Cambelt trouble

[jakebutler]

Unfortunately it is time for a cambelt change and i have a few questions that need answering if people could be kind enough.
1. I live in cannock staffordshire and was wandering if anybody knows and recommends somebody to do the job.
2. Am i right in thinking i will need the cambelt, waterpump and dephaser pulley replacing?
3. I can get a cambelt/waterpump kit off ebay for £138 and a dephaser pulley for £120, does this sound a good price?
4. Will i need the auxilary belt doing at the same time?
5. I have been quoted £150 by a garage that does all of our works cars to do the cambelt and water pump if i supply them ( not sure if he will charge extra to fit the dephaser pulley) or £432 by a renault specialist in four ashes wolverhampton with them supplying parts ( cambelt and waterpump). What would you recomend?

Thankyou for all you help,

 

[Chip-mk1]

I personally would only use genuine Renault parts not cheap rubbish from eBay.

Fred@BTM isnt too far from you, I recommend you go to him, he has an extremely good reputation.

Waterpump is cheap to do at the same time as you've done most of the labour, but isnt massively unreliable in the first place so not totally essential, same for the dephasor really, so its upto you if you just want to do it all once, or if you are happy to risk that you might end up with the labour bill twice.

 

[jakebutler]

Ok thankyou very much, i will search for him now. Thankyou

 

[Chip-mk1]

http://www.cliosport.net/forum/showthread.php?444660-Getting-In-Contact-Hello!

 

[MartinR]

Get your parts from : Adam on 01902 439264 Works at the renault parts supply base and will be the cheapest you will find.

Take it to TCR in wednesbury just off jct9 of the M6 very cheap and highly recommended.


www.totalcontrolracing.com

 

[Ol’ Tarby]

Another vote for Fred here, top bloke

 

[davo172]

TCR for me used them for 9 years Never had anything but fantastic service and great prices !!
Just of J9 m6

http://www.totalcontrolracing.com/index.php?option=com_contact&view=contact&id=1&Itemid=100

 

[sbridgey]

I would go to Fred, or birchdown in malpas, they are both fairly close by. I have heard mixed opinions on TCR so probably wouldn't go there.

 

[rdoxenham]

I spoke with Fred previously about doing my car after I'd purchased the parts myself (thinking I would save money) but unfortunately not many people will do the work on your car without supplying the parts (or won't give you any warranty etc). So my advice is speak to someone like Fred and get him to do the work AND supply the parts.

 

[Adam G]

Fred will be doing mine this month. Wouldn't let anyone else touch it.

 

[scotty xl]

definately replace the water pump if youre doing the work anyway m8, they arent massively un reliable but they do go (as mine did last week!) and if youre doing the work now save a lot of heartache in the future if it leaks on you!

 

[Laine_16v]

Genuine question to reputable specialists... everyone says the water pump is easy to change while doing the cambelt. Do you have special stuff to remove the concrete setting original paper gasket that welds itself to the block? I spent the past part of an hour last time sanding the surface flat until i was happy and that was with the engine on a stand lol

 

[Dan519]

Genuine question to reputable specialists... everyone says the water pump is easy to change while doing the cambelt. Do you have special stuff to remove the concrete setting original paper gasket that welds itself to the block? I spent the past part of an hour last time sanding the surface flat until i was happy and that was with the engine on a stand lol

that's the worst part of the job, i use razor blades and wd40 to soften the gasket. Still takes ages. It's crap having to change them, and most of the time they don't need touching

 

[Gaz_]

Fred or birchdown for your location.

www.birchdown.co.uk

Dont ***** about with supplying parts yourself, drive in, drive out, done.

 

[MartinR]

I would go to Fred, or birchdown in malpas, they are both fairly close by. I have heard mixed opinions on TCR so probably wouldn't go there.

What are these opinions then Si?

For future reference as i don't want to be shafted or try and have the wool pulled over my eyes...

 

[sbridgey]

What are these opinions then Si?

For future reference as i don't want to be shafted or try and have the wool pulled over my eyes...

Well you say they are superb and another highly regarded member says the opposite, I have never been so i am yet to make up my own mind and don't want to destroy a company's reputation over hearsay.

 

[Daniel]

Fred@btm or birchdown for sure.

If you're close ish to either of them you'd be bad to take it elsewhere IMO.

 

[Adam G]

Fred will be doing mine this month. Wouldn't let anyone else local touch it.

Edit : Local. (Chip, MWM, 519, Diamond etc aren't local enough)

 

[Sunglasses_Ron]

I travelled from East London to Birmingham to have my belts and dephaser done at BTM. Was worth the trip.

 

[Dan@SJM]

Genuine question to reputable specialists... everyone says the water pump is easy to change while doing the cambelt. Do you have special stuff to remove the concrete setting original paper gasket that welds itself to the block? I spent the past part of an hour last time sanding the surface flat until i was happy and that was with the engine on a stand lol

I've got a spray from Kent that's awesome on old gaskets. Great on carbon too.

