F.A.O all 1*2 owners.

[mij29]

Now then, there has been a few threads flying around latley about how important it is to get the cambelt changed after 5yrs or 72k,(good advice)to which i acted on promtley after my car became 5yrs old. That been two weeks ago and costing £345 i thought i have at least 2years trouble free motoring, apart from general wear and tear, lasting me untill i got rid. So imangine how pissed off i was this morning when i was going to work when my Aux/belt snapped and has some how knocked my timing out resulting in the exact same out come as my cambelt breaking. I.e lost compresson on one piston and bent some valves. Had to be towed to work by the AA. He told me it would cost between £600-£800. Two weeks after spending £345 on the cambelt to stop this happening.
Now i havent seen or read any threads on how important it is to get the Aux belt done but in mt experience it's pretty f**king important.
I don't know if i'm the most unlucky b*****d on the planet or this is comon if the aux/belt goes but i can tell you this. When this job has been done that money pit on wheels is been fucked straight off and a french car will never cross the threashold of my driveway again!
The only other car i have owened that has give me this much trouble was a R19 16v and i said then that i would never have a Reno again. Well it's cost me big time not sticking to my word.
So all i can say is to all my fellow CS drivers is the Aux/belt seems just as important to replace as the cambelt.

Mark. :dapprove: :dapprove: :dapprove:

 

[172blue]

Which makes it even more ironic that Renault dealers don't even know that 1*2's need the aux belt done at 36k !!!!

 

[DrR]

Owned, pretty sure every thread on here says do the aux as well?

 

[172blue]

By any chance was it serviced for it's 36K at renault, and the belt was'nt replaced? If so they could be picking up the tab.....maybe after a bit of court threatening!

 

[Munson]

Which makes it even more ironic that Renault dealers don't even know that 1*2's need the aux belt done at 36k !!!!

Indeed

 

[BrianR]

I can appreciate your not happy, nor would I be. but every time the subject of cam-belts come up on here, Fred, Edde and others always say the same thing as I have read in maintenance manuals,
IE: It is false economy not to change the aux belt and tensioner at the same time.

I would say whoever did the job for you was at least, "silly" not to tell you that.

as an aside, its not just Renault that suffer from this problem, most modern cars have toothed belt drive.

If you don't want another car with one, start looking for a BMW or Porsche.

 

[172blue]

I can appreciate your not happy, nor would I be. but every time the subject of cam-belts come up on here, Fred, Edde and others always say the same thing as I have read in maintenance manuals,
IE: It is false economy not to change the aux belt and tensioner at the same time.

I would say whoever did the job for you was at least, "silly" not to tell you that.

as an aside, its not just Renault that suffer from this problem, most modern cars have toothed belt drive.

If you don't want another car with one, start looking for a BMW or Porsche.

Brian, is this true the other way around, i.e of doing the aux belt without cam belt? Sorry to hijack thread.

 

[BrianR]

I can appreciate your not happy, nor would I be. but every time the subject of cam-belts come up on here, Fred, Edde and others always say the same thing as I have read in maintenance manuals,
IE: It is false economy not to change the aux belt and tensioner at the same time.

I would say whoever did the job for you was at least, "silly" not to tell you that.

as an aside, its not just Renault that suffer from this problem, most modern cars have toothed belt drive.

If you don't want another car with one, start looking for a BMW or Porsche.

Brian, is this true the other way around, i.e of doing the aux belt without cam belt? Sorry to hijack thread.

I think the answer has to be yes.

Its the time and labour to get at them that makes up the bulk of the cost, the belts and tensioner are relatively inexpensive components.

 

[msa197]

By any chance was it serviced for it's 36K at renault, and the belt was'nt replaced? If so they could be picking up the tab.....maybe after a bit of court threatening!

It does say in their sevice booklet, that the aux belt needs changing.

You need to look at the notes at the bottom of the page, (note 7) iirc.

 

[howie p]

not a mechanic but i believe, the aux belt must be taken off to change to cambelt. therefore it makes sense to put a new one one anyway (esp for the £10-£20 it costs for the belt).

the aux belt every 3 years
cambelt evey 5 years

sure someone will confirm this?!

 

[mij29]

Well i must not logg on to cliosport often enough, because i haven't seen Aux/belts mentioned. The car is 5yrs old and has done 28k so not reached the recommended 36k but i don't now if it was done at 3yrs old cause i have only had it a year.
I didn't have it done at reno and yes the Aux/belt has to come off to do the cambelt.
I never give the Aux/belt a thought when having the cambelt done, didn't know it was so important or i would have. I'm hoping the garage will take some responsibility.
The AA mechanic seemed to think the tensioner had been fitted to tight.

 

[172blue]

I am confused....

