changing cambelt

[105e]

Five years since cambelt last done so thought I should get it changed. Couldn't justify paying someone or afford to really, so decided to have a go myself. Not a novice have done other cars, but this is ridiculous, haven't even started on the belt yet, got bits all over the place, no room in the bay to work. Wish I had just drove it till the belt broke and then arranged for the scrap man to collect it from the side of the road

 

[Mr R.]

Flol they aren't that bad.

Im doing mine for the 2nd time in 4 year's of ownership.
Although ive had the head off for porting and fitted cams.

I take it you have removed the front bumper ect?

 

[JAMason]

Hahaha. It's a job for the experts pal! This is why it's so bloody expensive. Mine is due in 6k and I'm starting to buy all the parts now ready to have it seen to when the time comes. I've read so many threads like this and that's why I'm taking it to the pros, I'm normally ok with the spanners but don't fancy the headache that comes with this one. £600 well spent if you ask me.

Jack

 

[105e]

Yeah bumpers of, arch liner, inlet manifold, headlight, top cambelt cover, just trying to remove the bottom one.

 

[Mr R.]

Hahaha. It's a job for the experts pal! This is why it's so bloody expensive. Mine is due in 6k and I'm starting to buy all the parts now ready to have it seen to when the time comes. I've read so many threads like this and that's why I'm taking it to the pros, I'm normally ok with the spanners but don't fancy the headache that comes with this one. £600 well spent if you ask me.

Jack

I don't know of any specialist that will fit part's that they have not supplied.

You may need to call the company that's going to do yous and ask matey.

 

[Chi]

Hahaha. It's a job for the experts pal! This is why it's so bloody expensive. Mine is due in 6k and I'm starting to buy all the parts now ready to have it seen to when the time comes. I've read so many threads like this and that's why I'm taking it to the pros, I'm normally ok with the spanners but don't fancy the headache that comes with this one. £600 well spent if you ask me.

Jack

I know a couple of places that will fit your bits mate.

 

[JAMason]

I don't know of any specialist that will fit part's that they have not supplied.

You may need to call the company that's going to do yous and ask matey.

One step ahead of you on that one pal. Getting my parts direct from Renault Wolverhampton on here and taking it to MGE Renault Specialists near Kingswinford. They are happy to fit the parts if they are Renault parts. Also Birchdown have said they will fit them and charge me labour but won't offer a warranty on their work... Little bit uneasy about that one, although I don't know if that justified or not. I only hear good things about their work so can't see it being a problem really.

I know a couple of places that will fit your bits mate.

ways open to other suggestions though... I'm based in the North West but have family in the midlands so will be happy to go back there...


Jack

 

[Mr R.]

Oh that's cool then.

 

[105e]

An hour later and I just cannot get a spanner on one of the bolts on the bottom cover.

 

[Mr R.]

I take it the top engine mount is off so you can jack the engine up or down?

 

[Chip-mk1]

One step ahead of you on that one pal. Getting my parts direct from Renault Wolverhampton on here and taking it to MGE Renault Specialists near Kingswinford. They are happy to fit the parts if they are Renault parts. Also Birchdown have said they will fit them and charge me labour but won't offer a warranty on their work... Little bit uneasy about that one, although I don't know if that justified or not. I only hear good things about their work so can't see it being a problem really.

When they supply the parts, they make a margin on the parts.
If the parts are faulty, the margin helps cover warranty claims.

If you instead source your own parts and just pay them to fit them, then I dont see why they should warranty it?

If they actually make a mistake on the labour itself, and you can prove it, then warranty or not makes no difference, you can still claim against them.

 

[105e]

I take it the top engine mount is off so you can jack the engine up or down?

Yeah, mount is completely of, as are all the aircon pipes (didnt work anyway and I plan to fit the pure delete kit) Finally got the bolt out but I did take my frustation out on the wing, ( another wing now required, better than the windscreen)

 

[MicKPM]

What, how did you manage to break the wing doing this job? LoLz

 

[jon_r]

Jeepers. Just jack the engine up higher.

 

[Chip-mk1]

What, how did you manage to break the wing doing this job? LoLz

Sounds like he had a trantrum and broke it hitting it or something, rather than actually as part of the job?

