've been told 'phase i 16 v turbo' is the man to talk to!

Also whilst we're at it when I went outside for my final check tonight I'm hearing a constant kinda ticking sound coming from roughly the left hand side of the front grill!? Any ideas...

Just entering maybe n00b mode here, how do you turn the lights on and where's the catch to open the bonnet!?

This post is far too big already but just a final word... when coming back from my second drive I got stopped by the police. They had scanned my reg and found it the car wasn't TAX'd. It was, but it just hadn't shown up as I had literally only just bought it a few hours previous! Anyway, very decent coppers and the younger one asked me if I wanted to sell it he knew the wheels where Turbines too.

So to sum up I knew with this car I'd have a) lots of problems... b) get stopped by the police... and c) have people asking to buy it. Just didn't expect those all to happen in the first day!

[Kris M]

Welcome along

1. Fuel tank leak, very common. As you have stated, there is a yellow bung halfway up the tank on the drivers side, Dont particularly have to drop the tank, you can get up there with a butter knife or such like and seal it up with some petrol resistant sealant

As for the ticking noise, make sure the fins on the alternater pully arnt catching anything whilst spinning ????

To turn your lights on, twist the indicator stalk away from you once to turn on the sidelights, and twice to appky dipped beam

[Ross]

and to open the bonnet its in the passenger footwell on the left hand side under the glove box have a feel about you'll find it. it pulls down

[bigdavec1974]

Sry to hear u have teething problems mate, pretty sure we all have had em. Don't be too dis heartened, get her running sweet, alittle tlc and all will be good, remember everything can be fixed, errr other than friggin rust!! I'm far from an expert , but had my pride and joy 14 years, I'm only in Romford if u wanna meet somewhere I can take a look, got an awesome mechanic as well, always handy to know lol. R5 rich is local also

[kayzee]

Nice one mate yeah it's to be expected with a car nearly as old as me I guess! Noticed the car isn't turning on sometimes too... battery!? Starter motor!? Regardless, got quite a few issues now so it's booked in for my local guy to have a look at.

Today, had another person ask me if I wanted to sell it two people in two days!

Yes I'm definitely up for some meets and stuff when it's on the road and working properly!

[Ricardo]

I'm local to you and don't mind poppin over for a chat about things GT related and to look at yer 5

[bigdavec1974]

cool just pm me if u need a hand.
Btw careful with just any old garage, like u said a 20 year old car that will need specialist attention aint gonna be able tobe just booked in to any old garage. find someone who knows his stuff, there are untolds on here alone. Pal of mine works in upminster, and is a whizz, was a recommendation from brett a member of rtoc.
Ive seen my fair share of Cowboys, thinking they know.
The day i picked mine up it wouldnt start, i booked it into renault maindealer ilford. I was told it was a starter motor, they also said they wouldnt guarantee it if i hadnt got a heat shield. Needless to say i got them both done at a cost of over £400 in 1996. A day after i took it home , the same problem, took it too my mates dad, turns out it was the starter motor wiring where it joins the connector, the one behind the near side headlight. lol clipped it back and rejoined it, hey presto. Could have saved 400 bucks
Before someone tells u its the starter, check the battery and alternator, u can prolly get ****fit to check it for you for free. check the terminals are tight and find they white connector block under the exspansion bottle behind the nearside head light. disconnect it, go crazy with some wd40. Find the white wire makes good contact inside the connector, if not clip it back and bypass the connector, they a prone to rust and corrosion. Im sure ive had an earth strap go before and had starting issues, cant remember, lol
gl pal

[Ricardo]

Rick from Upminster who worked for BB Tuning, very helpful and reasonably priced

[zinc]

Should have bought mine!

[kayzee]

Rick from Upminster who worked for BB Tuning, very helpful and reasonably priced

Are you recommending this person or is this person you lol? I have a lot of receipts for my car from BB...

[bigdavec1974]

Rick was recommended to me by Brett78 about 2-3 years ago, never looked back.
Used to use Andy from Aj tuning until he moved house, another top bloke.
Ricks prices are fair, but his work is A1, knows the car inside out. You wont go wrong.
Hes got a garage/workshop behind the huntsman and hounds near corbetts tey crematorium in upminster.

[kayzee]

Wicked cheers.

When it comes to the car failing to turn on sometimes (even if it's only been left for five minutes...) could it be do with over-fueling/the carb needs setting up correctly?

[bigdavec1974]

When u say don't turn on , u mean turns over but won't fire up or does nothing at all??

[kayzee]

Well first time was due to my own stupidity, I left the manual fan on all night so drained it completely. However since then three times it's not started. The first time I went in my car at lunch time and I could tell the power seemed low as the lights on the dash were very dim and the windows took ages to go down! Later when I tried absolutely nothing.

