Cambelts.....!

[Teds]

Ok, Car is a jan02 172 ff. 1 owner from new who I know. I bought the car 18 months ago. Maintained regardless of costs. Full service history. 41k on the clock. And SNAP..! Cam belt gone.

No further investigating has been made as yet as to the course of frailer but the thing is knackered.

After speaking to Renault (a waste of time) and every other specialist in the country, it’s a very expense job to repair.

So a very kind man going by the name "FRED" confirmed my thoughts of what to do and who to do it.

The car is going to have its engine replaced with a low mile sourced unit. With new belts and full service, clutch and full diagnostic check at a Renault specialist.

The car goes in on Monday of next week. Once the car is returned fit and well it will be up for sale.

The car has been fun, and joy to drive. But unfortunately these little things just let themselves down on build quality. The car has worn out and had replaced all of its running gear brakes,bearings,suspension,Bushs,Engine mounts. Exhaust mounts and much much more in a very short time.

What I think I’m trying to conclude from all this. Is that they are great fun but they will cost you a lot to run although cheap to buy. So its time for it to go.

Also, thanks to BENr who I also spoke to and gave priceless advice also.

So enjoy em but look after um!

P.S From speaking to a lot of people about this I would change them every 32k. So make sure your time Bomb gets a rest soon.

Cheers

 

[Don]

Ok, Car is a jan02 172 ff. 1 owner from new who I know. I bought the car 18 months ago. Maintained regardless of costs. Full service history. 41k on the clock. And SNAP..! Cam belt gone.

No further investigating has been made as yet as to the course of frailer but the thing is knackered.

After speaking to Renault (a waste of time) and every other specialist in the country, it’s a very expense job to repair.

So a very kind man going by the name "FRED" confirmed my thoughts of what to do and who to do it.

The car is going to have its engine replaced with a low mile sourced unit. With new belts and full service, clutch and full diagnostic check at a Renault specialist.

The car goes in on Monday of next week. Once the car is returned fit and well it will be up for sale.

The car has been fun, and joy to drive. But unfortunately these little things just let themselves down on build quality. The car has worn out and had replaced all of its running gear brakes,bearings,suspension,Bushs,Engine mounts. Exhaust mounts and much much more in a very short time.

What I think I’m trying to conclude from all this. Is that they are great fun but they will cost you a lot to run although cheap to buy. So its time for it to go.

Also, thanks to BENr who I also spoke to and gave priceless advice also.

So enjoy em but look after um!

P.S From speaking to a lot of people about this I would change them every 32k. So make sure your time Bomb gets a rest soon.

Cheers

Its 5 years or 72K...if yours was new in Jan 02...it would now be 5 years and 4ish months old.

Mine is being done the day after Bank Holiday Monday. She's on 70.5K '53' plate...

Good bit of advice though.

 

[Dash]

I was wondering what sort of miles a 172 starts to need almost everything replaced.

Which Renault specialist is it going to?

 

[Teds]

Yep 5 Years and 4 months.

It’s as if they have a time stamp on them. They still should not have failed like that though. Very disappointed in it. Apparently it’s not just the belt that fails it can be any number of things. Pulley bolts come lose. Tensioner pulley failure and the later cars have less external protection than the early cars. So they just seem very venerable to failure. At any time..! Not Good.

JR- speak to FRED he will point you in the right direction.

 

[Dash]

Ta

 

[MillerLight]

to be fair as J.C says "its impossible to go faster for less money" for the cost involve its not to bad. (unless you go to renualt then they charge you for the o2 in the air at the time.) for its speed.

5 years is quite a good time for rubber to last under mass amounts of heat and water they see i.m.o

 

[Teds]

Its not the time thats an issue it the package as a whole. Very Poor imo.

They do consum parts a great rate of knot's. I do live in north yorkshire were we do have proper roads mind.

Nippy but not quick..!

 

[SBV116]

Have you spoken to renault customer services?

 

[Bluebeard]

Is it just me that find this thread amusing??!?!

The intervals are clearly set out; 5 years, 72000 miles. You went over that by 4 months, therefore it broke.

Its nothing to do with build quality, its down to owner neglect.

 

[Teds]

Yep..! Waste of time. Hence again the disappointment in the whole scenario.

 

[SBV116]

Fair enough then! i dont think you can complain to be honest?? renault arent all that bad, we had an 02 plate megane break a belt the other day, BUT it had only done 20k, and renault contributed towards that, 20% i think! and thats better than nothing! they didnt have to!! Its a bit like saying i ran out of petrol and the fuel light had been on for 50 miles! i feel your disssapointment, but its no suprise! 5yrs 0r 72K!