36k service at Rentech with aux belt is £250, add cambelt and it is £590, so surely they can't be near each other following strip down or one of two things would need to happen, either the aux belt and service is more than £250, or the cambelt addition is not worth extra £340??

Anyone?

 

[bmh.01]

Renault say not to refit cam/aux belts once they've been tensioned/fitted as well, the removal and refitting of the old aux belt may have contributed to it.

 

[alexbleubolt]

thats what happens when you pay too cheap for work, and the place probably hasn't done any clio 172's b4 ?

 

[172blue]

I am confused....

36k service at Rentech with aux belt is £250, add cambelt and it is £590, so surely they can't be near each other following strip down or one of two things would need to happen, either the aux belt and service is more than £250, or the cambelt addition is not worth extra £340??

Anyone?

Bumpo

 

[mij29]

thats what happens when you pay too cheap for work, and the place probably hasn't done any clio 172's b4 ?

Ive seen a trophy on there befor but i couldn't tell ya what it had done.

 

[bmh.01]

I am confused....

36k service at Rentech with aux belt is £250, add cambelt and it is £590, so surely they can't be near each other following strip down or one of two things would need to happen, either the aux belt and service is more than £250, or the cambelt addition is not worth extra £340??

Anyone?

Bumpo

Lost me with that one, aux belt and cambelt are right next to each other and the aux belt needs to come off the the cambelt. Cambelt is a fair bit more work though if thats what your getting at.

 

[mij29]

thats what happens when you pay too cheap for work, and the place probably hasn't done any clio 172's b4 ?

£345 is hardley cheap and they used gen parts. Should have had the Aux/belt done at the same time but i bet if it was on any other car the Aux/belt wouldn't have caused as much damage. What does that belt run? I know the alternator is one but what else?
Can't understand how it can cause so much damage.
Is thier a sheild between the belts?

 

[cleo]

Which makes it even more ironic that Renault dealers don't even know that 1*2's need the aux belt done at 36k !!!!

True I even went down with my manual which stated the aux belt needed doing on the 36K service, Noo they said, whole bumper off job which they said would cost alot more an take 5 hours plus to do, they said just do it when you have your cambelt done.

 

[bmh.01]

thats what happens when you pay too cheap for work, and the place probably hasn't done any clio 172's b4 ?

£345 is hardley cheap and they used gen parts. Should have had the Aux/belt done at the same time but i bet if it was on any other car the Aux/belt wouldn't have caused as much damage. What does that belt run? I know the alternator is one but what else?
Can't understand how it can cause so much damage.
Is thier a sheild between the belts?

I definetly would have had the aux belt/tensioners changed if I was having the cambelt done, it should have been done as I said above that the belts aren't meant to be retensioned.

The aux belt runs the PAS Pump, Alternator, Air Con Compressor and the Engine Water Pump, the trouble is that when they snap they tend to take the cambelt with them as has happened here. Hence why renault dropped the aux belt interval from 72k to 36k.

This isn't really a "it's happened because its a renault" thing tbh. It could've happened with plenty of other cars, at the end of the day the service schedule hasn't been followed.

 

[jooliona]

^^ service history also appears to be lacking somewhat?

i'm afraid you have merely been a victim of your own ignorance and your garage's incompetence. anybody with a brain knows that if you remove or loosen any tension belt you should replace it with new.

 

[davebem]

The garage that done it should have reccomended to you the aux belt will need changing, its only £16 from Renault and the tensioner on it is £44.

 

[gav182]

I don t agree with that , there should be no reason to change belt just because it s been off . Yes change it at recommended interval . As said before Renault must have had problems with belt as most other manufacturers have a lot longer intervals , i know most Landrovers have them changed at 96k .

 

[gav182]

It would of made sense to change while it was off though.

 

[172cupwizard]

thats what happens when you pay too cheap for work, and the place probably hasn't done any clio 172's b4 ?

£345 is hardley cheap and they used gen parts. Should have had the Aux/belt done at the same time but i bet if it was on any other car the Aux/belt wouldn't have caused as much damage. What does that belt run? I know the alternator is one but what else?
Can't understand how it can cause so much damage.
Is thier a sheild between the belts?

345 is cheap mate! its normally about 700 at renault garage!

 

[John D]

Which makes it even more ironic that Renault dealers don't even know that 1*2's need the aux belt done at 36k !!!!

Indeed

Yes indeed

I found that out to my cost recently (not the a belt letting go luckily but time, inconvenience and a little money)

The previous owner had the 36k done by a Renault dealer and they did'nt do the aux belt. Found out when I rang the dealer up. Numpties did'nt seem to get it when I pointed out the mistake either. Complete piss take IMO how often Renault fail to service their own cars properly.

