Clio 172 Engine Out

[ethan290300]

Hi chaps,

My missus' 172 that we just bought is due for its belts to be done as well as the dephaser and water pump, from what I've read, it's easier to do the belts by taking the engine out. Has anyone got any tips for taking out the engine for the belts? Would it be easier to take it out of the top or bottom of the bay?

Also, if anyone could point me to a guide I'd be really grateful or could write me out a guide?

Cheers CS 🤗

 

[Brigsy]

No need to take engine out for belt swap.

 

[ethan290300]

No need to take engine out for belt swap.

I've heard there just isnt enough room in there to do it without taking the lump out, be ideal if I could do it with the engine still in

 

[Ol’ Tarby]

I've heard there just isnt enough room in there to do it without taking the lump out, be ideal if I could do it with the engine still in

It can be done, as that's how everyone else does it. Unless they already have the engine out for other reasons

 

[ethan290300]

It can be done, as that's how everyone else does it. Unless they already have the engine out for other reasons

Okay fair enough, I'll have a go when I get some time doing it with the engine still in as obviously itll save a fair bit of time

 

[JamesBryan]

It is easier with the engine out, but only when it's out for other reasons like @Old Tarby! said.

Otherwise you'd have to remove a lot of stuff just to get it out, power steering lines and all sorts.

 

[ethan290300]

It is easier with the engine out, but only when it's out for other reasons like @Old Tarby! said.

Otherwise you'd have to remove a lot of stuff just to get it out, power steering lines and all sorts.

Thanks for the info guys, weve got a fair bit of time because the car doesnt need to be running till june so might as well just leave the engine in considering it's possible to 👍🏻

 

[Ol’ Tarby]

Thanks for the info guys, weve got a fair bit of time because the car doesnt need to be running till june so might as well just leave the engine in considering it's possible to 👍🏻

I think I've read you have to just drop or raise the engine on the driver's side to gain a bit more access.
Do a search on here mate, there will be shed loads of info about it, it'll just take some trawling.
Stick "cambelt" in the search bar and tick thread title only. Should give you loads of reading material

 

[TheEvilGiraffe]

Engine doesn't need to come out, as per above.

Do your homework carefully though as the easiest thing about doing the belts is the making an error and trashing the engine part.

If you're vaugely handy, have all the right tools (the Renault specific timing tools I mean, of course..) and are 100% sure you've got the method down, crack on.

If you're looking to save a few quid DIYing it, consider the time, effort and money involved in sourcing and then putting another engine in if it goes wrong, compared to the ~£400 of labour at a specialist you saved yourself.

 

[ethan290300]

Engine doesn't need to come out, as per above.

Do your homework carefully though as the easiest thing about doing the belts is the making an error and trashing the engine part.

If you're vaugely handy, have all the right tools (the Renault specific timing tools I mean, of course..) and are 100% sure you've got the method down, crack on.

If you're looking to save a few quid DIYing it, consider the time, effort and money involved in sourcing and then putting another engine in if it goes wrong, compared to the ~£400 of labour at a specialist you saved yourself.

Yeah I've considered if I screw the engine I'll just stick a new lump in it, but I know all about the correct timing tools, I'll be getting access to those no trouble, I'll take my time of course and think everything through. Just fancy having a go myself as the biggest job I've done on a car so far would probably be changing suspension components

 

[botfch]

Few videos on yt of how to do it.

If you have access to genuine tools and plenty of time then it’s worth a bash.

 

[Brigsy]

I've heard there just isnt enough room in there to do it without taking the lump out, be ideal if I could do it with the engine still in

Plenty of room to do the belts in situ. I wouldnt take the engine out unless it goes bang, most/if not all jobs can be done with it fitted

 

[MonkeyKnifeFight]

How do people lock the flywheel with the engine in place?

 

[Crayola]

How do people lock the flywheel with the engine in place?

Lock the crank by removing the bolt on the front of the block and pinning it

 

[JamesBryan]

How do people lock the flywheel with the engine in place?

Lock the crank by removing the bolt on the front of the block and pinning it

This.

You're not meant to officially torque the crank bolt up with the crank still pinned, but the genuine pin tool seems to cope with it.

 

[Crayola]

This.

You're not meant to officially torque the crank bolt up with the crank still pinned, but the genuine pin tool seems to cope with it.

Yeah the official way is FT, 1/2 turn and then 144 ugga duggas with red, green and blue loctite 😂

 

[MonkeyKnifeFight]

This.

You're not meant to officially torque the crank bolt up with the crank still pinned, but the genuine pin tool seems to cope with it.

