Quick help please-dodgy fitted cambelt

[da_murphster]

On a recent service it was noted that my aux belt was worn in the centre where it seems to be catching on the pulley – not good.

One of the reasons I bought this car was the recent cambelt change (he also explicitly told me the aux had been done...grrr)

Cambelt was changed by previous owner less than a year ago by a ‘Renault Specialist’

On the bill they only charged for the cambelt kit – not the aux.

I cannot understand why a specialist would not change the aux belt for the £17 it costs.

Also I seem to have a pools of oil under my manifold – searching on here seems this is likely to be silicon seal needed on cam cover – ie cambelt off job

Car is 172, belt done at 40k, 2001 car.

My quick-fire questions:

- Do you have to remove cam cover to fit cambelt – ie is this leak likely to be garage fault?

- Can you replace aux belt without replacing cambelt (is it cheaper?)

- Do you touch the aux belt/aux pulley if you were just changing the cambelt – ie could the garage have caused the wearing?

- Do you think I have a leg to stand on with the non-changing of the aux belt? These guys are supposed to be Renault independent specialists.

Having spoken to the garage they seem OK and willing to be engaged about this – but they are 1hrs 30mins away. They want to see the car before discussing it further.

Help and advice appreciated!

 

[da_murphster]

On a recent service it was noted that my aux belt was worn in the centre where it seems to be catching on the pulley – not good.

One of the reasons I bought this car was the recent cambelt change (he also explicitly told me the aux had been done...grrr)

Cambelt was changed by previous owner less than a year ago by a ‘Renault Specialist’

On the bill they only charged for the cambelt kit – not the aux.

I cannot understand why a specialist would not change the aux belt for the £17 it costs.

Also I seem to have a pools of oil under my air inlet manifold – searching on here seems this is likely to be silicon seal needed on rocker cover cam cover – ie cambelt off job (or is it??)

Car is 172, belt done at 40k, 2001 car.

My quick-fire questions:

- Do you have to remove rocker cover cam cover to fit cambelt – ie is this leak likely to be garage fault?

- Can you replace aux belt without replacing cambelt (is it cheaper?)

- Do you touch the aux belt/aux pulley if you were just changing the cambelt – ie could the garage have caused the wearing?

- Do you think I have a leg to stand on with the non-changing of the aux belt? These guys are supposed to be Renault independent specialists.

Having spoken to the garage they seem OK and willing to be engaged about this – but they are 1hrs 30mins away. They want to see the car before discussing it further.

Help and advice appreciated!

Just done some more swatting on the correct names for things (see edits above) – having had a mechanic look at this he reckons the leak is either from the base of the air inlet manifold or the rocker cover.

He reckons it would be very difficult to change the cambelt without removing the aux belt and the rocker cover (although he has no experience of these engines).

This is pointing towards all these faults being to do with a poor job.

My definite most important question is do you have to remove the rocker cover to do the cambelt?

I need to ring the garage today so any help appreciated!

 

[sideways danny]

cambelt has to come off to remove the cam cover, a leak from the cover is fairly common, doesn't mean it's been disturbed.

Aux belt has to come off to get to the cambelt.....I'd NEVER refit an old one, idiots if they did

Sounds like the aux tensioner is sticking/seized. That would have been spotted by a decent specialist. That will be why the belt is rubbing, I've seen the same mistake made a few times. New aux kit needed in this case.

 

[shumoboi]

the leak you say could be from the breather seal underneath the upper inlet manifold, are the pools of oil sitting on the lower branch of the inlet?

 

[Mike@Rentech]

Dont jump on the garage, if customer has requested cambelt kit only then so be it, I would refuse to do job without changing it personally.
Plenty of people say no to extra work because they are selling car on, I have had people refuse full accessory belt kits when I have strongly advised them to change the lot its all down to costs.
But having said that aux belt should always be changed when removed.