Timing Belt......

[XTR]

My car has just ticked over to 72000 miles. High mileage for a W reg 2000 Megane coupe. 1.6 16v

72000 is the mark when ya should change ya timing belt.

I've been told that to do the job on a Laguna it takes 1 hour.. but on a Megane Coupe.. same engine it takes 5 hours. since the engine bay is tiny.

Also the alternator belt is squeeling... so that can be changed at the same time as the timing belt.


How much should i be looking to pay to get this work done?? Recommend any people?


I reckon me and my dad could do the job ourselves. My dad is very good with cars but its just a time consuming job. Since you have to remove the driverside inner splashguard, need to remove the power steering and alternator pulley, and aircon, remove the timing belt cover, loosen the pre tensioner, remove the old belt, fit the new one lining it up with the timing marks, and refit everything again.

[Zak33]

I bet the Aircon is down there too

Guesstimate at price from Renault....£450 all in.

I would NOT do that myself....especially if the AIr Con is down there too.....the cam belt probably needs TENSIONERS too.....

You're stuck between a rock and a hard place dude

[Shad]

Have a look in Yellow Pages for a Renault Specialist. They might save you a fair bit, but check them out first to make sure they're reputable. A Renault main dealer will charge you a small fortune in comparisson (99% of the time).

Gotta agree with Zak though, don't do it yourself! Spend some dollah on piece of mind

[Tumble]

and your Full Service History......

[Lowe]

Seriously do NOT attempt this. It's not something you want to do wrong, since if it is, you'll ruin the engine. Not a little bit, I'm talking virtually write the car off, new engine time if you're unlucky.

Getting it done by Renault as Zak points out would be rather costly to say the least. However, if you do find a garage it's worth it since if it goes wrong you've got a lot of comeback on whoever did it.

Cambelts have to be treated with a whole lot of respect. Don't buy a cheap belt either!

[XTR]

Quote From Renault Main Dealers


Labour
4.1 hours Labour... so £195.00!!!!!!!!!


Parts
Timing Belt Kit, including timing belt, pullys, and whatever.. i dunno
£81.61

Auxillary Belt (alternator, power steering, air con)
£15.89 (i priced this up the other week at the local discount shop, £9.99)


Total Price From Renault
£343.68!!!!!!!!!!!!











So...... I'll probably buy Renault's Kit and Auxillary Belt, and fit it myself (well.... my dad will), down my uncle's garage.

[DaBeeeenster]

Ouch. That sucks. I've had a timing belt let go and it aint pretty. Best to be on the safe side really.

Look on the bright side. When you come to sell the car it is a good way of demonstrating to buyers that it has been well maintained...

[Nimrod]

Personally m8 I would get it done at the dealership so that you can keep the service history intact !

[Lowe]

Hope your Dad's got deep pockets if it goes wrong. :E

[Shad]

£340... wow that's quite cheap! Labour alone at my friendly local Alfa specialist for that would come to just over £240, let alone the finely crafted Italian parts

[adeypius]

### Its alot cheaper to change you timing belt - than if it breaks ###

[CocoPops]

I'm with them Craig.

I really wouldn't skip on a timing belt change.

343 is a very good price for piece of mind, and isn't a great deal.

Plus like they said, the Renault stamp means a lot.

As soon as the new owner sees you skimped on the cam belt change, they will be wondering what else you skimped on.

[Stringent]

Alwas nice to know someone who can do things like that for you! Or it helps if you can do it yourself ...

[J4MES]

go for it! do it yourself, it's not rocket science - but be sure to do it with someone else with some experience! i did mine on a nova which was a piece of cake (i.e. it took about an hour) but i'm guessing being french it's genna be tricky... £350 seems a lot - if you were in S. Bucks i could recommed a guy who'll do a clio in 2 hrs (which is no use to you at all, what with you driving a different car and being up north)... actually, it might be worth the money, as it'll go in the book as being done by a pro, and will be covered by waranteeee.... er, my car has a non-intrusive/non-destructive engine, so if the timing/cam belt 'goes' then no damage is done (i.e. the valves don't protrude into the piston's path) but yours prolly doesn't... so get it to a specialist but buy the parts from your local motorists discount centre or whatever, and bung the alternator belt on at the same time...

/i'll get my herd of goats for this one...

[XTR]

Originally posted by XTR


Parts
Timing Belt Kit, including timing belt, pullys, and whatever.. i dunno
£81.61

Auxillary Belt (alternator, power steering, air con)
£15.89 (i priced this up the other week at the local discount shop, £9.99)


So...... I'll probably buy Renault's Kit and Auxillary Belt, and fit it myself (well.... my dad will), down my uncle's garage.

I've discussed it with my dad today, and we both think £343 is a stupid price. But we've agreed that buying the Renault kit for £81.61 and £15.89 for the auxillary belt, then fitting it ourselves seems reasonable.


*starts saving some money*


Gone against all your advice, but the chaps on the Megane Coupé forum have all said do it yaself. They've changed belts before and never had any troubles so i'm gonna have a stab at it myself. I aint bothered about service history. Alot of ya's may disagree with this but i personally believe its not worth the paper its written on.

[J4MES]

as i said, go for it, it ain't rocket science!!!

/crosses fingers