I drove somewhere later (after I jumped it) and was literally only talking to someone for five minutes and again the car wouldn't turn on! Dash lights were fine this time and it did almost splutter into life, but after the initial try there was absolutely nothing happening.

[r5 rich]

do the simple things 1st:


check the battery terminals
check the earthing points
check the starter motor leads

and the main one people forget, check the battery isn`t getting on a bit and could do with a new one!

[kayzee]

You've just reminded me actually... need some new terminals, the negative was hanging on for dear life when I stopped it once! Off to ebay I go

I still need to learn where the earthing points and starter motor leads are... on Puntosports (my other car) there's lots of good diagrams of the engine. Is there anything similar on here? Sorry if I've missed the obvious.

[Ian S]

You've just reminded me actually... need some new terminals, the negative was hanging on for dear life when I stopped it once! Off to ebay I go

I still need to learn where the earthing points and starter motor leads are... on Puntosports (my other car) there's lots of good diagrams of the engine. Is there anything similar on here? Sorry if I've missed the obvious.

Articles:
https://www.rtoc.org/boards/forumdisplay.php?f=17
Fix for the starter and ECU poor electrical connections:
https://www.rtoc.org/boards/showthread.php?t=4724
Leaking fual tank:
https://www.rtoc.org/boards/showthread.php?t=4766

[bigdavec1974]

Well having a terminal hanging off will effect the batteries abilty to charge and also wont really help ya earth either. good a place to start than any. Dont bother with ebay, any motor store can help they aint that much, hardly worth the effort. They are only 2 types i believe, round or square.

[r5 rich]

I spoke to Dave today and we are both up for coming to look at the car when we get some spare time.

I am sure Ricardo will tag along just because he loves watching men get covered in old dirty oil

[kayzee]

Oh yeah

Just to let you know I tried one more time today and dash lights nice and bright so there's definitely power but... click, nothing it's not even trying! Opened up the bay as I wanted to look at something and god damn it was so hot dropped it almost instantly, stupid 27°C!

[bigdavec1974]

Dont suppose you have either tried to jump start or even bump start her??

[kayzee]

Oh yeah it jump starts fine, instantly.

[TrixNFlix]

This definitely sounds like the battery. Have you taken it off and given it a full charge?

[bigdavec1974]

Ye trix is right, if it jump starts then that would eliminate just about everything other than battery. I've had batteries in the past that have been ruined by cold weather. Lights work, etc just not got enough stink to turn it over.

[kayzee]

Tested the battery today and it's fine! In fact been trying all day but it's refusing to go wrong now I hate intermittent problems more than anything!

Tank looks like it's going to be a bit of a bitch job tbh. Firstly can't get any trolly jacks under my car, and it won't even go on a ramp. My local mechanic has four ramps and it only goes on one! Which happens to be the MOT one, so hopefully we're gonna get that sorted on Saturday as every other day is booked up. Damn you Gaz!

I think when it's back on the road I'm gonna treat myself to a brand new alarm, any recommendations?

Also just wondering if I can ask some general advice... never owned a car with a manual choke before. How long would you recommend I let the car warm up before a drive, and when is it safe to turn the choke off? I've been turning it down gradually, I'm not sure if that's the right thing to be doing. I did major stall it once and it wouldn't turn back on for five minutes!

As for the temperature of the engine, mine seems to sit bang on half way with the manual fan running. Is this a bit too hot?

[bigdavec1974]

MY problem was also intermittant, it was the wiring harness. it could be the starter motor also. Maybe the battery is just fully charged now ?errm why is the manual overide on mate?? shouldnt need it if everything is A ok.
As for the choke depends on ya carb set up but should be ok to shut off after a few mins max, unless its friggin cold assuming u have a thermstat fitted. Trial and error really, worse that can happen is it cuts out.

[kayzee]

Well without manual override it heads straight up to the second bar, which I've been told is a bit dangerous

Got the tank sorted early anyway so that's good. Car been turning on again fine anyway... I've got my new terminals also so I'm gonna chuck them on at the weekend in case they're proving a dodgy connection which is just being disturbed with jump leads thus it working that way straight away.

[TrixNFlix]

Are you not running the fan temp switch?

[bigdavec1974]

Is the rad getting hot everywhere?? ie no cold spots, sounds like could be airlocked? Loosing any water? Or maybe dodgy thermostat

[kayzee]

Are you not running the fan temp switch?

Yes and when I do most of the it sits dead on half way.

Well the leak is back sealant lasted all of a few hours! What's next... new tank!?

Also first time driving at night, I've noticed I have no dash lights likely to be a fuse or bulbs? Any help on how to deal with this one much appreciated!

