Cambelt question

[jackhjharding]

Hi all

My T is approaching the 72k mile mark so will be going for a full service in a few weeks time.

I know that the cambelt and acc belt should also be replaced at this mileage (or every 5 years) but the previous owner did this at the 40k mile mark around 3 years ago. Would you agree that I can hold off a bit longer to have them replaced again?

I wasn't sure if they should be changed every 72k miles or at the 72k mile mark no matter whether they have been replaced before or not.

Thanks in advance.

 

[Sean Jones]

If it was changed at 40k you should be ok til 112k or another two years. Mine was done at about 40k 3 years ago too and that's when I'll be holding out til.

 

[hodgy21]

I had mine done at 44k, 3 yrs ago and it's going in for a 'B' service today after asking Danny from 519 automotive if it needed the cambelt doing again. He said it didn't need the cambelt doing.

FYI (taken from cliosport) :-

What needs to be done normally.

The service schedule is quite complex so instead of being called 12k etc I’ll change them to
12k A
24k A
36k A and B
48k A
60k A
72k A, B and C
84k A
96k A
108k A and B
120 A

Hopefully you get the idea. At 72k you need A, B and C doing. When you do the work / book it in you ask for the service by mileage though.

If you don’t do 12k ever 2 yrs then the car needs to be serviced ever 2yrs to the same specification as if you had done that mileage.

An “A” service consists of

Change oil (for a 5/40 oil this is important to check some dealers use 10/40 as per normal Clio’s)
Change oil filter
Change air filter
Change passenger compartment filter (if appropriate)
Check bodywork for rust etc (this is part of the Renault anticorrosion check)
Check brakes for wear, failing seals, fluid level (the reservoir on the 172/182 is at the back of the engine on the driver’s side on the bulkhead. You need to remove the engine cover if fitted to see if often as it is in an annoying place)
Check power steering fluid level/pipes
Check exhaust
Check condition of the rubber gaiters on the steering rack
Check the coolant level (big tank attached to the back of the engine bay on the passenger’s side of the car. Top up etc as appropriate so the level is between the minimum and maximum. Make sure you do this when the engines coolant is cold as the system is highly pressurised (1.2 bar and hot) so it can hurt you if you try removing the cap when it’s hot. Also fluid level changed when it’s hot.
Front and rear windscreen wiper check. Condition etc.
Tyres check for uneven wear and pressures (spare should be also check).
Check front and rear shock absorbers are correctly fixed no leaks etc.
Check bulbs work (brakes/indicators etc)
Check battery charge state.
Check all windows/mirrors for cracks etc.
Computer check of any errors logged in the ECU etc.

Some dealers will check other things i.e. tyre wear depth and top up washer fluid these should be a normal check anyway though as an owner.

Expect to pay between £120 and £150 depends where you are in the country. Shouldn’t take more than half a day but dealers ask for it all day so they can have work all day for the mechanics.


A “B” service consists of

The auxiliary belt (known as the AUX belt) being changed this is about £100 extra on top of the normal A service.

A “C” service consists of

Cam belt changed this is usually at a point where people go look at other garages as it’s a 8hr job and Renault can charge £600 or so. Unless you know the garage have changed belts on 172/182’s before don’t use them however good they are many cars have been ruined by people doing this themselves or getting a garage who don’t know the intricacies of doing the job.
Also the spark plugs are changed, the normal Renault ones are fine for 72k so no need to change them before this time. They are a good quality plug (should be at £20 a time) and there no need for any aftermarket ones.

 

[Luke335]

A comprehensive answer there!
i think you are supposed to change the Aux belt as its been 3 years. Then your cam belt will be due in 2 years or at 112k as advised.

 

[Andy Dunn]

I was recently talking to Dan at SJM, (mine was due a service), and he recommended that the dephaser was done during a Cambelt service as well.

 

[Luke335]

Yeah, I would be tempted to have the dephaser pulley and the water pump changed while its apart for a cam belt. I just had all of this done on mine @ 120k. It certainly needed the pulley and they are relatively cheap parts compared with the labour involved in a cam belt change.

 

[tp8573]

I'd definitely get the dephaser done at the same time.
I work at a Renault/Peugeot specialist and we have done so many cam belt replacements
on clio sports and a handful will need a dephaser not long after.
Better to pay once! It's hardly a cheap job to start with so the additional £147 for a dephaser is money well
spent.