Cambelt change and crank pulley failure?

[Az110880]

Hi guys,

Unfortunately I discovered that my cambelt is overdue on my 197 by about 10 months today! I thought it was due near the end of the year thinking that the cambelt intervals were 72k or 6 years, but it's obviously 5 years, which like I say makes it about 10 months too late. Mileage wise my car is on 54k, but when it comes to cambelts I don't like taking any chances, so I'm gonna have to get it done ASAP.

Now I can't afford to get Renault or a Renault specialist to do it, but I do have a good mate of mine who I've known for years to do it who is actually an ex jaguar and Renault mechanic, he's an awesome mechanic and he's built some wicked engines, including my old supercharged Honda crx from scratch, so I trust him 110%.

I will be getting genuine parts but my question is,-

Exactly what parts do I need?

Obviously a cambelt kit, I will get an aux belt kit and water pump as well, but I've heard that the crank pulley needs replacing (or it's advisable) and also the defaisser (how ever you spell it) unit is advisable to change as well.

Can anyone confirm the crank pulley and defaisser unit??

Would I be taking a big risk if I didn't replace the crank pulley? I can't believe the crank pulley is more expensive than the cambelt kit and the water pump at £160!

Thanks in advance,
Arron

 

[stevp197]

Make sure you get the cam seals too mate they usually come in the kit rhough

 

[Az110880]

Oh yeah forgot to mention that I had those on my list, they are separate at £12 the pair.

 

[nutnutwelshman]

See Karl at Renault he had a deal on service parts kits for cam belts

 

[Az110880]

Yeah cheers mate, I've posted a thread in his forum for a price.

 

[Foxspeed]

if you cant afford to have it repaired then why have such a car...it will only cost more in the long run :eek:

http://www.clio197.net/forum/showthread.php?t=23625&page=3

 

[ryan197]

its only recently that renault have adviced to replace the crank pully, for reason i dont know. ive heard one or two people have problem with the dephaser pulley, thats why i had mine changed. oh and has you mate got the renault cam locking tool, because with out it you can fook the timing up.

 

[Az110880]

if you cant afford to have it repaired then why have such a car...it will only cost more in the long run :eek:

http://www.clio197.net/forum/showthread.php?t=23625&page=3

It's not that I can't afford such a car, this is a minor car compared to what I've owned in the past, if you wanna see big maintainence bills then I should ahoy you some receipts from my old e46 M3!

The reason I currently can't afford it is because my wife is on maternity pay, 2 kids and a baby to feed, bills to pay, and literally all on my wages, the money I thought we had set aside in our account has been spent as well, so financially in a sh*t time at the moment.

 

[Az110880]

its only recently that renault have adviced to replace the crank pully, for reason i dont know. ive heard one or two people have problem with the dephaser pulley, thats why i had mine changed. oh and has you mate got the renault cam locking tool, because with out it you can fook the timing up.

Yeah he's got the cam tool.

I asked about the dephaser pulley and he said its not really an advisory that it gets changed, only if its noisy or not engaging at 5000 rpm, but mine is dead quiet and kicks in exactly as it should at 5k rpm, so I'm guessing it should be fine, but he said he would check it out for me once the belt is removed just to be on the safe side.

 

[Az110880]

if you cant afford to have it repaired then why have such a car...it will only cost more in the long run :eek:

http://www.clio197.net/forum/showthread.php?t=23625&page=3

Cheers for the link! Very very good price that!

 

[ryan197]

Yeah he's got the cam tool.

I asked about the dephaser pulley and he said its not really an advisory that it gets changed, only if its noisy or not engaging at 5000 rpm, but mine is dead quiet and kicks in exactly as it should at 5k rpm, so I'm guessing it should be fine, but he said he would check it out for me once the belt is removed just to be on the safe side.

yeh, but the its on tension at the minute, like most water pumps, they dont need changing before you remove the belts, but once you do, it disturbs the pully/bearings, and if not changed they fook up after

 

[Az110880]

Hmmm, so you reckon the dephaser pulley should be changed then? I don't think I'll bother with the crank pulley after reading what Fred said about them on that thread that you posted for me to read, he said he's only ever seen one failed from a cracked woodruff key, and the crank pulley dampener he's never came across a failed one, so the odds are pretty damn low I think.

 

[Foxspeed]

you could end up changing every part whilst its apart....bit like the steering thread....or fitting a gearbox "just in case" bit of internet myths at times!

very few vvt pulleys have gone/broke

its best to change aux belt and tensioner as a kit its cheap

do the cam belt kit and water pump as a precaution

as for the vvt pulley - just needs inspecting for any unusual wear

got a few mates that have only had the cambelt done without the water pump or vvt pulley and the engines are still going...

just depends if you have deep pockets at the end of the day

 

[Az110880]

Yeah I agree with what your saying there. I've got the cambelt kit, aux belt kit, water pump, cam head seals, and thermostat. Think that's the main things I really need. I'm changing the thermostat cos 1- you may as well if all the coolant is getting drained, and 2- because my car seems to be running a bit cool, even in this weather!