Help please

[Tracker]

Hi
I have a 172 which has done 48,000 miles from new. Three years ago the cam belt broke. I replaced the cam belt, head and water pump. A year ago having covered less than 2,000 miles since replacement of parts, the cam belt broke! Aaaaaargh! I've spent the last year recovering
I have bought a hopefully good head. Would it be wise to replace the water pump again? The dephaser is I think the original one, and I don't think it was noisy. It is an expensive part, so should that be replaced? I will replace the fan belt, but should I replace the tensioner as well?
I know these are not really yes or no questions, so thank you for any advice.

 

[Goodj]

Water pump - May as well replace while you've got the thing apart
Dephaser - replace while the whole thing is apart to save later efort
tensioners - yes
belts - yes

basically, do the lot. If you're going to start scrimping on costs, it'll only bite you again later.

More correctly, given that last you changed the belt they didn't last 12 months, get someone else to do it. Belts on 172's aren't a simple job as far as I've read on here over the years

 

[H182]

Water pump won't need doing again if its only done 2k.

 

[Tracker]

Water pump - May as well replace while you've got the thing apart
Dephaser - replace while the whole thing is apart to save later efort
tensioners - yes
belts - yes

basically, do the lot. If you're going to start scrimping on costs, it'll only bite you again later.

More correctly, given that last you changed the belt they didn't last 12 months, get someone else to do it. Belts on 172's aren't a simple job as far as I've read on here over the years

Second belt broke 2 years after repair, and the mechanic is no longer in town! 😧
Are you sure that I'd be stupid not to replace the dephaser, as it's £100+!

 

[George@RTR_Parts]

Where abouts do you live, there are Renault Sport specialist Traders on here that will sort your car for you I'm sure

 

[Goodj]

Second belt broke 2 years after repair, and the mechanic is no longer in town! 😧
Are you sure that I'd be stupid not to replace the dephaser, as it's £100+!

It's not going to get any healthier or quieter.
Just get it done. I'm not sure what consequences there are if it fails entirely, or even if it can per se. However I doubt it'd be good.
Besides, £100 is, what, 2 tanks of fuel? You've bought a highly-strung version of what was a cheapo shopping hatch, some costs are going to be a lot higher.

 

[Tracker]

Yeah I know I'm whinging about the final £150 of expenditure ..... but ...... the job is already costing close to the car's value, so .......
Does anyone know the average life expectancy of the dephaser?
i.e. would I be stupid (whilst I have access to it) to not change it on a 48,000 mile example?

 

[Tracker]

Where abouts do you live, there are Renault Sport specialist Traders on here that will sort your car for you I'm sure

Thanks for your reply. What would be a fair labour figure to replace the head / fit belts and ancillaries, assuming no work needed on the head? I believe it to be about 12 hours work. Is this correct?

 

[Typhoon]

Without meaning to be rude mate, you're not taking the advice that it should be done so why are you continuing to ask although you've already made your mind up?

Don't get it done if you don't want. Simple as that.

 

[Bear Head]

Thanks for your reply. What would be a fair labour figure to replace the head / fit belts and ancillaries, assuming no work needed on the head? I believe it to be about 12 hours work. Is this correct?

Nearly every mechanic, especially specialist charges £40 ph.

12 x 40 is £480 in labour mate.

IMHO you'd have to be very stupid to not change the dephaser whenver doing the cambelt ever, and to be fair waterpump too just for piece of mind. All in my opinion mind but come on, whats a £150 dephaser? It's only £150 and means everything's new then.

 

[warwickstingray]

Gnats c**k of play in the dephaser and it needs replacing. The inside of a knackered dephaser usually has bits of metal missing where the vanes are located. Those bits can then be floating around your engine. An engine flush is wise if a dephaser is worn.

If the dephaser has zero play and the water pump is as smooth as silk I would personally leave them but only if I could successfully do the job myself. If I was forking out for a specialist I'd get it all done.

Piece of mind is worth £££'s. A properly done cambelt with proof should get some of your money back when you come to sell it.

 

[Bear Head]

Gnats c**k of play in the dephaser and it needs replacing. The inside of a knackered dephaser usually has bits of metal missing where the vanes are located. Those bits can then be floating around your engine. An engine flush is wise if a dephaser is worn.

