172 cup fanbelt / timing belt

[chris79]

Right,

I need to get this right, is the belt down the left hand side of the engine (supposing you have the bonnet open and are standing in front of the car), is it the timing belt, or the fan belt. Basically mines started to frey on my 18 month old cup and its booked in to be changed with Renault next week, however, ive told them its the cambelt, have I given them the wrong info ? Its the belt which goes round the altenator and waterpump etc.

Also, if this were to snap will it f**k my engine ?

cheers.

 

[badinvincible]

aux belt? Does it squeak like a b**ch?

 

[chris79]

no, it just looks like its slightly moved to the left and hence has started freying on the left hand side (about a 1 inch strip has freyed off the left edge).

 

[st33ly]

^^^ As above mate its the auxilliary belt!!

 

[edde]

The belt you see if the aux belt it gets power from the crank and powers the powerstearing pump, aircon (if fitted), coolent pump and starter.

If it breaks well its no big problem just the engine will get hot very quick ie only suitable for a few miles driving safly plus the power stearing will stop so its very heavy.

The cambet is under a protective cover and runs over the top of the engine and to the crank it only runs the cams if this breaks expect a big bill as youll bend just a few vales if your lucky.

 

[chris79]

aha this makes sense then because I had my power steering pump replaced under warranty back in august, they spotted this as being faulty when I had my first service. Its probably likely they havnt put the belt back centrally, at least I should be able to claim its happened due to them and be covered under a guarantee/warranty ?

 

[badinvincible]

3 month warranty on work IIRC

 

[Mike@Rentech]

get this checked ASAP, if the aux belt gets into the timing belt casing it will cause the belt to jump and bugger ya engine up.

Im sure reno have issued a tech note regarding this problem.

 

[chris79]

hmm i had a look today and it doesnt look like it goes into the timing belt casing, they look like seperate systems from what I can see. The timing belt area is all under a metal plate which is bolted into the engine (I presume to stop dirt getting in)?

 

[edde]

Quote: Originally posted by chris79 on 13 October 2004

hmm i had a look today and it doesnt look like it goes into the timing belt casing, they look like seperate systems from what I can see. The timing belt area is all under a metal plate which is bolted into the engine (I presume to stop dirt getting in)?

Yep its got the cover to protect the belt from dirt plus alos if the aux belt snaps it is less likly to mess up the timming belt which is much more important.

 

[Colin Hopkins]

Chris

Thats the auxilliary belt. My 172 Mk1 has had it replaced three times!!!. First at 20,000 miles due to squeak noises and then it started to sear away at 32,000 miles. Finally it snapped altogether back in Feburary at 45,000 mile damaging everything. The power steering pump, water pump and alternator all had to be replaced. Renault tryed to charge me but after a fight they paid the bill

 

[chris79]

Unlucky Colin. Glad it didnt come out your pocket. Just a question though, how can the belt snapping damage waterpump, altenator etc ?

 

[Colin Hopkins]

Chris

I have no idea but when they handed me the bill all these parts were replaced. They had my car for almost two weeks fixing it!! I think this aux belt must drive those parts.

 

[badinvincible]

Quote: Originally posted by Colin Hopkins on 14 October 2004


Chris

I have no idea but when they handed me the bill all these parts were replaced. They had my car for almost two weeks fixing it!! I think this aux belt must drive those parts.

true