UPDATED 07.01.02:
Introduction
Technical
UPDATED 05.11.02:
Service History
UPDATED 07.01.02:
Modifications
UPDATED 05.11.02:
Photo Gallery
NEW 04.02:
Sound Gallery
NEW 12.01:
Video Gallery
My R25 Turbo is a dark metallic blue 87 model (old chassis, series I) with Elia Tuning box. It has brown leather interior, and some parts of the dash are coated with carbon fibre look-a-like film. It has all the standard luxury car stuff, including power-assisted steering, electric windows (4), electric seats in the front, electric mirrors, electrically operated tail-gate, "automatically folding" rear seats (mechanical), central lock with IR remote, automatic climate control and a speech synthesizer. From the outside it's difficult to tell it is the Turbo model. The only difference is the front mask with the Renault logo on the left-hand side (from inside the car). The "second previous" owner had put an air scoop from a Sierra Cosworth on the hood. In addition I have glued an Elia Tuning & Design label on the back. On the back pillars there are only "V6" labels, not the "V6 Turbo" as usually found there(?) The only place where the word "Turbo" can be found are the dashboard (boost meter), the steering wheel and under the bonnet. It still has the original Philips radio especially custom made for Renault 25 with 6 speakers, 5 band EQU, echo and remote near the steering wheel. The power output is increased from 182 bhp to 207(?) bhp with help of a tuning box and by increasing the maximum boost pressure from the factory-set 0,65bar to 1,0bar. Some claim even 230 bhp, but this might be for the newer models (88-). The newer model has 204-205 bhp standard. The maximum torque with the tuning box is said to be around 335 Nm. The real maximum speed is rumored to be about 234 km/h as opposed to 228 km/h of the old factory model.
This particular type of Renault 25 is pretty rare here in Finland. As of end of year 1997, there were a total of three cars of this type registered. Of these three cars only one is model 1987. This is also the first car of this type in Finaland.
Technical
Technical specifications are almost the same as the ones mentioned in the Auto Zeitung magazine (except for the modifications made in the engine). More to come.
Service History
During the time I've owned the Renault, I have done (at least) the following (pretty detailed stuff).
|
Date |
Mileage (km) |
Fault Diagnosis / Service Notes |
|
5.98 |
268000 |
Bought the car. Cold starting problem. |
|
1.6.98 |
269130 |
New summer tires Nokia NRH 205/60 R15 |
|
18.8.98 |
274700 |
New rear brake pads. Cleaned the rear brakes. Lubricated with zinc paste. |
|
20.8.98 |
274815 |
New aircleaner. |
|
20.8.98 |
274815 |
New battery (Volvo 74Ah). |
|
28.8.98 |
275154 |
Changed engine oil (ELF Semisynth Competition STI) & oil filter (Purflux). |
|
9.98 |
277246 |
Started investigating the cold starting problem. Connected the box to R25 tester. Result: faulty water temp sensor. Replaced with new (about FIM 500). Problem not solved. |
|
13.10.98 |
279125 |
Hooked the box to R25 test bench again. Still nags about the faulty water temp sensor. The fault seems to lie in the ECU itself. Bilia (the local Renault/Volvo dealer suggested a new ECU, list price about FIM 6100) Opened the box, and found out that the connection between pins #13 and 32 is cut. Cleaned and soldered a jump-wire (photo available now). The problem is solved! Now the engine starts easily even in -35C (tested in Kuusamo, Finland). Thanks to Eikka! |
|
23.10.98 |
279526 |
Replaced the exhaust system from the front silencer (excluding) to the end. Two pipes, dia. 2.25" (FIM 132 + 199). Backpot: Walker SuperTurbo low-resistant, but silent) + oval endpipe (tot. FIM 550). |
|
28.10.98 |
279918 |
New front wheel bearing (right). (FIM 380) |
|
4.11.98 |
280142 |
New handbrake cables (2). (FIM 60 each). Cleaned and lubricated the (weight) self-adjusting brake valve. New gas filter (TEHO filter, FIM 100). Replaced the spark slugs (BOSCH H3CS, Silber) (6 x FIM 60). |
