Cambelt without tensioners changed?

[-Leigh-]

My car had the cambelt changed before I bought it, but one thing I've always wondered was, what if they just changed the belt and not the tensioners etc?

How would you know. I mean, personally I can't see a garage changing the belt without changing the other parts, but it makes me wonder.

Would you get it all one again?

 

[JAY172]

you would never know unless it was done very recently and you removed the covers to see if the tensioners look new. As far as i know gen renaults belts only come in a kit.

 

[-Leigh-]

Well I believe it was done in the last few weeks. So would I be able to have a peek?

 

[Steve2004]

I think it's just the belt that's changed.


Got a quote from Renault for about a grand to get the belt and tensioners changed. :S

 

[iarno]

when i had my cambelt changed on my williams 2, i stupidly assumed that they would change the belt and the tensioners but they didnt, just the belt.
renault then gave me the "you should never have to change the tensioners as they are metal and not plastic" crap...

i heard from most owners that they change the tensioners every other belt change...

 

[-Leigh-]

So, if the tensioners weren't changed, it wouldn't be the end of the world? I mean, if I was getting it done, I would get both changed, but if they haven't, then it's not too much of a worry?

 

[RSTuning]

We once did a belt only as requested. Never again! The tensioner collapsed on roadtest and bent 10 valves!

Paul

 

[Paddy_g46]

We once did a belt only as requested. Never again! The tensioner collapsed on roadtest and bent 10 valves!

Paul

shoddy work :rasp:

 

[scotty2hotty81]

get it checked, it will cost you less in the long run, had mine changed (belt and tensioners) at 40k/4 years and my "plastic"! pulley was full of cracks so be warned

 

[RSTuning]

We once did a belt only as requested. Never again! The tensioner collapsed on roadtest and bent 10 valves!

Paul

shoddy work :rasp:

:rasp:

 

[-Leigh-]

Is it easy to check? Can I do it? Or need to go to Renault?

It wasn't a Renault garage that did it, even though all services were done at renault. Hence me asking.

 

[davebem]

Have you got the receipt for the work, could you ring the garage and ask if only recent. Unfortunatly you can buy both the timing belt and the aux belt seperatly without the tensioners.

The belt kit with 3 rollers/tensioners is about £120

The aux belt is about £17 and the tensioner for that is about £50

 

[-Leigh-]

Luckily I have managed to find out the reciept for it!! Bit of luck.

Well I phoned them up, and they were just locking up, so he's gonna look out there invoices and check, but he did say that they do usually just do the belt, unless told to do the tensioners.
Surely thats just useless?

The bill for it is a £205.56 so I'd presume it wasn't done.

Balls! So I take it the tensioners do actually need changing at 5 years? Cars 4.5 years old and done 41k.

So is it a case of getting them both changed in the next month or so?

Bloody useless I tell thee!!!

 

[edde]

Err tensioners shoul always be chnaged There useless
A £205 bill means ther've definatly not done a proper job.

 

[crow]

ask mike at rentech he was having this chat with me the otherday

 

[-Leigh-]

Well I'm going to book it in somewhere to have it done. Need to get some prices. Anywhere good in the South/South West?

 

[hkka]

May I know what will happen if the tensioner is not changed at the same time??

 

[philmots]

GET THEM CHANGED!!! I had a tensioner collapse on mine, 3.5yrs 33k miles. I was lucky it didnt snap the belt but it was rubbing on the inside of the casing causing an awful smell of burning rubber.. I was quite lucky i got away with it.

 

[-Leigh-]

I am going to get them changed, can't get it done any quicker than when I get get it booked in somewhere though. Hopefully in the next few weeks.

Sounds like you were very unlucky / lucky with yours. If Renault say the that they should be changed at 72k/5 years then in my opinion, they should be prety confident they will last 90k / 6 years though?

If I'd have had the car from new, I'd have got it changed at 40k or 4 years, which is well in with what they recommend, and if it went before that, surely they should pay for the damage??

Unfortunately I've only had the car a week, and it was one of the requirements of me buying the car that they have a cambelt/tensioner change and service. Obviously they haven't done this properly, and now I have to pay £400 odd quid having it done again. At least it has a new belt which makes me feel a little better that it'll be ok for the next week or so lol.

I know of quite a few cars that have done over 72k/5 years with the oe cambelt still in, so makes me feel a little better.

Car is only 4.5 years, so if it was with the other owner and taken to Renault like it has been, it wouldn't have been changed until it was 5 years old, least I'm getting it done 6 months earlier.

Just annoyed that it wasn't done properly the first time, maybe would have gone for another car with it done if I'd have known.