A reminder to change your dephaser

[19Zen]

The timing belt was due on the 197 and as I'm going to sell the car in the new year was going to just change the scheduled items. I then decided on also changing the water pump and dephaser, as it would rarely clatter after parking on a steep hill and changing the pump will help resale.

The Renault tech of 20+ years said that the dephaser was over 180° out, and after the work the car feels so much better. Also good news that I have no signs of head gasket leaking as previously feared.

Just a reminder to not skimp and do it all while you're there!

 

[DS197]

“But they don’t rattle like the ones on the 1*2!” is what’s frequently said! And all for the sake of £100.

 

[RSRowe]

They also don't fail like the old ones either.

I can't for the life of me understand how a cam can be 180 degrees out of time and still be running - regardless of what the master tech has said. Moreso given the dephaser can only move around 40 degrees advanced or retarded.

I've re-read my comment multiple times and i can't think of any other way of wording it without sounding negative. But I think it's important that people understand that the pump and dephaser aren't by any means a typical failure item.

 

[Foxspeed]

180' out it wouldnt work full stop!

 

[19Zen]

I did wonder how it could be that far out and not be in pieces.

I work with the tech everyday and he's a sound guy so don't think he was knowingly BSing, perhaps just not as familiar with the mechanism as specialists, even though he's replaced plenty according to Renault's workshop manual.

I can't deny the posibility of placebo effect but the car now feels like it pulls much better under 4k rpm. It may be true they don't go like the 172/182 but think it's still worth it while you're there.