Yea indeed! was interested to see how people get round the problem. Not a fan of torquing the crank bolt with the pin in given that the crank seems to have a couple of degrees play in whilst pinned. Worryingly the book method is to apparently jam a screw driver into the flywheel through a gap in the bell housing! I ended up using this method as I didn't trust the pin.. Both seem like pretty s**t options given the level of accuracy needed to do the job right.

I found the timing process to be far more accurate with the engine out and the gearbox off. But I guess it depends on whether you want the job to take an afternoon or a weekend.

 

[Crayola]

Yea indeed! was interested to see how people get round the problem. Not a fan of torquing the crank bolt with the pin in given that the crank seems to have a couple of degrees play in whilst pinned. Worryingly the book method is to apparently jam a screw driver into the flywheel through a gap in the bell housing! I ended up using this method as I didn't trust the pin.. Both seem like pretty s**t options given the level of accuracy needed to do the job right.

I found the timing process to be far more accurate with the engine out and the gearbox off. But I guess it depends on whether you want the job to take an afternoon or a weekend.

You can buy a proper fir tree style locking tool for the flywheel

You unbolt the crank sensor and it bolts in there and the teeth engage on the crank. Even that tool is garbage because its sintered shite and just breaks after the first 2 uses

 

[hipwell]

I was under the impression that the genuine Renault locking pin deals with it no problem, but I think id jam the fly with a big screwdriver and keep the load on the screwdriver but keep the pin in place to keep the timing in the correct position

 

[ethan290300]

Thanks a lot all, you've all be really helpful, gonna give it a go when it warms up a little 😂

 

[Brigsy]

Use a high powered impact driver to undo the crank pulley bolt when locked up on genuine tdc pin, it will fly off no issues. My dewalt 899p2 cracks them off no problem at all.

Genuine pin will be fine when torquing the crank pulley bolt up too.

 

[welshname]

As others have said, I've had zero issues with the GENUINE pin.

On the tensioner pulley do NOT piss around with it before putting it on. I know it says it on the box but I've had to replace one after spinning it around whilst bored at work after the parts had been delivered. Had to buy a replacement for it.

Tensioner is also something people get wrong really easily so one to pay close attention to when reading the manual which I'm sure @JamesBryan will supply if asked nicely enough.

 

[Crayola]

And replace the TDC locking bolt in the front of the block with something caphead or hex head. That female torx bolt is a right cowbag to undo when shaved chimps have previously rounded it to within an inch of its life!

 

[ethan290300]

As others have said, I've had zero issues with the GENUINE pin.

On the tensioner pulley do NOT piss around with it before putting it on. I know it says it on the box but I've had to replace one after spinning it around whilst bored at work after the parts had been delivered. Had to buy a replacement for it.

Tensioner is also something people get wrong really easily so one to pay close attention to when reading the manual which I'm sure @JamesBryan will supply if asked nicely enough.

If I could get a manual that would be great but think I've got a good idea of what I'm doing so far, just need to buy the renault timing tools

 

[JamesBryan]

If I could get a manual that would be great but think I've got a good idea of what I'm doing so far, just need to buy the renault timing tools

 

[ethan290300]

you're a legend mate, thanks so much.

just need to source some genuine timing tools because i don't trust the patent parts for locking off, as im not taking the lump out i cant lock the fly off separately but only through the crank hole at the side, so gonna need a gen one haha

 

[botfch]

you're a legend mate, thanks so much.

just need to source some genuine timing tools because i don't trust the patent parts for locking off, as im not taking the lump out i cant lock the fly off separately but only through the crank hole at the side, so gonna need a gen one haha

Puremotor sport do a decent set but they are a bit pricey.

 

[ethan290300]

Puremotor sport do a decent set but they are a bit pricey.

yeah this is the trouble, the engine in question that we are doing the belts on is on 112k so if im honest stuff like the dephaser i dont know whether to bother with because of the expense of it, its a 2002 engine with high mileage so idk whether to leave it, it doesnt rattle at all and the VVT works a charm and pulls well, might just do belts, tensioner, water pump and idlers to keep cost down, she bought the car for 1200 quid recently so doesnt have that much value either.

 

[ethan290300]

Puremotor sport do a decent set but they are a bit pricey.

thats why i dont fancy paying 150 quid for tools that we will probs only use once or twice, might get a few more uses out of it when i get a 250 meg next year

 

[hipwell]

thats why i dont fancy paying 150 quid for tools that we will probs only use once or twice, might get a few more uses out of it when i get a 250 meg next year

Could always sell them on when your done. I bet somebody would pay 100 for a set of genuine tools.

Think I paid 145 from rpd and sold them to my mate for 60 quid, but that was a mates rate

 

[Davyboy888]

Anyone got a genuine Renault set of timing tools for sale ? I'm interested in buying them.