 

[105e]

What, how did you manage to break the wing doing this job? LoLz

Whacked it with a hammer. Think its now time to just shut the bonnet, send the tax back and let it rot, totally fed up with it.

 

[JAMason]

When they supply the parts, they make a margin on the parts.
If the parts are faulty, the margin helps cover warranty claims.

If you instead source your own parts and just pay them to fit them, then I dont see why they should warranty it?

If they actually make a mistake on the labour itself, and you can prove it, then warranty or not makes no difference, you can still claim against them.

How would you prove it though?! Unless it was times up wrong, and that would be obvious from the moment you started it! If the belt failed due to their work, they would just blame the parts to get out of it!

Once I have all the bits I need I will see who offers the best labour rates. I think Birchdown was £180 plus VAT with no parts warranty and MGE was £230 all in and if the parts were genuine Renault items they warranted them.

Jack

 

[jon_r]

Why not just keep the cash for parts a side and save up? You could take it to anyone then.

 

[JAMason]

Whacked it with a hammer. Think its now time to just shut the bonnet, send the tax back and let it rot, totally fed up with it.

£600 sounds like a bloody bargain now doesn't it pal!!!

 

[Chip-mk1]

How would you prove it though?!

With a huge amount of difficulty, hence no point them offering a warranty on just the labour and not the parts, you either need to warranty the whole job or there is no point offering anything at all?

 

[MicKPM]

How would you prove it though?! Unless it was times up wrong, and that would be obvious from the moment you started it! If the belt failed due to their work, they would just blame the parts to get out of it!

I've got one at the minute which I did the belts on and has apparently failed 1 day off the warranty expiration date waiting for me to deal with when I get back to the UK (though I'm suspicious of foul play/over-revving as the new owner has gone quiet since I mentioned I can test for over-revving electronically) and this is the reason why I only use genuine parts that I supply because if after i've inspected the vehicle find the fixings aren't to Renaults spec and my UV security markers don't line up then I know someone has been playing with my work so warranty void. There are other factors which need to be taken in to account also such as oil leaks to the belt area or something going through the belt run (Foreign Object Damage) which also invalidate the warranty because its not our fault but ultimately the cause of the failure. If though say a tensioner/idler bearing has failed then it's either a premature parts failure or something I did wrong such as over tension the belt (Not that this can be done as the tensioner has a marker to prevent this) and that will be between me and Renault UK to decide how to split the bill but the customer won't pay a penny.

Once I have all the bits I need I will see who offers the best labour rates. I think Birchdown was £180 plus VAT with no parts warranty and MGE was £230 all in and if the parts were genuine Renault items they warranted them.

First mistake you are making here is basing your decision on price. You really should go with the company most likely to stand by you in the event of something going wrong rather than the cheapest who will most likely dump you on your ass. That's not slating Birchdown by the way as those guys are really good at what they do but for the extra money i'd always recommend you buy the extra piece of mind.

 

[MartinR]

One step ahead of you on that one pal. Getting my parts direct from Renault Wolverhampton on here and taking it to MGE Renault Specialists near Kingswinford. They are happy to fit the parts if they are Renault parts. Also Birchdown have said they will fit them and charge me labour but won't offer a warranty on their work... Little bit uneasy about that one, although I don't know if that justified or not. I only hear good things about their work so can't see it being a problem really.



ways open to other suggestions though... I'm based in the North West but have family in the midlands so will be happy to go back there...


Jack

Total control racing in wednesbury is just round the corner from kingswinford and shall do a far more supirior job

Supply your own parts and they will fit. Or they can get them in for you.

www.totalcontrolracing.com

 

[Chip-mk1]

Total control racing in wednesbury is just round the corner from kingswinford and shall do a far more supirior job

Will they?
In what way out of interest will it be superior to what birchdown for example will do?

surely both will line the cams up the same, both will torque the bolts up the same, what is there to be superior really if the job is done properly in the first place?

 

[105e]

Right now ive cooled down a bit, one thing that I don't understand is what is the 3rd cogged wheel for that comes with the Renault tools, if someone could please explain.

 

[MicKPM]

Martin's got those responses on COPY/PASTE I think Chip... I swear he's on commision for TCR lol

105e - The additional cog is for different pulleys - Renault updated the tool so don't panick about it.

