My cambelt has snapped on the way to

[Buzz 44]

work this morning (clio 172 phase 1).Can anyone recommend a good renault specialist in the SW london area that can carry out the engine repairs and how much approx.will it cost.The car is an X reg, immaculate and only has 34000 on the clock and i've had it from new, so i'm gutted.If the repairs are going to be very expensive I might have to sell the car as a non runner.Has anyone any idea how much it would be worth? Sorry in advance for all these questions just trying to weigh up my options.:S

 

[BRUN]

has it had a cambelt before, they are due @ 5 years so its way overdue if it hasnt, not surprised it snapped

is Southampton far from you ?....RenTech are based there and are very good

 

[Buzz 44]

Just over a year ago i put it in my local mechanics to get them changed but I'm now suspicious that they didn't do it and just charged me.If I try to accuse them of this, it's very hard to prove.

 

[172bagss2]

Sorry to hear your news mate. Cash waiting here if you end up looking to flog it on as a non-runner...

 

[Buzz 44]

Cheers 172bagss2 how much would it be worth as a non-runner?

 

[172bagss2]

Dunno mate, defo not as much as you'd like it to be As is always the case with these things...

I'd look at prices to get it fixed - or prices to source a replacement engine and have it dropped in (although you will almost certainly not find an engine with such low mileage :dapprove.

Look at these options and if it's not looking appealing drop me a PM....

Good luck though - hopefully you will get it back on the road, one way or another...

 

[BRUN]

id imagine an 7/8 year old belt would look a lot different to a year old belt, make sure you have a look at it when it comes off

one of the technicians at work did a cambelt on a BMW he had, it was an M reg, and looking at the belt it looked quite possible it was the original belt lol

 

[Gumby]

You can get a replacement engine for about £600 quid

 

[Steviant]

R Sport in Wimbledon would probably be your closest place.

 

[JR]

i would give you 1k for it chap

 

[Buzz 44]

Cheers boys for your replies, i'll have a ring round for prices.Justin-172 might take you up on that if repairs are too dear.

 

[bmh.01]

Repairs I imagine will be circa £1500.

 

[Jamstar]

I worked for Renault afew year's back and when ever a sport came in with any internal problems eg snapped belt. They would replace the engine.

I would advise the same as you may find once you have removed the head there is even more damage inside.

Sorry Chap

 

[Buzz 44]

Just phoned rentech they want £200+vat to inspect the head, and £900 to replace the engine if I supply one.

 

[Buzz 44]

Rentech said its a 50/50 chance of just needing a new head or an engine.I don't know whether to chance it or sell it as it is.:S

 

[Alastair.]

lol i would get the head refurbed ie new valves, valve stem oil seals, skim it etc, fuk wasting ur time putting a new lump in. my mates cambelt snapped on his 1.6rsi a few months back, i decided 2 try a new belt first before taking the head off and 2 my suprise it ran perfect, no bent valves woop woop

 

[cat171]

id imagine an 7/8 year old belt would look a lot different to a year old belt, make sure you have a look at it when it comes off

+1

If the garage charged you for the belt change but didn't do it, sue them. To me there is no way a belt so new should have snapped.

 

[Buzz 44]

I'm gonna phone them on monday....but it's a hard one to prove.

 

[Christopher]

Unlucky

 

[cat171]

I'm gonna phone them on monday....but it's a hard one to prove.

I'd get it inspected by another garage, when it comes off you'll be able to see if it's new(ish) or not.
Imo if you let the garage who you took it to to have it done they'll just throw it away & tell you that they did the job when you first went there & that the belt must have bee faulty, or some rubbish.

I'd be very wary.

 

[Buzz 44]

I must admit I thought that when a cam belt snaps it damages the head, valves etc but not the pistons.

 

[Buzz 44]

Thats just what I was thinking cat.

 

[stevem42]

how close are you to basingstoke ?

id take the head off for you and see...........only a few hours work....

