Timing Belt Dilemma

[tomsteer]

Hi,

I bought an 172 Cup a couple of months ago, just before I came down south (Leaving the Clio in Scotland for a couple of weeks) I did a bit of a service - filters, oil etc and a dog bone poly bush. Whilst I was doing this I noticed that the Aux belt had a split along its length. I’d not noticed this when I bought it so maybe its happened recently or maybe it was there when I bought it.

I obviously know this isn’t a good thing and it needs to be changed and I understand the importance of having it done correctly. Would anyone have an opinion on whether it would be ok to drive down to BTM or Brichdown, bearing in mind this is a 300+ mile journey. Last thing I want is for it to snap and take out the engine in the process.

There are a couple of other garages in Scotland mentioned on the forum, Rentec in Edinburgh that got a bad review and SWRautos which no-one seems to have had their belts done by.

My options I suppose if it’s too risky to drive it is to get it transported down to England, but that’s not going to be cheap? Any ideas/ recommendations?

Any advice would be much appreciated, last thing I want to do is for it to snap and do more damage, or take it to a Scottish none specialist and it go bang shortly after.

Cheers for reading,

Tom

 

[Bluebeard]

No way would I be driving that!


If it snaps (highly likely!) it will cause no end of grief.

 

[tomsteer]

Yeah as I thought, how the fook do I get it 300 miles

 

[Bluebeard]

Can you not get just the aux belt replaced by another garage and then drive to fred for the full works?

 

[lemonnobby]

has it got climate if not just put a belt on and drive down

 

[tomsteer]

The mechanical skill and tools not as involved for the aux belt then?

Is it something you can DIY? I'm no mechanic but I know my way around a spanner.

Cheers,

Tom

 

[Stephen16vGSi]

do not touch, take it to a specialist!

 

[Bluebeard]

do not touch, take it to a specialist!

Read the thread you complete clownshoe.

 

[Stephen16vGSi]

The mechanical skill and tools not as involved for the aux belt then?

Is it something you can DIY? I'm no mechanic but I know my way around a spanner.

Cheers,

Tom

ok

 

[Gray]

If it's a cup and you dont have aircon anybody can change the belt, it's literally a 5min job

 

[ABOO]

Mate with towbar. Hire trailer. Bung mate tank of diesel and bag of chocolate limes for a midweek road trip.

OOOOsssshhh..

 

[lemonnobby]

as gray said if it has no air con its easy if it has air con just get it towed because the labour of just fitting a belt will outway recovery

 

[Joe R26]

It's not impossible to do if it has got air con it's just a bit more of a pain.

Just don't go undoing the crank pulley like some other fella off of here did lol

 

[Cupman29]

Take it to a stealer. They will be more expensive than a specialist but when you add 3 tanks of fuel and the possibility of a snapped belt then that's what I would do. At the end of the day the dealers should be able to carry out servicing work on their own make.

 

[tomsteer]

Thanks everyone, it is a non air con, I'd looked at the guides section and only saw the air con version which looks a bit more involved!

Will get a belt and swap it over.

Many thanks again,

Cheers,

Tom

 

[davo172]

do not touch, take it to a specialist!

This man knows from experience !!

 

[Cupman29]

The aux belt on a 172 cup take 30 secs to change. Never realised it was a cup.

I've got a Renault belt tensioning gauge too if you need any help.

 

[Andyman]

Its alright saying take it to a specialist but when you live half a days travelling away from the nearest place plus add the costs of fuel a main dealer isn't a bad option. Been in the situation myself and the main dealer worked out cheaper

 

[keirravn]

Where in Scotland are you? As said non aircon aux belt is easy, DIY, any garage, or a local member maybe?

 

[tomsteer]

Just ordered a belt from wests, I'll swap it out myself, looks rather easy.

As for the cam stuff I'll bring it down south at some point in the near future, my parents are in the midlands.

Cheers for all the advice, much appreciated!

Tom

 

[Cupman29]

When you are tensioning the belt it needs to be tighter than you think. Once you think it is tensioned enough, tension it some more.

 

[tomsteer]

Cheers for the heads up mate!

Tom

 

[mikeh]

Any old garage can do the aux belt (not that I personally agree that a cam belt is a specialist only job, mind)

I'm curious why people are saying to only bother getting the belt done if it's non aircon though?

 

[Cupman29]

I think people are saying it's a piece of piss to do yourself if it's a non aircon car. Literally a 5 min job.

 

[tomsteer]

Well I finally got round to doing it, got a replacement belt from Wests.

It's a non aircon cup and it was as easy as everyone has said.

How I did it for other people's future reference-

Lift the car on stands and remove the driver side wheel.
Loosen the 16mm alternator nut
Loosen the 13mm alternator nut
Then fully loosen the 10mm tensioning nut
The alternator should then push down relieving the tension in the old belt
Remove the old belt and feed on the new one
Tighten the 10mm nut to add tension into the belt
Once you can only just twist the belt 180 degrees along the longest part you have enough tension (from what I've read on here)
Tighten the 16mm nut
Tighten the 13mm nut
Put the wheel back on and drop the car back down

Easy!

Thanks for all your help, much appreciated!

Cheers,

Tom

 

[ABOO]

Glad you're sorted pal...

 

[jenic]

Now get it down to a specialists ASAP!

 

[tomsteer]

Got to go on holiday next week then it'll be headin down south to btm I hope

Cheers again!

Tom

 

[theduck]

I would never let a main dealer service my car, just as bad as back street garages IMO.