1.2 D7F Cam Belt Question....

[The Fatty]

i was reading up on the net that alot of people are having trouble with the cam belts on these models...can anyone confirm this? Iv just bought a engine with 50000 on the clock, was wondering if i should get it replaced (although cant really afford to!) what happens if it breaks btw? can it damage anything??

Laterz

 

[Martin_172]

if it brakes it will bend valves, mine lasted to just over 72k they should be replaced at 72k or every 3 years what ever comes sooner

 

[edde]

Timing belt assuming your is a phace 3 should be every 70k.
I'm not sure how long I'd leave it in your case if you despiratly need the car get it chnaged else or drive it hard get it chnaged otherwise leave it till closer to 70k and if it breaks just get a new engine and fit it it on't be that much.

 

[u33db]

No more trouble with these than any other car - if it snaps its just down to the service schedule not being followed.

I'd just do what edde says...if it breaks a new engine is a max of 150quid. I'll have a spare complete head for one of these going begging mid febuary if the worsr happens round abou that time...

 

[MATT BLACK]

Renault cambelts need replacing at 72k or every 5 years - whatever comes first. Personally i would do it at every 50k or every 3 years. A clio 1.2 diet ( DIRECT INJECTION ENGINE TECHNOLOGY ) D7F 720 ( oval plate no 357k ) uses a timing belt kit - part number 7701472644 £60.13 which consists of a new belt and a new pulley - Renault recommend you change the pulleys as these are made of plastic and a new belt without a pulley can cause strain on the old pulley causing it to crack - this is as disastrous as a cambelt snapping as it causes the belt to collapse which will bend all your valves

 

[dan.taylor.1]

hi i have a p reg clio, with the mpi 1.2 engine in it, its on about 90k but i dont know when the cam belt was last changed, should i replace it regardless of when it was last done?

 

[MATT BLACK]

yes - a diet engine cambelt takes about 1hr to fit - stick a new alt belt on as well whilst your at it

 

[tidyclio]

i wouldve said the same replace at about 50k,i done mine at 58k and to be fair the belt looked in pretty good condition and would probobly have easily surpassed 72k.but its one of those things better to be safe than sorry.do what j3ned mentioned make sure you get the pulleys and tensioners,i never changed any and the timing belt tensioner is needing changed

 

[MATT BLACK]

.

 

[The Fatty]

went to pick up engine 2day...they say its only done 44000, so i'll leave it until 50000 (as i really am broke now lol).

Replacement engine for £150? it sounds good in theory, but in reality it dosnt work out that way lol. I just bought mine for £205, and it was all the way down in Redruth (im in devon), so was 30 petrol just to pick it up! lol.

it would have been cheaper to get whole new car i think, but i live my clio far to much to do that! (you real clio lovers will know what i mean! )

im going to document the engine change as i do it, and post it on here as a guide for others that arnt to sure how to do it...

Thanks for everyones help!

Laterz

 

[u33db]

Aye, engine for 150 or less if you goto a proper scrappy.

I manged to get an entires head complete with everything (cams inlet, fuel rail etc) for 20quid...the BE wouldn't have been much more.

Best of luck tho

 

[nathanH]

mine snaped at 98000. and they were mostly hard miles. bent all 8 valves and i was doing 70 in 5th at the time.

 

[Friction]

mine snapped at 74k, my own fault, bent 8 valves.

stranded at 4am, on a sliproad off a dual carriageway.... not ideal, lol.

 

[The Fatty]

ok so iv bought my cam belt....now how do i put it on?

i know basic stuff... Top dead on piston 1 n stuff. all i need to know is how to tension the belt; im not propaired to pay £200 for a cheap seally tension tool really. my nearest renault is 24 miles, so belt would hae to last that long. any ideas?

 

[The Fatty]

bump

 

[The Fatty]

ok so iv bought my cam belt....now how do i put it on?

i know basic stuff... Top dead on piston 1 n stuff. all i need to know is how to tension the belt; im not propaired to pay £200 for a cheap seally tension tool really. my nearest renault is 24 miles, so belt would hae to last that long. any ideas?

still looking for answer to this...

 

[u33db]

For 24 miles i'd drive it...just don't put any excess strain on it from reving etc. Have you not got a closer garage though...its hardly a job for renault?

BTW if any of you 1.2 8v DIET peeps fancy some extra power i have a catcams fast road cam for sale thats still boxed and unused...offers by PM.

 

[Friction]

what kinda power do you expect from the cams? and how much roughly are you looking for them?

i'd be impressed if they did anything semi reasonable for power, but could be willing to try them, lol.

as for the belt tension, just tighten the tensioner when you can twist the belt 90 degrees in your finger tips. My belt has been fine for 5000 miles, so im happy enough with it.

 

[u33db]

Well i have a complete cylinder head waiting to have headwork done by Chris H off retro-renault (the head needs to come off anyway to fit the cam so may as well) at a VERY reasonable price...i'll say again VERY reasonable. I'd expect that with that and the cam to get about 75-80bhp. Basically it'd be on par with a 1.2 16v/1.4 8v which is a good improvment.

Price wise, just make an offer for the lot (cam, complete head and inlet manifold) as i need the money back for my 16v conversion (which Chris is also doing). If you want it all i'd recommend you get him to do the headwork too as you won't find better for the cost but i'll let you discuss that with him.

He has already started to strip the head read for the work if you want a look: http://www.retro-renault.com/viewtopic.php?t=6183 Theres pictures of the cam there too.