 

[Teds]

superfastdan - If you read the thread its the car as a whole that’s the disappointment. I've owned many cars in my time and just surprised at what Renault thinks are acceptable wear rates in this day and age. Poor...!

 

[pete_clio]

so really i should get mine changed, as its ok 39k and just over 5yrs (was actually ment to have it done last week but then some t**t jumped a red and tried to park on my bumper!

 

[SBV116]

so really i should get mine changed, as its ok 39k and just over 5yrs (was actually ment to have it done last week but then some tw*t jumped a red and tried to park on my bumper!

Make it a priority! its waiting to blow a major hole in your bank balance and there is no warning!:dead:

 

[pete_clio]

yeah think when i get my car back it should be wed or so, ill say to the guy i need it changed.

 

[PYE21]

Its not the time thats an issue it the package as a whole. Very Poor imo.

They do consum parts a great rate of knot's. I do live in north yorkshire were we do have proper roads mind.

Nippy but not quick..!

How can you comment on the build quality when you have owned 1 car? And only for 18months? How do you know what it was driven like and how well it was looked after before you got it?

My 182 has done 43k in since July 2005 and other than 1 rear damper (standard cup pack fault) and a bonnent 'closed' sensor, it has not needed any other parts. It has had the oil done every 6k, serviced at proper intervals and in the next 2k will get its cambelt done (out of peace of mind). The only other thing that is on my list of things to do is the clutch cable. The car has lived a hard life so far and i won't be leaving it in the garage.

I have to agree with the comments about the cambelt. These engines are well known for being suseptable to cambelt failure, going outside renaults recomened servicing on them is daft!!!

 

[Teds]

PYE21- please read the above comments again...

If you think thats acceptable then fair enough. But when most modern cars now run 20k or 2 years if not more between service intervals its not good.

 

[G_F]

You had a bad one then that had been shagged, but you are complaining the belt snapped, but it has because you have not maintained it, its your fault it snapped.

If looked after they are reliable, especially for its performance.

 

[G_F]

If you think thats acceptable then fair enough. But when most modern cars now run 20k or 2 years if not more between service intervals its not good.

Show me a hot hatch that will streach to them intervals, if you wanted a fag normal/slow/boring car, that does excellent MPG and long service intervals, then to be honest, performance cars are not for you.

 

[PYE21]

PYE21- please read the above comments again...

If you think thats acceptable then fair enough. But when most modern cars now run 20k or 2 years if not more between service intervals its not good.

All comments have been read!!!! My comments still stand!!!

The only cars that i know that have 20k or 2 years are Diesels and shopping cars. Every mild-wild performance car is 12k 12months or less. And everybody that i know off that has any interest in there cars has 4k 0r 6k Oil changes as well!!!

 

[MillerLight]

PYE21- please read the above comments again...

If you think thats acceptable then fair enough. But when most modern cars now run 20k or 2 years if not more between service intervals its not good.

All comments have been read!!!! My comments still stand!!!

The only cars that i know that have 20k or 2 years are Diesels and shopping cars. Every mild-wild performance car is 12k 12months or less. And everybody that i know off that has any interest in there cars has 4k 0r 6k Oil changes as well!!!

agreed

 

[thecremeegg]

To be fair to him, surely renault should say cambelt after 4 years or 60k miles, as 4 months over and it snaps is a tad tight on time. If they go bang on 5 years or so then theres going to be some slack, some will go just before. I think lowering the time interval would be safer tbh

 

[MillerLight]

I have full Sympathy for the problem. if it was me i'd be pissed but stuff like this has happend and now do things at least 6months 10k b4 its says. You live and learn....

 

[G_F]

To be fair to him, surely renault should say cambelt after 4 years or 60k miles, as 4 months over and it snaps is a tad tight on time. If they go bang on 5 years or so then theres going to be some slack, some will go just before. I think lowering the time interval would be safer tbh

4 months to get it changed is long enough. Someone tells me to come into work a 9, i either get there before or bang on time, not 9.40.

Gambled and lost. lesson learned.

 

[Rob_02cup]

Would it not be cheaper to just get the head repaired rather than buying a second hand engine then changing the cam/auxbelts on it? What would the price be for a head recondition - £300 - £400?

 

[Bluebeard]

To be fair to him, surely renault should say cambelt after 4 years or 60k miles, as 4 months over and it snaps is a tad tight on time. If they go bang on 5 years or so then theres going to be some slack, some will go just before. I think lowering the time interval would be safer tbh

4 months to get it changed is long enough. Someone tells me to come into work a 9, i either get there before or bang on time, not 9.40.

