Think my timing is out, any Renaultsport friendly garages in/near West Sussex?

[MatBat]

Hi all,

I've just bought a Clio 172 Cup and although it runs great it doesn't feel quite a peppy as some of the full fat 172's I drove before finding this one.

Looking at the service book I can see it has had a cambelt change however it seems it was done by the used car dealership supplying the car so I suspect they haven't use the correct tools and thus the timing is a little out.

Can the timing be corrected easily enough without having to take off all the bits and doing a belt change or is it worth getting a specialist to do the whole job again?

Can anyone recommend a garage near West Sussex that knows these engines?

Many thanks in advance.

 

[MikeClio172SPT]

Hi mate, cant believe nobodys answered you yet lol. Usually when the timing slightly out, you would have a lumpy idle, Also when the timings out, some of them suffer with cutting out issues when starting from cold. Do you have any of this??

As for resetting the timing, firstly i would check if its out, by pinning the crank with the correct timing pin, then pop the rear camshaft seals out, & see if you can insert the timing tool..... if you cant.... timings out.

 

[MatBat]

Many thanks Mike.

Well I definitely have a lumpy idle, no cutting out though. I will have to get it checked!

 

[TheEvilGiraffe]

I'd surgest going to see MWM in Staines, K-Tec in Dorset (possibly a bit of a trek) or Danny/Fred in t'Midlands.

There's Renotec (something like that) in Portsmouth and Ren7oaks in Sevenoaks.

I think Fred (and probably other people on here that aren't 'specialists') has a spare set of tools he might post you out if you're handy enough to check yourself ? No point doing a 200 mile round trip somewhere to find that it's all actually spot on, even if you have your doubts

If you're going to do that, you'll need a new set of cam seals as mentioned above as you have to ruin them to remove them. Wests Renault on here (Trader) will sort you out there.

:evil:

 

[Sam]

I think Dan@519 is not far from you ?

You could take it to home. He really knows his renaults!!

 

[TheEvilGiraffe]

I think Dan@519 is not far from you ?

You could take it to home. He really knows his renaults!!

Worthing to Bedford ? 230 mile round trip...

Buy a map, man

 

[jon_r]

Pop along and see Mike @ Rentech in Portsmouth.

 

[Sam]

Worthing to Bedford ? 230 mile round trip...

Buy a map, man

Ha, I just knew he was down south. Didn't exactly know where though!

 

[MatBat]

Thanks guys,

I've had an offer of checking the timing from JRS182 who's 10miles up the road from me so I might look at this after Christmas.

If the timing is out, can it be changed without taking the old belt off, or are you better off just doing the belt change? Mine is a Cup so no A/C etc.

 

[DanClio]

I was going to say I'm a bit further away in Guildford but would have checked for you! If the timing is out by a small amount then you wont need the belt removing. You can adjust it by loosening the pulleys. As long it isn't too far out it should be a fairly straight forward job. As said you will need 2 cam seal caps. Renault keep them on the shelf and if memory serves they are about £12 for the pair.

 

[MatBat]

Brill, I'll definitely get this looked at, I don't think it's miles out as the car runs well and gets reasonable MPG although the response is a little sluggish off the mark and the idle is lumpy.

 

[MikeClio172SPT]

Usually what happens.... people do the timing belts on these... only have the one timing tool for holding the cams.... then when they tighten the cam pulleys, bends the one timing tool, and puts the cam timing out. Its just enough to put the timing where the valves doesnt hit, but at high revs, the valves could possibly hit. So whoever does it for you, ask if they have the full timing tool kit & can you have a look Ive got em all, & never set one wrong.

 

[MatBat]

Eek!

I'll keep the revs low until I know It's all setup okay than.

 

[Archiebenice]

Usually what happens.... people do the timing belts on these... only have the one timing tool for holding the cams.... then when they tighten the cam pulleys, bends the one timing tool, and puts the cam timing out. Its just enough to put the timing where the valves doesnt hit, but at high revs, the valves could possibly hit. So whoever does it for you, ask if they have the full timing tool kit & can you have a look Ive got em all, & never set one wrong.

Hi ya guys,

First time of writing (lots of reading but there you go). I have a 172 with lumpy idle (cant remember it being like it before having timing belt changed a while back now). So same as Mat Bat is suffering from. Its a real pain when holding on the clutch as it sometimes stalls and I have lived with it. Tried new plugs (Ones K-Tec said), changed pre-cat sensor and the Ignition pack. No change . On reading the ast few days I was checking Dave from Diamond Motors in Nottingham and was going to call him today and ask if I could have the timing checked.

The car is responsive and still what I consider quite quick and responsive. Petrol also as Mat said is good. So assuming that the garage that changed the belt werent specialised like some of you guys on here, I reckong it could be a timing out jobbie.

Dont suppose there is someone situated a little nearer to Essex (Daganham / Romford)?

Thanks for the good reading

Ray

Beofre I do that

 

[Fred@BTM]

engine dynamics are in Kelvedon (formerly BBPT) Andy is the gaffer good bloke

 

[TheEvilGiraffe]

waffle

Drop Scrooge a PM and see if he can take a look over it for you at some point soon. Failing that, I'm in west Basildon/Lower Billericay depending who's asking and have a 182 here to compare with if you like ?

If it's dropping revs I'd suggest a vacuum is blocked or the ICV is duff. Wouldn't have bothered changing plugs or coilpack if it's not misfiring and pulls hard to the top of the clocks.

 

[Archiebenice]

Evil,

Thanks have sent Scrooge message...

A your not that far away from me, I gave up playing with cars years ago and things have certainly changed now, so tend to be guided by you guys .

Maybe I should check for the vacumn issue or the ICV (? control valve). been a while running like this but tick over is doing my head in...

Is there a lot of difference between 172 / 182...?apart from the obvious... wondered if they run similar..

 

[MikeClio172SPT]

Usually a vacuum leak or (Air leak).... will cause the revs to raise up..., if you've had the belt done recently, & its lumpy & cutting out... your timing is quite badly out.
Does it cut out soon as you start it from cold on occasions...?