|
10.11.98 |
280200 |
Replaced the following drive belts: alternator & water pump and power steering pump. New winter tires (Nokian Hakkapeliitta I, 185/65 R15) (FIM. 2250) |
|
26.11.98 |
282800 |
Engine cooling system: new coolant (10L, -40C). |
|
29.11.98 |
283028 |
Changed oil (ELF Semisynth Competition STI) and oil filter (Purflux). Checked spare tire (filled to 2.5 bar) - it was empty. |
|
1.99 |
Ca. 285000 |
Replaced both outer ends of the tie rod. |
|
1.99 |
Ca. 285000 |
Replaced both rear springs. (FIM 295 each). |
|
16.1.99 |
286000 |
Replaced both front upper ball-joints. |
|
22.1.99 |
286257 |
New front brake hoses (L+R). Changed brake fluid, "front" (DOT 5.1). Changed handbrake "division block". |
|
16.2.99 |
286964 |
Engine didn't start (-20C). The "high-tension coil" was wet. Replaced the coil (FIM 230). Lubricated the air/gas flap "armature". |
|
4.3.99 |
287410 |
Changed rear RH brake caliper. (list price: FIM 1861, discounted: FIM 1200). Changed brake fluid, "rear" (DOT 5.1). Re-tightened all drive belts. |
|
8.5.99 |
289082 |
Changed front LH wheel bearing (FIM 380). Replaced rear brake pads. |
|
20.5.99 |
289635 |
Changed front brake pads (FIM 195). Cleaned and lubricated the front brake calipers (RH was stuck). |
|
10.6.99 |
290539 |
After switching off the engine, the cooling fans and the electric water pump didn't run. One of the two "time-delay relays" was broken. Soldered the faulty (only pin broken). (new one would have cost FIM 321). Also the el. water pump was finished (the brushes). Replaced the brushes (new from a heater fan, FIM 20). New electric BOSCH water pump would have cost ca. FIM 1000). |
|
12.6.99 |
290617 |
It's time for an oil-change again. ELF Semisynth Competition STI + filter (Purflux). |
|
16.6.99 |
290815 |
Heater fan worked only on speed 4 (from the beginning). "Speed control unit" faulty. Cleaned and resoldered contacts of the resistors. Cleaned the contacts of the temp switch (relay). Changed the MAX speed relay (FIM 21). Replaced the bulbs (illumination). |
|
11.7.99 |
292360 |
Replaced the paper air cleaner with K&N free-flow filter (cleaned & oiled before installation). The backpot broke. It was not meant for turbo-use. Thinking of replacing it with one from Saab 9000 2.3 Turbo, Volvo 850 T5R or other stock turbo car with suitable diameters. |
|
23.8.99 |
294093 |
Went through almost all the electric connectors in the engine compartment, except for the lights and injectors. Replaced the connector on the oil pressure sender (now the needle of the oil pressure gauge doesn't "jump up & down"). Installed a 100mm air-intake pipe leading into the air-filter box. (FIM 150). |
|
31.8.99 |
294xxx |
Minor fixes in the cabin: all the switches in the cabin doors and middle console between the seats were not illuminated (all the bulbs were blown). Replaced the bulbs (16 pieces). Fixed the switches of the electric windows (only driver's was working). |
|
8.9.99 |
294768 |
Replaced the regulator and brushes (Lucas) of the alternator (Paris-Rhone/Valeo). (FIM 200). Recharging voltage was only 11.35V. |
|
11.9.99 |
294805 |
Replaced (actually fixed by shortening) a broken hose attached to the idle actuator. |
|
16.9.99 |
294832 |
Replaced the hoses (6mm high-pressure fuel hose with stainless steel cover) for the bleed-off valve (wastegate actuator can, intake manifold, TEE, bleed-off valve). Seems like there's no restrictor-orifice in the line. A solenoid with a switch on the dashboard would be nice. A fuel mixture gauge (rich-lean gauge) would be good to have as well. Checking spark plugs will have to do for now. Maximum boost pressure was 0.85 bar (factory set is 0.65 bar). Now set to 0.95 bar. Also checked the safety pressure switch. It works! Fuel injection was cut at about 1.2 bar on a warm weather (+20C). Looks like it cuts already at 0.95 on a cold weather (+8C). Cooler air is denser air. Does it really affect the operation of the switch? |