Gambled and lost. lesson learned.

:hail:

 

[G_F]

 

[mattih5]

My RS 172 2002 is nearly 5 year old (In Auguest) and I am definately getting the belt changed, I don't want this happening to me. I am in the process of looking for desent quotes. Anyone know any relatively cheap but good quality places in the North West, more specifically Oldham -> Manchester?

 

[edde]

PYE21- please read the above comments again...
If you think thats acceptable then fair enough. But when most modern cars now run 20k or 2 years if not more between service intervals its not good.

The only cars that i know that have 20k or 2 years are Diesels and shopping cars. Every mild-wild performance car is 12k 12months or less.

Megan RS has long service intervals 18k or 2 years.

To be fair to him, surely renault should say cambelt after 4 years or 60k miles, as 4 months over and it snaps is a tad tight on time. If they go bang on 5 years or so then theres going to be some slack, some will go just before. I think lowering the time interval would be safer tbh

Renault sport would hve wanted shorter intervals but new cars have to be cheaper to service ie longer limits otherwise it doesn't look like things are getting better. Life lenght for then is difficult to say some can snap at 10k other at 100k 72 /5 years was deemed a acceptable point any more than 4 years and 60k I'd get it chnaged unless you have a warently covering it.

Lowering it to 4 years and 60k would make the car more expensive on paper to run which Renault don't want to do.

Ok, Car is a jan02 172 ff. 1 owner from new who I know. I bought the car 18 months ago. Maintained regardless of costs. Full service history. 41k on the clock. And SNAP..! Cam belt gone.

The car has been fun, and joy to drive. But unfortunately these little things just let themselves down on build quality. The car has worn out and had replaced all of its running gear brakes,bearings,suspension,Bushs,Engine mounts. Exhaust mounts and much much more in a very short time.

]It’s as if they have a time stamp on them. They still should not have failed like that though. Very disappointed in it. Apparently it’s not just the belt that fails it can be any number of things. Pulley bolts come lose. Tensioner pulley failure and the later cars have less external protection than the early cars. So they just seem very venerable to failure. At any time..! Not Good.

Personaly the bits that have worn can wear on any car I know of expensive car with more trouble and cheaper cars with no trouble its just the way of life. Brakes wearing I don't see what you have to complain about thats the whole point.

As for failures well if there were that bad then Renault would have lowered the servicing rules and we'd have loads of cars with blown engine which we don't.

 

[mrgund]

I think i'm ok with mine for the minute as it's creeping up to 25k but out of curiosity how much is the cam belt change on average? Is it an expensive job? ........

 

[mattih5]

I've been looking around at costs to replace mine and everyone has said main dealers would charge between 600 and 900, taking it to a normal garage you would get it done cheaper.

 

[edde]

I think i'm ok with mine for the minute as it's creeping up to 25k but out of curiosity how much is the cam belt change on average? Is it an expensive job? ........

5.1 hours officaily and the belts are £130 or so

I've been looking around at costs to replace mine and everyone has said main dealers would charge between 600 and 900, taking it to a normal garage you would get it done cheaper.

You need to talk to a garaeg who has the right tools and done them before as to amny garages even very good ones have messed up before now.

 

[roders990]

my car is 51 plate with 43k on the clock, has not had cambelt changed and it is booked in for wednesday, i know it should be every 5 years but the milage is low for the car but i have heard dogy sounds from the engine lately so im not driving it untill it is fixed. i agree that clios are good cars just need to be well looked after not someone expecting a modern car to look after themselves and last 2 years without any service or checks...

 

[edde]

my car is 51 plate with 43k on the clock, has not had cambelt changed and it is booked in for wednesday, i know it should be every 5 years but the milage is low for the car but i have heard dogy sounds from the engine lately so im not driving it untill it is fixed. i agree that clios are good cars just need to be well looked after not someone expecting a modern car to look after themselves and last 2 years without any service or checks...

Milage isn't the problem they crack with ages as well.

 

[Gaz_]

To be fair to him, surely renault should say cambelt after 4 years or 60k miles, as 4 months over and it snaps is a tad tight on time. If they go bang on 5 years or so then theres going to be some slack, some will go just before. I think lowering the time interval would be safer tbh

4 months to get it changed is long enough. Someone tells me to come into work a 9, i either get there before or bang on time, not 9.40.

Gambled and lost. lesson learned.

Spot on!

My cup had it chaged at 3.5 yrs @ 50k, its not worth the gamble...... the whole thread is bollox..... Its this simple....... Its 72k or 5yrs, yours was over that interval, unlucky. If i owned your car it would have been done last year, and then some!