 

[jooliona]

I don t agree with that , there should be no reason to change belt just because it s been off ..

apparently there is - http://www.aa1car.com/library/ar594.htm

"The risks are too great to reuse a belt even if it looks good because you can't judge a belt's true condition by external appearances alone... a belt that looks good as new on the outside may be dangerously weakened inside and on the verge of failure. So always replace the belt with a new one, and be sure to inspect the alignment and condition of the pulleys"

clarkiev6 would back me up on this i'm sure. it's something about releasing the tension and then re-tightening it that causes problems. my personal opinion is that for the sake of £20 or so to replace it is much preferable to a mashed engine.

 

[mij29]

^^ service history also appears to be lacking somewhat?

i'm afraid you have merely been a victim of your own ignorance and your garage's incompetence. anybody with a brain knows that if you remove or loosen any tension belt you should replace it with new.

Maybe thae garages incompetence but i don't know about my own ignorance.
I'm not a mechanic and i have never claimed to be. They should of advised me to have the Aux/belt done and then i would have.
After learning what i have after posting this thread i may have a case of gettin this repaired for nothing or at least share the cost. Even though the Aux/belt is missing how do they know which belt came off 1st?

 

[mij29]

It would of made sense to change while it was off though.

I would have had it done if i'd known hw important it was. I thought the cambelt was most important, thought if the Aux went it was just a case of battery not charging and few other things not working. Didn't know it would smash my engine to bits. Fook me i can remember back in the day, my mates belt going on a car he had (can't remember what it was now) but he knocked on someones door and ask them if they had any old tights to use just to get him home....and it did! No chance of that nowadays.:S

 

[davebem]

^Was it a vw beetle?

 

[jooliona]

^^ service history also appears to be lacking somewhat?

i'm afraid you have merely been a victim of your own ignorance and your garage's incompetence. anybody with a brain knows that if you remove or loosen any tension belt you should replace it with new.

Maybe thae garages incompetence but i don't know about my own ignorance.
I'm not a mechanic and i have never claimed to be.

That's exactly my point. I'm not trying to insult you, but you were clearly ignorant (ie. lacking knowledge, see below) of the service history of this car regarding whether the aux belt had ever been renewed during it's 5 year life. Besides the fact that if the belt is taken off it shouldn't be put back on, as previously posted by edde several times on this forum. Use the Search tab. If you don't take an active interest in your car's maintenance then who should?

Anyway good luck with the repairs...!

http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/ignorant

 

[Sib]

Well I'll be getting my aux belt done pretty quickly me thinks

 

[gav182]

The bit that s quoted from is regarding timing belts . The part that failed was the aux belt .

 

[mij29]

^Was it a vw beetle?

Think it was either a Escort mk11 or a Chevette< not sure how to spell it!

He has had that many cars i can't remember which one it was.

 

[mij29]

The bit that s quoted from is regarding timing belts . The part that failed was the aux belt .

I'm hoping they will take some blame for it, the mechanic is away till next week so i still don't know the full extent of the damage. Maybe the cambelt came of 1st then threw the Aux/belt off, lets hope. Then i will be covered. At the end of the day its thier balls up for not recomending the aux/belt to be changed. I gave them the service book to stamp so they should have noticed if it had been done or not. I never looked and even if i had i wouldn't have thought to get it done because i didn't know that it was a 5hr job and i didn't know what damage it could have done. i have never heard anyone else say they have had to have a engine rebuild because the aux/belt has snapped, cambelt yes, it's well known, but not aux/belt.

 

[Jay Payne]

my two pence:

Never refit and old belt, cambelt or aux belt.
£345 is cheep, i paid over £200 quid for the parts alone, with trade discount and its a long job.
Older cars had very small belts that ran very few things hence the well known tights temporary repair. you have a hard job even seeing aux belts on most modern cars....

 

[darren_rallye]

You can't say French cars are crap because a rubber (?) belt snapped. I'm sure even a German or Jap rubber could snap

 

[mij29]

They charged me £194 labour, the rest was parts. wish i had known about the aux/belt.

TITS!

 

[BrianR]

The bit that s quoted from is regarding timing belts . The part that failed was the aux belt .

I'm hoping they will take some blame for it, the mechanic is away till next week so i still don't know the full extent of the damage. Maybe the cambelt came of 1st then threw the Aux/belt off, lets hope. Then i will be covered. At the end of the day its thier balls up for not recomending the aux/belt to be changed. I gave them the service book to stamp so they should have noticed if it had been done or not. I never looked and even if i had i wouldn't have thought to get it done because i didn't know that it was a 5hr job and i didn't know what damage it could have done. i have never heard anyone else say they have had to have a engine rebuild because the aux/belt has snapped, cambelt yes, it's well known, but not aux/belt.

Have a read,

http://www.cliosport.net/forum/search.php?searchid=1367599

 

[mij29]

You can't say French cars are crap because a rubber (?) belt snapped. I'm sure even a German or Jap rubber could snap

Think japs have timing chains or at least some do.