If the dephaser has zero play and the water pump is as smooth as silk I would personally leave them but only if I could successfully do the job myself. If I was forking out for a specialist I'd get it all done.

Piece of mind is worth £££'s. A properly done cambelt with proof should get some of your money back when you come to sell it.

I just had my belts etc done 6 months early.

I felt a bit nervous and thought it's silly not enjoying owning the car when you're worrying about it popping on you.

Replaced the belts, pulleys, dephaser, pump and tensioners etc. Feels s**t good now knowing it's all sorted and I've got the trouble free motoring aspect back again.

It really isn't worth worrying about is it. Especially if the belts have gone already on the car I'd have thought you'd have been very cautious lol.

 

[warwickstingray]

I paid over the odds for my Cup which is hardly immaculate simply because it had had 2 grand spent on it by the previous owner which included all the usual suspects being done properly.

 

[Bear Head]

I paid over the odds for my Cup which is hardly immaculate simply because it had had 2 grand spent on it by the previous owner which included all the usual suspects being done properly.

Yeah. It's ever so important that these things are done properly and they are expensive! Having said that, any cars of a similar age and power all have similar maintenance costs.

 

[Cub.]

For clarity.

Replace the Dephaser.

Belts and tensioners aren't negotiable either.

Waterpump is upto you. I'd replace it. But that's because I like to do a job properly.

 

[Fletcher]

Yeah I know I'm whinging about the final £150 of expenditure ..... but ...... the job is already costing close to the car's value, so .......
Does anyone know the average life expectancy of the dephaser?
i.e. would I be stupid (whilst I have access to it) to not change it on a 48,000 mile example?

Hard to say, depends on lots of different factors. I got over 130k out of my dephaser but the car is very well looked after with regular oil changes etc. Like others have said get it changed!

 

[George@RTR_Parts]

Thanks for your reply. What would be a fair labour figure to replace the head / fit belts and ancillaries, assuming no work needed on the head? I believe it to be about 12 hours work. Is this correct?

No worries, if/when you become a member (well worth it btw) you will get full forum access including the Traders sections . You will then be able to see the prices the Specialists charge for the cambelt change etc, they have price break downs to add dephaser and water pump so you will be able to weigh options up. I personally replace them all while at it , then you know you're good for years/many miles

They'll look after you/your car and do the job right, so worth travelling to your closest one imo. Too many horror stories on here of miss-timed cars and you haven't had much luck yourself with yours so far

Hope you get sorted :up:

 

[Tracker]

No worries, if/when you become a member (well worth it btw) you will get full forum access including the Traders sections . You will then be able to see the prices the Specialists charge for the cambelt change etc, they have price break downs to add dephaser and water pump so you will be able to weigh options up. I personally replace them all while at it , then you know you're good for years/many miles

They'll look after you/your car and do the job right, so worth travelling to your closest one imo. Too many horror stories on here of miss-timed cars and you haven't had much luck yourself with yours so far

Hope you get sorted :up:

Yep, the dephaser will be changed. Thanks very much for all of the useful response

 

[Tracker]

Without meaning to be rude mate, you're not taking the advice that it should be done so why are you continuing to ask although you've already made your mind up?

Don't get it done if you don't want. Simple as that.

Brilliant! lol

 

[Bear Head]

Yep, the dephaser will be changed. Thanks very much for all of the useful response

Good man. Trust me it's so worth it pal. Aswell, if you were to sell it I doubt anyone would buy it if it hasn't been done just for piece of mind mate.

 

[Tracker]

Nearly every mechanic, especially specialist charges £40 ph.

12 x 40 is £480 in labour mate.

IMHO you'd have to be very stupid to not change the dephaser whenver doing the cambelt ever, and to be fair waterpump too just for piece of mind. All in my opinion mind but come on, whats a £150 dephaser? It's only £150 and means everything's new then.

Thanks. 12 hours about right?

 

[Bear Head]

Thanks. 12 hours about right?

I couldn't comment on the head, but my local specialist, whom I thoroughly recommend (DDC Doncaster) charged about 6 or 7 hours labour I think for the belts, Dephaser and waterpump doing for me. The full job.

I can't comment on the head but I can't imagine it's going to take more two to three hours so all in I'd say you're looking nearer to 10 hours maybe so between 380 - 450 I'd say in labour.

Chip or another specialist would be the best to ask here mate