Anyone in Worcester who can help me diagnose tapping problem ? ph1 172

[mortster]

Had my ph1 172 from new (Y reg), it's had it's fair share of problems, cracked cam lobe, spark plug working its way out (head needed helicoil to sort), water ingress, leaking pas sensors etc. etc.

Yesterday I get the return of the dreaded tappety sound at idle, it's not as bad (yet!) as when the cam lobe cracked, but it's getting there.

Anyway I wondered if anyone knows anyone in the Worcester area who can help me diagnose the problem, and do any required work.

I think the problem is most likely either dephaser related, or maybe is cam related, dont think it's the carbon cannister as noise definetly seems to be top-end.

I do have a mobile technician who is willing to look at it on Friday, but seeing as a new cambelt/aux kit is probably required, then I don't know if he has experience of doing this before, it's a real pain as I have only had the kit done by renault in the past 2 years

only 44k on the clock as well, but when this is fixed, it's time to sell i'm afraid

 

[ForceIndia]

Fred's the best in the area. Based in Brum, close to the airport.
fred@btmperformance.com

 

[mortster]

thanks for the reply Warren, but decided to try my luck with my local independant mechanic.. and guess what, he found the tapping to be the exact same problem I had about 20k (4 years ago), a split/cracked cam lobe, the funny thing is, we think it's exactly the same cam lobe which Renault replaced last time for me.. (on the same shaft) Any one know what could be causing the same lobe to crack time and time again ? after say 20k miles ? The mechanic reckons I might have a bent valve causing increased stress on the lobe... Any other ideas ? another thing we noticied was quite alot of wear, i.e. grooves on the middle of the shaft, i think he said it was the bearing part ? (forgive my ignorance)