Cambelt/Aux Belt: DIY or Garage?

[bigsid]

Just trying to figure out whether to DIY my cambelt and aux belt change or get it done by a garage. I got a quote from a Renault specialist nearby who has quoted £547.48 inc VAT to do belts, tensioners, water pumps and coolant change. They said if I want the dephaser pulley done at the same time it'll just be the cost of the part (extra £118.60).

So, all in it would be £666 (hmm). I kind of bought the car as a bit of a project not only to drive and track but to get my hands dirty as I quite enjoy that side of things, but if I've got to buy the parts and some special tools like the crank locator pins etc, by the time I've got all that it'll probably still run me ~£350... although I will have the tools for any future work.

Do you reckon it's worth the risk of messing it up for a relatively competent home mechanic for the sake of saving £300?

 

[RSRowe]

There's not much chance of messing it up with the proper locking tool tbh.
Just important to take your time, tighten everything to it's proper spec, and turn it over by hand a few times before actually starting.

I did mine myself. I'm not a proper mechanic but I've been around the trade since I was young.

 

[bigsid]

There's not much chance of messing it up with the proper locking tool tbh.
Just important to take your time, tighten everything to it's proper spec, and turn it over by hand a few times before actually starting.

I did mine myself. I'm not a proper mechanic but I've been around the trade since I was young.

Thanks for the advice. Do you happen to have a link to the 'proper' tool for this? I've seen these locking pins, but I've also seen mention of a kind of bracket that seems to bolt into the pulleys, I'm not sure which is right or if you need both tools.

 

[RSRowe]

https://www.renaultpartsdirect.co.uk/parts/engine-parts/renault-clio-cam-belt-fitting-tool-kit-f4r/

Also, I never bothered replacing the dephaser on mine even though I bought one. Just wanted to see how long it would last given alot of people say they're not as unreliable as the 1*2 dephasers.

 

[DS197]

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/genuine-...712808?hash=item522d8fbc28:g:i5oAAOSwXIheMMuw

 

[bigsid]

Thanks for the link. I've done my sums again. If I got that tool off ebay, all the parts + coolant + dephaser comes to £424.80 delivered, vs my two quotes one of £666 and another I got earlier of £700. So DIY route will save me at least £240 plus another ~£100 if I can sell the timing tool on. Hmmm...that's like a new steering rack

 

[lewishunter98]

Thanks for the link. I've done my sums again. If I got that tool off ebay, all the parts + coolant + dephaser comes to £424.80 delivered, vs my two quotes one of £666 and another I got earlier of £700. So DIY route will save me at least £240 plus another ~£100 if I can sell the timing tool on. Hmmm...that's like a new steering rack

Anywhere near ktec? They're £499 all in I'm sure!

Sent from my ONEPLUS A5010 using Tapatalk

 

[bigsid]

Sadly not, about 200 miles away

 

[JMR]

Sadly not, about 200 miles away

Have you tried Mick Pittman @ Diamond Motors at Long Eaton.
What he don't know aint worth knowing.

He looked after my 182 Cup for a few years and changed the cam belt auxbelt and dephaser.
Complete with a service I don't think I paid that much.

 

[Elviic]

DDC Doncaster. They did mine - very good.

 

[bigsid]

Thanks guys, appreciate the input. Checked Diamond, they're only about 20 miles from me. Their website says £480 all in + £110 to do the dephaser as well. Still not decided if I want to have a crack at this myself... I kind of want to even though it won't really save me a lot of money, and I'll probably ruin the engine in the process

 

[Ianboom]

I did my 197 with the genuine tools.
The depahser didn't need replacing and the crank pulley was keyed. I checked the timing before I stripped the car and it was bang on (Fred did it originally).
I fitted the new belt and tensioner without moving the timing, and it was still bang on. I checked it half a dozen times and it was always bang on, so I didn't have to alter the timing. To be fair, it had only done around 10000 miles between belts.
I've always suspected that the belts don't stretch, but the teeth wear and the tensioners fail???
Aux belt is a doddle on the 197/200

My 182 was done by a 'specialist' and it was a few degrees out when I checked it?!