|
20.9.99 |
295920 |
Changed the LH rear wheel bearing. (FIM 1000, discounted) Found out that the part was made by the French SNR. Looks like it's an original part. Only the original from Renault would have cost FIM 3835. This one FIM 1460, discounted FIM 1000. |
|
28.9.99 |
295270 |
Replaced both the rear brake disks. |
|
3.4.00 |
298605 |
Changed rear LH brake caliper (about FIM 1200 in Bilia with -15% discount.) Replaced rear brake pads (Kai Knuutila: FIM 95). Changed LH tierod and bellow. |
|
15.4.00 |
298xxx |
Replaced front LH "anti-swaybar" rubber insulator. |
|
8.8.00 |
306032 |
Changed oil (ELF Semisynth Competition STI) and oil filter (Purflux). |
| 16.8.00 | 306350 | Changed brake fluid (DOT 5.1). |
| 25.10.00 | 310005 | Changed front LH anti-swaybar "vertical bar". |
|
10-11.00 |
xxxxxx | Sold the car. The following services were not done by me (the mileage is unknown) |
| 1.11.00 | xxxxxx | Heater element (whole matrix) changed. (FIM 590) |
|
11.6.01 |
319683 |
Changed oil (Fuchs Titan Supersyn 5W40)) and oil filter (M Filter MH 3331). |
| xx.7.01 | xxxxxx | Replaced (at least) one of the oil hoses (braded metal) going to oil cooler/filter. Changed oil. Ammatti-Instituutti Iisakki (school): Adjusted "aurauskulmat". Adjusted valve clearances. Fixed ABS. |
|
17.8.01 |
xxxxxx | Replaced rear brakepads. |
| 22.8.01 | xxxxxx | Replaced front door hinges. |
|
10.10.01 |
xxxxxx | Replaced fuel pump (Bosch) (FIM 1151) |
| 14.11.01 | xxxxxx | Replaced front brakpads. |
|
23.11.01 |
330000 | Bought the car back! |
| 11.01 | 331000 | Replaced rear silencer and a stretch of pipe after the front silencer. |
|
4.12.01 |
332892 | Added water to battery (6,5dl) and charged it. |
| 7.12.01 | 332915 | New battery (Hoppecke Eutostart 71Ah (Max. 680A). (GL Energy discounted price FIM 400) |
| 11.12.01 | 332977 | Changed oil (ELF Semisynth Competition STI 10W40) and oil filter (Purflux). Changed fuel filter (Purflux) EP90C). |
| 28.11.01 | 333585 | Replaced all fuel hoses in engine compartment with braded (metal) hoses. One was leaking. (inner diameter 8mm, 10bar, momentarily 17bar). (picture) |
| 3.1.02 | 333751 | RH rear anti-swaybar / vertical bar (part# 8414901) (Bilia: 27,41e) |
| 4.1.02 | 333853 |
LH rear anti-swaybar /
vertical bar (part# 8414901) (Bilia: 27,41e). RH front anti-swaybar / fastening ("holkki") (8296043, 15,21e, "pidin vakaaja" (8460331, 6,41e) and counterpart "vastakappale" (8460332, 4,59e) Added switch in the cabin to control wether the cooling fans and the electric water pump will run after the engine has been switched off (turbo cooler switch. The switch was added in the wire going to pin number 4 of the LH relay in the ECU box |
| 7.1.02 | 333985 | Adjusted the front driving lights (5cm/160cm) |
| 8.1.02 | 334025 | Changed RH tierod and bellow Replaced reverse light switch. |
| 9.1.02 | 334115 | Replaced LH hand brake cable. Lubricated it with Li grease. |
| 10.1.02 | 334168 | Replaced RH hand brake cable. Lubricated all partst of the hand brake system with Li grease. |
| 14.1.02 | 334395 | Retightened belts of aircon compressor and power steering pump |
| 15.1.02 | 334426 | Cleaned the contacts of cabin temerature control servo and greased the moving parts. Now automatic climate control works. |
| 19.1.02 | 334497 |
Cleaned (with sandpaper) rusty door and surroundings of fuel filling cap, front bonnet (under the front edge, front edge of door of the luggage compartment and ex-antenna surroundings). Covered with Noverox Antirust Twice |
| Some minor repairs. Will add them here later. | ||
| 01.11.02 | 344500 |
Replaced the original Valeo clutch with a new Valeo (the whole kit). Big thanks go to Timo. Sorry, I did't get the pictures of the procedure, but there are some pics of the old clutch in the Gallery now. |
| More to come...for sure... |
HINT: Check out the LINKS section. There's a really nice site in France that has some very good tips about the typical problems in R25 V6 Turbo.