[bigdavec1974]

Did you use the right sealant???
U can adjust the dash lighting from a switch, it's near where the keys are, just rotate it , maybe it's just turned down to min

[kayzee]

Yes after phoning around I got the only stuff that seemed to be sold as truley petrol resistant. Bit gutted as the actual tank was dropped and handbrake/exhaust moved out the way for a proper job to be done

Thanks for the tip on the lighting, although... I must point out there was absolutely no light what so ever, it didn't seem 'dim'. Thanks also for your continued contribution to this thread bigdavec1974!

[James5]

Yes after phoning around I got the only stuff that seemed to be sold as truley petrol resistant. Bit gutted as the actual tank was dropped and handbrake/exhaust moved out the way for a proper job to be done

Thanks for the tip on the lighting, although... I must point out there was absolutely no light what so ever, it didn't seem 'dim'. Thanks also for your continued contribution to this thread bigdavec1974!

Kayzee out of interest whats the name of the petrol resistant stuff you purchased in the end as I need to sort my neighbours 5 out as it leaks if you go over 1/4 of a tank.

[bigdavec1974]

no worries mate. might just be the dash bulbs are fubar

[James5]

no worries mate. might just be the dash bulbs are fubar

As said on the other forum could be some simple like a connection to the dimmer switch is not attached this would give no dash lights, fuse, very doubt all bulbs have gone at once or are there bulbs in place.

[Ricardo]

I spoke to Dave today and we are both up for coming to look at the car when we get some spare time.

I am sure Ricardo will tag along just because he loves watching men get covered in old dirty oil

I don't mind popping round with the toolbox and getting my hands dirty

[kayzee]

Kayzee out of interest whats the name of the petrol resistant stuff you purchased in the end as I need to sort my neighbours 5 out as it leaks if you go over 1/4 of a tank.

It's just called 'chemical metal'. Funnily enough, was going through the receipts I was given with the car and I noticed another tube of chemical metal was purchased in 1996 uh oh lol.

Oh and btw it's not the dimmer... what fuses should I be looking at or how do I access the wiring to make sure it's all okay!?

[James5]

It's just called 'chemical metal'. Funnily enough, was going through the receipts I was given with the car and I noticed another tube of chemical metal was purchased in 1996 uh oh lol.

Oh and btw it's not the dimmer... what fuses should I be looking at or how do I access the wiring to make sure it's all okay!?

The plastic under the steering wheel comes out it's held in with 2 screws, once removed i think the wires to the dimmer are white and blue. Might be worth removing the clocks to make sure you have some bulbs in there aswell.

[kayzee]

Thanks James, I will try and get busy with it this weekend

[kayzee]

Okay got to the dimmer, the wiring seems fine, although as you can see it's a bit bodged up with tape! But that might just be to hold it in place... everything looking okay to you?



As regards to getting to the bulbs, I've hit a wall a wall that I don't want to snap!



Got to here and got the screws out (although they didn't really make a difference) now try as I might I can't get anything to move!? I can see the clear plastic has been moved on the right hand side, but I don't think that's going to help either. If someone has a spare minute and could re-edit the picture with it circled where I'm meant to be plunging my screwdriver that would be much appreciated

[Matt@CodeRedMotorsports]

You need to push it up towards the windscreen and tip the bottom out a bit.....to release the dash panel.

[kayzee]

Got it! Thanks. Everything seems okay behind there, took a few bulbs out and they seem okay. I'll post the pics anyway in case anyone can notice something wrong. By the way when I say I have no dash lighting, I do just mean the speedo/rev etc. when you turn the external lights on. All the square lights around the dash come on fine.







Just another thing as well, my indicators have started clicking at twice the speed dunno why, I know it can happen on any car... how do I stop it

[Josie172cup]

Just another thing as well, my indicators have started clicking at twice the speed dunno why, I know it can happen on any car... how do I stop it

does that not mean one of your bulbs is out

im not sure

[scott 5gtt]

Yep definatley a bulb out or bad connection put your indicators on and walk round the car to find out wich one it is then fix simpols. . . As for the back lights on your clocks get a multi meter and test for voltage where rthe bub goes in if there is change bulbs if not trace the ribbon back and test at the multi plug and keep tracing back until you get voltage to find the fault

[kayzee]

Oh I know which of my indicator lights is out I noticed it the other day (haven't driven it since!) I didn't realise it caused that, learn something new every day eh

[kayzee]

It's leaking again! Had the whole tank out and fibre-glassed the entire thing I guess really I should be looking at getting a new tank eh as this one has obviously had it.

Looking on CGB it seems a second hand one is £60... new is £250. Think I'll be okay with a second hand one? I take it these leaks definitely come from the main tank as it were and nothing to do with the reserve one.