Blog entries for r5gordini

Gordini Turbo passed its MOT

r5gordini

My Renault 5 Gordini Turbo passed its MOT today, without problems. However, I know that the brake proportioning valve is weeping. It leaks very slowly. I'm trying to get an old one rebuilt at the moment. Will keep news posted here...

After 3 Years in Hibernation, White Renault 5 TL is Roadworthy!

r5gordini

I last drove my white Renault 5 TL in May 2004. Since then it has been sitting in a lockup, gathering dust, and not moving an inch on four very flat tyres...
Fast forward to April 2007, when I found an insurance broker that would insure my Gordini Turbo and the TL for £250 - far better than the £400 or so I was used to paying for the Gordini Turbo alone. So, I thought - "why not get both on the road?". Good idea - let's do it!
Back in 1997, I fitted a weber dua [...]

Gordini Turbo Brake Limiter Valve

r5gordini

A common problem with Mk I Renault 5s as they get older is leaking or siezed brake limiting valves. They are specific to the Renault 5 and limit the pressure being sent to the rear brakes. As more weight is in the rear of the car, the valve is automatically adjusted (by suspension deflection acting on a rod) to allow more braking force to the rear brakes.
The valve on my Gordini Turbo appears to be leaking, so I posted a topic to the forum explaining my plight.
After further investigati [...]

LED Brake/Tail lights

r5gordini

Ever since I fitted electro-hydraulic power steering (electric pump, hydraulic steering rack) to my Renault 5 Gordini Turbo, I've found the current ouptut of the alternator to be not quite enough. For example, the current drawn by the brake lights is often enough to cause sufficient a voltage drop as to make the radio go off! This has been a bit annoying, as every time I brake, I must reach down and turn the radio back up. It does come back on of its own accord, but is set at a default, qui [...]

Moises in Tenerife

r5gordini

I've just returned from my holiday in Tenerife. Moises very kindly came to my hotel as I'd not hired a car on this occasion (but this is a picture of his car, nonetheless!).
It was great to see Moises, and though I wasn't able to see his car, we talked for quite a while. I gave him a tour of this site, which he thought was great, and showed him how to upload images to the gallery, how to add a Car Register record, and how to edit the wiki. We also discussed turbos, power steerin [...]

Fuel Starvation Problem Fixed! Gordini Turbo

r5gordini

I've fixed the fuel starvation problem! Ssee earlier blog posts for details on the issue...
I removed the fuel pump, a
Facet Interupt Fuel Pump - Silver Top
and opened it up to have a look inside. I found it works by oscillating a hollow metal bar up and down in a tube. The bar has simple non-return valves on its ends. The hollow metal bar (piston) is a close fit in the tube. When I inspected the piston, I found it was quite scuffed. The inside surface of the tube was also q [...]

Runing repairs - Gordini Turbo

r5gordini

To investigate the fuel starvation problem, I got under the car on Wednesday and checked the fuel pressure regulator. It looked ok - even when I took it apart. No blockages or anything else. I reassembled it and wound it all the way open. When I took the car out, it was just as bad as ever, if not worse. However, I'm even more certain than before that it's suffering from severe fuel starvation. The next step is to try replacing the fuel pump. I have an old pump that I know's not up t [...]

Preparation of spare parts for Japanese customer

r5gordini

I'm currently preparing a large shipment of parts to go to a customer in Japan. I don't really advertise that I sell parts on the site, but people do contact me "just on the off chance". I do have most parts for Renault 5 TL, TX and Gordini Turbos.
In this instance, the customer requires a Gordini Turbo engine, a TX (or similar) gearbox and some Gordini (atmo) wheels. He also requires a few other parts, including a TL carburettor.
I started today by removing a the gearb [...]

Running Report - Gordini Turbo 19th Feb 2007

r5gordini

I had to get to work this morning for 6:30am. Grr... Started the car, and drove the 9 or so miles - leaving at 6:15. At one point I flew past a police car in the opposite direction - I was doing almost 80 in a 50! Fortunately, he kept going...
I was finding that the car wasn't running too well - misfiring a lot on sustained acceleration. I think it's suffering from fuel starvation. The fuel pressure regulator I have fitted may well be faulty. It worked perfectly for a year or two [...]