To do:
I have made some minor modifications over the years I've owned this Renault. I will go through some of them in this section.
Super-bright map light
The smallest, simplest and one of the latest of them is a bright, blue LED map light that is much brighter than the original 5W lamp. Installing the LED was easy: I just connected a suitable resistor in series with the LED. The blue LED I used had the following ratings: nominal voltage of 3.6V, current of 20mA and luminosity of 2000mcd. Read futher, if you're not familiar with electronics. The alternator gives 14.4V, so from these figures it's easy to calculate the required resistor:
Reguired
voltage drop: 14.4V - 3-6V = 10.8V
Thus the required resistor is 10.8V / 0.02A = 540 Ohms
Don't forget that the LED will emit light only when connected right. In most cases, positive voltage should be connected to the longer wire.
I've also tried red "reading lights" in the back;) I will probably replace all the blue and red leds with bright, white leds.
Blue LED in place. Click
on the image
to see the "surroundings".
(Canon Ixus)
Fuel hoses
I have just replaced all the fuel hoses in the engine compartment with braided (galvanized steel) hoses of 7.5mm (innner diameter). Check out the pictures of old and new hoses in place. The ends are just taped with vulcanizing tape.
Turbo after cooling switch
I had some spare time during the X'Mas holiday...so I made a small and simple modification in the turbo after cooling circuit. In this model (end of 87), the turbo is already cooled with water (in addition to oil). After swithing off the engine, the two cooling fans and the electric waterpump run for about 10 minutes. This is not always neccessary. Especially at winter time, the battery may run dry fairly easily.
There are two relays in the ECU box in the engine room. The one on the left (looking from the metal casing) is for cooling the turbo after the engine has been switched off. There may be a more clever way to do this, but I just cut the wire connected to pin# 4 (white wire) of the relay and connected a manual switch in between in the cabin. This way I'm able to decide whether the fans and the pump run every time the ignition is switched off. The position of the switch doens't seem to affect the operation of the cooling fans while the engine is still running. Connecting a switch in between to the wire connected to pins #1 or #2 doesn't help, since the turbo cooling stops only when voltage is applied between these pins. The pictures are here.
Other modifications coming up
remote turbo boost control with an electro-magnetic valve
Photo Gallery
04/11/02: ORIGINAL
VALEO
CLUTCH KIT IN MY R25 V6T (344500km)
(Casio QV-3000EX)
28/10/02: AUTUMN
SHOTS
(Casio QV-3000EX)
23/10/02: NEW VALEO
CLUTCH KIT
(Casio QV-3000EX)
13/06/02: MISC.
SHOTS
(Casio QV-3000EX)
04/03/02: INTERIOR
SHOTS
(Canon IXUS v1)
04/03/02: MISC
GARAGE PICS
(Canon IXUS v1)
04/01/02: R25
V6T ENGINE
(Canon IXUS v1)
23/12/01: R25
V6T ON A WINTER MORNING (-20C)
(Canon IXUS v1)
17/12/01: ECU
IN MY R25
(Canon IXUS v1)
12/12/01: GARRETT T3 IN MY R25
(Canon IXUS v1)
17/02/00, UNSORTED
WINTER PICS OF MY R25
( Casio 7000)
Bring your arrow on top of the photo to
display the description if available. Click on photo to enlarge.
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All of the above still images (showing thumbs) are captured off the video tape (recorded with Sony 8mm) with Iomega Buz into 24-bit BMP, and converted into JPEG. The bigger images are of pretty bad quality due to a field-reversal problem. As if it would be of any interest to you;)
05.11.2002 22:05:15 +0200
