Dephaser - how much / is any play acceptable?

[levaz]

Hi Guys,
I'm hoping one of the engine guru's can give me a little advice.

Car is currently in bits as it's midway through a belt change in my garage. (don't worry, I have ALL of the proper Renault tools)
I've got belts, camshaft caps, tensioners, idlers and cam seals, basically everything except a dephaser as it sounded fine and I was working to a budget.

I've sorted the timing, as it was 2 teeth out! but I've noticed that the dephaser has some play in it on the camshaft.

It's minimal, like 1-2 degrees at most. Is this normal? or should it be locked solid like the exhaust side?
I don't want to fit the new belts and bolt it all up to find I need to pull it all apart again to change the dephaser.

timescale isn't an issue as I have another car to use whilst this is being sorted, but I would like to get it back on 4 wheels!

 

[Snake182]

If the car has a relatively high mileage and you don't know the service history of the car (oil + filter changes) then id be changing it (as it has play in it), especially if its a car your going to be keeping for a while.

Its basically a gamble if you leave it. A worn dephaser will slightly affect the timing, and has been proven to affect power quite considerably.

If you do decide to change the dephaser make sure you renew the oil and filter as well, and use new pulley fixings (i.e bolts) and make sure the surfaces are free from oil/dirt, as there is no keyway on the camshaft/pulley it relies on pressure/grip of the pulley bolt to stop it spinning.

 

[levaz]

the car is on 49,000, the belts were last changed at 38k, but the car has been sat for 3 years (in my ownership) the main reason for the belt change was due to them not being used for so long, and a leaking cam seal getting oil on the belts.

oil and filters were changed 3 months back.
new bolts goes without saying really.

Once the oil leak is sorted, the car will be going up for sale.

 

[Diagro]

Wow low miles on that one.

Replace the dephaser mate, it's 100 odd quid and if you don't the person who buys it will have a 700 quid bill to replace it lol

 

[Snake182]

the car is on 49,000, the belts were last changed at 38k, but the car has been sat for 3 years (in my ownership) the main reason for the belt change was due to them not being used for so long, and a leaking cam seal getting oil on the belts.

oil and filters were changed 3 months back.
new bolts goes without saying really.


Once the oil leak is sorted, the car will be going up for sale.

Just play it safe and fit a new pulley then, saves aggro in the future. You would be surprised how many people re-use the old pulley bolts so was just making sure

 

[Coops Mk1]

defo change it if your selling, low miler with everything just done should sell well

if you don't replace it, but list it with belts done it'll get questioned why when you sell

 

[levaz]

Wow low miles on that one.

Replace the dephaser mate, it's 100 odd quid and if you don't the person who buys it will have a 700 quid bill to replace it lol

It's been the 3rd car for a while, I bought it for abit of fun, then life got in the way, mortgage etc. plus it needed a few bits for MOT, so it kinda go forgotten about until now.
Only had it back on the road for around a month, but wanted the belts done for piece of mind. Plus it'll sell better with 2 months mot and 6 months tax.

Just play it safe and fit a new pulley then, saves aggro in the future. You would be surprised how many people re-use the old pulley bolts so was just making sure

yea, I know what you mean, get new bolts in the seal kit, so no excuse not to use them.

defo change it if your selling, low miler with everything just done should sell well

if you don't replace it, but list it with belts done it'll get questioned why when you sell

this is true, but it'll also get questioned as to who did the belts etc. and all the usual flaming associated with it not being a specialist.

 

[MicKPM]

Any movement... replace it

 

[George@RTR_Parts]

I'd be changing it while you are at it mate, may aswel imo. It will be a be a selling point all belts and dephaser just changed with correct looking tools

 

[levaz]

Any movement... replace it

that answers it then!

just to be 100%, this is movement on the shaft, not within the pulley itself.......

 

[Chip-mk1]

Often low mileage cars have spent a lot of time idling when the dephasor isnt locked out by oil pressure so are more likely to be worn out than higher miles cars which are less likely to have spent ages idling in traffic.

A car that has spent ages sat in traffic will record few miles but do loads of engine wear, this is the thing so many people miss, low miles is only a good thing if the car has been used rarely and for longish journeys, if its a reflection of it sitting in traffic lots in short journeys it will probably have a less healthy engine than the average high miler.

 

[Ryanj]

Would be silly not to mate, for the sake of £100 or so a prospective buyer may try to knock a few hundred off the price without it done

 

[levaz]

that makes sense, biggest contributor to the low mileage is the fact its been parked for nearly 4 years (last tax disc ran out oct 2010)

Just had a quote from Renault Wolverhampton on a new pulley.
Feels like im throwing money at a car I'm about to sell.

 

[MicKPM]

If you can move the pulley without the camshaft altering position it is fucked... bin it off for a new one

 

[levaz]

Thanks Mick.

That's the most definitive answer I've had.