 

[scotty10]

as said drive in drive out job done and the guys have named all the good guys....take your pick

 

[MartinR]

Well you say they are superb and another highly regarded member says the opposite, I have never been so i am yet to make up my own mind and don't want to destroy a company's reputation over hearsay.

Highly retarded member you mean:rasp: bet i can guess which person that is!!

I don't think hearsay would ruin their reputation either, as they don't rely on forums for buisness. Each to their own though, but i know who i will be using from now on.

 

[Thrust-Rated]

Don't take it to four ashes Renault. I've heard some bad stories about them in the past, plus they've ripped me off a couple of times when I've bought parts when I had a 1.2. They are quite ignorant there too.

For what it's worth I would go to Fred@BTM or to TCR or Birchdown. I take my 182 to Fred and have nothing but good things to say about the service to be honest.

I live in similar area to you, just jump on m6 to get to Fred. Well worth it.

 

[SBV116]

Totally off topic, had a 172 in this morning.... Bloke asked me to check out his very poor idle, cuts out when not on v power.

cambelt done at a non specialist, timing out.

 

[Fred@BTM]

^and people think we make this s**t up :nono:

 

[treemanx]

Don't go to four ashes, they did the belts prior to Fred@btm, although with a different special timing tool (tipex).

 

[Fred@BTM]

^careful, people will assume i slagged them off too, apperently that's how i get my business, slagging everyone off, maybe people should reassess Either i've done 1000+ cambelts wrong or 1 or 2 people need to wind their necks in, just saying! :rasp: (oh and unlucky on the 15sec+ 1/4mile, my "incorrectly timed" engine couldn't possibly do a 13.9sec then could it......................in your face biaaaatch! And i wouldn't be churning out some of the most powerful F4R NA engines in the UK either @ 242bhp if i couldn't time them up properly)

its hard being me, no really it is

 

[Adam G]

^Which is why I phoned Fred to do mine yesterday.

 

[Tony Hunter]

^Which is why I phoned Fred to do mine yesterday.

Bit short notice isn't it.

 

[Chip-mk1]

It's easy to do an f4r cambelt correctly with the correct tools but that still doesn't stop people getting it wrong sadly.

 

[The Chubby Pirate]

I'd actually like to see it done!

 

[MartinR]

^careful, people will assume i slagged them off too, apperently that's how i get my business, slagging everyone off, maybe people should reassess Either i've done 1000+ cambelts wrong or 1 or 2 people need to wind their necks in, just saying! :rasp: (oh and unlucky on the 15sec+ 1/4mile, my "incorrectly timed" engine couldn't possibly do a 13.9sec then could it......................in your face biaaaatch! And i wouldn't be churning out some of the most powerful F4R NA engines in the UK either @ 242bhp if i couldn't time them up properly)

its hard being me, no really it is

 

[Carlv8415]

Let the garage get the parts as if you are to supply your own and it breaks then the garage can't be held liable. Ok you may save £60 buying the parts but I would rather pay that and if something did happen then £60 is cheaper than having to buy a new engine.

Most places charge for cambelt and labour but whilst cambelt off they might as well do water pump, tensioners and aux belt so they just charge you for parts. So might as well get it all done.

Don't get your water pump changed then breaks 2 months later you might as well have your cambelt changed again as its gotta come off anything.

Trying to save couple of pounds here and there is pointless, if your getting it done get it done properly.

 

[Dan@SJM]

The the f4R 7xx doesn't have a cambelt driven water pump.

Personally I will not change a cambelt without changing the water pump if its a cambelt driven one, as the warranty isn't valid on any of the parts if it fails.

 

[Chip-mk1]

I'd actually like to see it done!

If you watch someone who does it day in day out like Fred or Mike or Danlp6 etc, it really does look very easy, its just all about knowing how far to jack the engine up to get at bolts and what tool to use where etc.

Mind you, playing the piano looks easy if you watch someone who can do it too, flol.

 

[Mr Rossi]

^careful, people will assume i slagged them off too, apperently that's how i get my business, slagging everyone off, maybe people should reassess Either i've done 1000+ cambelts wrong or 1 or 2 people need to wind their necks in, just saying! :rasp: (oh and unlucky on the 15sec+ 1/4mile, my "incorrectly timed" engine couldn't possibly do a 13.9sec then could it......................in your face biaaaatch! And i wouldn't be churning out some of the most powerful F4R NA engines in the UK either @ 242bhp if i couldn't time them up properly)

its hard being me, no really it is

Brilliant!

 

[Carlv8415]

The the f4R 7xx doesn't have a cambelt driven water pump.

Personally I will not change a cambelt without changing the water pump if its a cambelt driven one, as the warranty isn't valid on any of the parts if it fails.

So your saying if you getting your cam belt done don't worry about the water pump because it can be changed separately at a later date ?

 

[Dan@SJM]

What I am saying is, I offer to change it as its only an extra hour to do so, but it's only 2.5 hours to do the aux kit and water pump. Not a 5 hour job that the cambelt is

 

[Carlv8415]

Fair point might as well whilst its off