 

[Buzz 44]

Not too far...I'm in Shepperton which is not far from the start of the M3.

 

[stevem42]

pm sent.....

 

[kenny172]

Just over a year ago i put it in my local mechanics to get them changed but I'm now suspicious that they didn't do it and just charged me.If I try to accuse them of this, it's very hard to prove.

sorry mate but i deal with this sort of stuff all the time in work, and if you have a reciept to proove the cambelt was changed, and it has failed in under 5 years or the mileage your in a good position to claim against the garage for it, we pay them most of the time

 

[Buzz 44]

Thats good news Kenny. I'm going to phone them on Monday as it was changed in June 2007 and i've only done about 4000 miles since then.

 

[.GAZ.]

have u still got the reciept?

 

[Buzz 44]

Yes

 

[martandem]

Just over a year ago i put it in my local mechanics to get them changed but I'm now suspicious that they didn't do it and just charged me.If I try to accuse them of this, it's very hard to prove.

Either they didn't change it, or they did a very poor job and didnt do it properly. Either way, the cam belt should not be snapping a year after you have had it replaced, and most probably at a very high cost!
I'd take it straight back there if i was you. Threaten Clio sport naming and shaming and trading standards and see what they say, or maybe get someone else to take a look and see if it looks like a 1 year old cambelt before you go in there....

 

[kic]

you have reicept you win basically

 

[sean182cup]

threaten trading standards works everytime might be worth giving the a call any way

 

[Buzz 44]

Phoned the garage this morning and when i told them what had happened and that the aux belt looked oldish, they claimed that they had only changed the cam belt and not the aux belt.I argued with them that they charged me for a cam belt kit and the aux belt should be changed at the same time and they denied this.They said bring it in and we'll have a look at it but I refused because they still wanted to charge me for the pleasure.Don't know what more I can do.

 

[Goders172]

Phone the trading standards and ask for their advice, they deal with this sort of stuff all the time. If you have reciepts etc you are in a strong position if you take the correct route to get it sorted. Ask for their advice .Good Luck

 

[MikeyK18]

Phoned the garage this morning and when i told them what had happened and that the aux belt looked oldish, they claimed that they had only changed the cam belt and not the aux belt.I argued with them that they charged me for a cam belt kit and the aux belt should be changed at the same time and they denied this.They said bring it in and we'll have a look at it but I refused because they still wanted to charge me for the pleasure.Don't know what more I can do.

as far as i kno the aux belt doesnt need doing till 70k iirc, but if the cam belt (not aux belt) has snapped and they fitted it, its their responsibility

 

[andrewrobert87]

Phoned the garage this morning and when i told them what had happened and that the aux belt looked oldish, they claimed that they had only changed the cam belt and not the aux belt.I argued with them that they charged me for a cam belt kit and the aux belt should be changed at the same time and they denied this.They said bring it in and we'll have a look at it but I refused because they still wanted to charge me for the pleasure.Don't know what more I can do.

as far as i kno the aux belt doesnt need doing till 70k iirc, but if the cam belt (not aux belt) has snapped and they fitted it, its their responsibility

+1 on that statment!!

 

[Mike@Rentech]

cant do a cambelt kit without doing an accessory belt IMO, just not good practice.

Watch out it dont need an engine have seen the valve snap off and embed themselfs into the head and damage the piston crown badly.
Fingers crossed its just bent valve.

 

[Buzz 44]

The aux belt seems to have split lengthways the garage said this probably caused the cam belt to snap. Thats why they are claiming its not their fault.I have my doubts now whether they changed the cam belt at all because if you did you would certainly change the aux belt.

 

[oneseventwo]

Yep, aux should be done at the same time to prevent any aux problems, but if it's not done it shouldn't affect the cambelt.....

Should it?

 

[Buzz 44]

Only when the aux belt splits and takes the cam belt with it.