 

[MartinR]

Will they?
In what way out of interest will it be superior to what birchdown for example will do?

surely both will line the cams up the same, both will torque the bolts up the same, what is there to be superior really if the job is done properly in the first place?

Im on about mge not birchdown lol

Martin's got those responses on COPY/PASTE I think Chip... I swear he's on commision for TCR lol

105e - The additional cog is for different pulleys - Renault updated the tool so don't panick about it.

Comission! I wish lol.

Copy and paste yeh........?

 

[leeds_182]

Right now ive cooled down a bit, one thing that I don't understand is what is the 3rd cogged wheel for that comes with the Renault tools, if someone could please explain.

Pics of the hammer attacked wing?

 

[davo172]

Martin's got those responses on COPY/PASTE I think Chip... I swear he's on commision for TCR lol

@105e - The additional cog is for different pulleys - Renault updated the tool so don't panick about it.

Yes Martin ! how dare you come on here and reccomend a non cliospot trader to do work on a renaultsport !!
you MUST be on commision LOL

 

[105e]

@105e - The additional cog is for different pulleys - Renault updated the tool so don't panick about it.[/QUOTE]

Thank you.

 

[MartinR]

Yes Martin ! how dare you come on here and reccomend a non cliospot trader to do work on a renaultsport !!
you MUST be on commision LOL

Oooopps is that what it is??

I do apoligise

 

[Chi]

Yes how very dare you..

 

[Chip-mk1]

Yes Martin ! how dare you come on here and reccomend a non cliospot trader to do work on a renaultsport !!
you MUST be on commision LOL

I dont think anyone minds recomendations do they?

Its just the claims that they can do superior work on something as routine as a cambelt which any specialist should be able to do correctly that made it read poorly IMHO.

 

[Midnight]

I dont think anyone minds recomendations do they?

Its just the claims that they can do superior work on something as routine as a cambelt which any specialist should be able to do correctly that made it read poorly IMHO.

Chip, you're wrong.

TCR is superior...

When you're on your way there and you're driving through Walsall. You get to see your old wheels which was stolen the last time you drove through Walsall lol.

Joking aside. I don't see many specialists with glass fronted, gold plated premises.

Being serious now, has the OP a picture of the damage?

 

[Chip-mk1]

Chip, you're wrong.

The only time I was ever wrong was when I thought I had made a mistake but I hadnt.

 

[105e]

There you go, although hitting it didn't do this, I saw once the front panel was removed that the front of the wing had been repaired previously, so I had no intention of leaving it on.

 

[Chi]

The only time I was ever wrong was when I thought I had made a mistake but I hadnt.

same here the time I thought I was wrong

 

[Mr R.]

Be a nice car once you've finished beating it up.

 

[JAMason]

Total control racing in wednesbury is just round the corner from kingswinford and shall do a far more supirior job

Supply your own parts and they will fit. Or they can get them in for you.

www.totalcontrolracing.com

cheers MartinR I will give them a call at the weekend and see what the crack is with my own parts being supplied. It's all "much of a muchness" when it comes to labour costs, everywhere seems to charge similar, I just want to find somewhere that I can trust to do the best job and support me if the belts or tensioners were to fail prematurely through no fault of my own.

MicKPM. Cheers for the post! I totally get where you are coming from. Price is a factor for me, that's why I'm buying my own parts through Renault Wolverhampton, every quote iv had from a garage has been inflated and then VAT added on top of that. At least if I get my own parts at £330 I know they are genuine and have some confidence in them.

 

[105e]

Be a nice car once you've finished beating it up.

Itll never be a nice car, but what can I replace it with for the money, probably worth £500 once/if I get it done but I wouldn't sell it for that, so I may as well keep it and modify it. All my cars get modified.

 

[Midnight]

cheers @MartinR I will give them a call at the weekend and see what the crack is with my own parts being supplied. It's all "much of a muchness" when it comes to labour costs, everywhere seems to charge similar, I just want to find somewhere that I can trust to do the best job and support me if the belts or tensioners were to fail prematurely through no fault of my own.

Without turning this thread into a TCR thread. Everytime I've been I've always supplied my own items bar gearbox oil. They was perfectly fine fitting the items. ( All items was genuine ).

On another note, also used BTM Performance and (Diamond) MicKPM. Both supplied me the parts and fitted at great prices. Wouldn't grieve me at all either of mentioned supplying and fitting said items.