Second cambelt changes

[Jamesv6]

I'm seeing a fair few 2001 Vees which will be needing the belt done for the second time. Look out for this if buying a secondhand Vee.

If the warning is down to age of belt should buyers ignore claims of low mileage and cars which have sat gathering cobwebs?

The 5 year change regardless of mileage is apparently because that belt has aged. You change the belt according to registration date of the car. As we know many Vees can be actually built a few months earlier, making the belt that little bit older,

Do we know how long that belt has sat on the assembled engine waiting to go into the car? Making the cambelt even older than 5 years.

Perhaps my usual daft non technical thinking, but maybe worth some discussion?

 

[ed_harland]

I knew this would be coming up soon.
Am I right in thinking the airbags should be replaced at ten years too ?
That would be a huge bill !

 

[Matt]

Not heard about the airbags - god that would be an expensive service. They aren't listed on my service schedule anywhere.

Agree with the cambelts on 2001 onwards - If buying a ph1 now I'd want to see the cambelt had been done again. As with all our cars - we don't do much milage so the belt is sat in the same position for a long period this adds to the wear of it. Wonder if lots of phase1s will be coming up for sale again trying to get them 'under the radar' so to speak.

 

[Jamesv6]

Air bags and pretensioners pyrotechnic system Every 10 years

Timing belt (1)
petrol and diesel engines: 75 000 miles (120 000 km) or 5
years.

(1) Belts
The mileages and intervals for belt replacement listed above must be respected. The customer should consult his
nearest Renault Dealer for advice on when a timing belt should be replaced depending on his individual driving style
and how he uses the car. This is particularly important when the car is being used for:
– constant door to door journeys,
– urban driving,
– repeated short journeys, with cold engine at low temperatures, etc.

source

 

[Spike]

very valid point james, personally i would not be worried if my own went over date by a year, even though it does not get used much. however i know its history and make sure the engine does not sit in the same place by regularly starting or flicking it over on the key.
an issue also with belts is the date stamp or manufacture date, don't use an old belt that has been in sunlight as this does degrade them get the newest one you can, motor factors usually rotate these so there is no prob here but buying an old stock one from ebay would be a tad worrying.
another issue to consider with the belt are the tensioners, if these sit in the same position for long periods of time they can develop rust spots or even go tight, this will rip a belt to shreds so regular movement is advisable.
it does make you think though how reliable are these cam belts nowadays? in the 1970's when they were first used they were of quite poor quality (ford ohc engine) and yet it was about 8-10 years before many disasters started to happen, nowadays the gates brand belt is kevlar reinforced ( a product not around in the 70's) and of much thicker material with higher spec so i wonder really how long you could push one for till it went pop!
i'm not saying do this at all! but i think its horses for courses and if your belt is on the 6 year mark and you are thinking of a heavy thrash, DON'T! drive round like a vicar and get it changed.

 

[ed_harland]

Airbags, page 10 and 23 of the ph2 service book, includes seat belt pretensioners too !
My opinion on cam belts is that each five years is a massive safety margin unless the car has been laid up and not run for months on end, run the car at least every month to keep things moving, battery charged etc. and the belt life can be extended depending on the risk you are prepared to take. The key is that if you were to buy a vee you would want to see that the cam belt had been done or you would get it done immediatley and factor it into the price.
If you take airbags and pretensioners into account and think like some people do about cam belts ( five years and one day old, OMG the belt is going to break ! ) Then there are going to be a lot of VERY cheap Vees about !
Think if the cam belt breaks - expensive engine rebuild
If the Air bags or pretensioners fail it's your life at stake

 

[Jamesv6]

Also a valid point with regards to shelf life. I recall timing belts covered in dust while waiting the new models reaching 48K miles. Yes they did eventually go over the counter when the time came !! [smilie=icon_eek.gif]

 

[Jamesv6]

Oh and..... When the time comes to replace air bags, I suspect we will see NO LONGER AVAILABLE on the parts system.

 

[Matt]

Also, if I ever do sell my vee I would worry that the perspective owner would look at my service book and if they spot I waited an additional year to get the belt done they may be put off and wonder what other things have been neglected service wise.

 

[ed_harland]

Also, if I ever do sell my vee I would worry that the perspective owner would look at my service book and if they spot I waited an additional year to get the belt done they may be put off and wonder what other things have been neglected service wise.

I like Spike would be happy to make an informed decision on the belt ( having a mechanical background and knowing the history of our cars and how to look after them ) hardly neglect ! The fulll history is there to be viewed, would you run your spark plugs for 48,000 miles as Renault suggest ?

 

[ed_harland]

Sorry James I've gone from belts to airbags and now spark plugs.
Ed

 

[Matt]

Also, if I ever do sell my vee I would worry that the perspective owner would look at my service book and if they spot I waited an additional year to get the belt done they may be put off and wonder what other things have been neglected service wise.

I like Spike would be happy to make an informed decision on the belt ( having a mechanical background and knowing the history of our cars and how to look after them ) hardly neglect ! The fulll history is there to be viewed, would you run your spark plugs for 48,000 miles as Renault suggest ?

Take your point - I was genralising about a potential buyer who may come in from that perspective.

 

[Matt]

Guess a lot of it depends what buyer comes forward. A knowledgable mechanically minded one wouldn't mind a missed deadline but joe bloggs would want to see cambelt done on time.

 

[Jamesv6]

Sorry James I've gone from belts to airbags and now spark plugs.
Ed

Good discussion Ed. :approve:

To replace all the air bags £1,500 approx.

 

[Spike]

Good point about your life at stake without an airbag change, however there used to be vehicles without airbags before the nanny state. how DID we manage!

 

[Matt]

Good point about your life at stake without an airbag change, however there used to be vehicles without airbags before the nanny state. how DID we manage!

Probably drove more safely then too without the airbags!

 

[ed_harland]

It wouldn't worry me unduly to lose a few airbags, changing steering wheel and seats. But for those intent on keeping such a tight service history I think the ten year point may be a big pill to swallow.
Service, belts, waterpump, clutch, airbags, and pretensioners. At the way prices are going at the moment it could be more than half an early Ph1 is worth.

 

[Spike]

Good point about your life at stake without an airbag change, however there used to be vehicles without airbags before the nanny state. how DID we manage!

Probably drove more safely then too without the airbags!

Hmm, don,t think safety came into it back then, best check my hospital notes and scars!
can remember racing fom nottm to scratchwood services and back, first one back with a reciept won!
all you old gits out there....who remembers scratchwood?