172 Cam belt change Q?

[Sjdickso]

I am getting my normal mechanic to do my GF's cam belt on her 172 in a couple of weeks. He says there isn’t an issue but he has never done a 172 before.

He is capable mechanic but he really specialises in Subaru and also Toyota. Should I be worried at all that he hasn’t done a Clio before?

Should I take it to some who has?

Just wanted to see what your opinions are.

 

[Steve2004]

I am getting my normal mechanic to do my GF's cam belt on her 172 in a couple of weeks. He says there isn’t an issue but he has never done a 172 before.

He is capable mechanic but he really specialises in Subaru and also Toyota. Should I be worried at all that he hasn’t done a Clio before?

Should I take it to some who has?

Just wanted to see what your opinions are.

I got my cambelt changed by my 'normal mechanic', he'd never done a clio cambelt before either. That was about a year ago now and everything is sweet.

He was £150 cheaper than Renault too!

 

[-Leigh-]

A mechanic that had never done a clio did the cambelt on mine just before I picked it up. Had to get it done again!!

 

[DrR]

I wouldn't let him touch it, think with a 172 you really need to know what your doing.

 

[Rich1.2]

I wouldn't let him touch it, think with a 172 you really need to know what your doing.

why? its not hard if you arent a cowboy. to be fair a f4r isnt the most complicated of engines!

if you trust the guy let him do it if you believe his standard of workmanship is good. if he's a 'bodge it and get it done quick' guy then dont.

 

[DrR]

Depends if he knows you need special tools and how cheap he is.

 

[Fletcher]

If he had all the correct Renault tools then why not.

 

[Sjdickso]

Well he is good friend of the family and has always serviced my and my familys cars he has done x2 cambelt changes on other cars in our family.

I just wasnt sure how tricky the 172 engine was to work on thats all.

I supose it can not be much harder then a WRX engine and he works on them day in day out?

Do you need spacific renault tools for the 172 engine?

 

[GR7]

I am getting my normal mechanic to do my GF's cam belt on her 172 in a couple of weeks. He says there isn’t an issue but he has never done a 172 before.

He is capable mechanic but he really specialises in Subaru and also Toyota. Should I be worried at all that he hasn’t done a Clio before?

Should I take it to some who has?

Just wanted to see what your opinions are.

I had an 'ordinary' mechanic do mine and there is no problem as it's nothing out of the ordinary and they do them as part of their job! The only thing is that it takes about 1.5 hours of dismantling before they can see the thing and a headlight and bumper has to come off just to reach a single bolt that needs to be removed!

The whole job takes 5.1 hours according to Renault and no mechanic likes doing it on 172s as there is no room to work as everything is so tightly packed in.

My mechanic did the same job on his girlfriend's Saxo and it took about 30 mins and was straightforward!

I wouldn't let him touch it, think with a 172 you really need to know what your doing.

Dr Rollo, they're not idiots you know!!!

 

[TomTom]

The amount of people on here that think its a really hard/complicated job, its just tight. Its nothing if you know what your doing.

If hes got the locking kit tools/a bit of sense it'll be fine.

Personally I'd take it to a specialist, or if your minted, a dealer lol

Lmao at the comparison to a Saxo, slightly different...

 

[Sjdickso]

Cheers Guys, i am more at rest now. I have talked to him tonight and asked if i could watch him do it as i would like to see it been stripped down and he said no worries.

He is fully booked up for a few weeks, so will be done in a few weeks time.

P.s he is fraction of the cost renault qouted me ( £1400 for cam belt \ aux belt \ service )

fingers crossed it goes ok.

 

[-Leigh-]

If it was me, I'd take it to s specialist such as RenTech. They charge alot less than £1400 too!!

 

[GR7]

If it was me, I'd take it to s specialist such as RenTech. They charge alot less than £1400 too!!

The actual belt and pulley for my 172 was £134 in total, bought from the Renault dealer by my local garage.

I got my cambelt done cheaply as my friend owns the garage but a Renault dealer would possibly charge you for 5.2 hours of labour so you can work out roughly what it should cost!

This is what happens to be able to get to it!!

But it goes back together OK afterwards though!

 

[DrR]

£1400!!!!!!!! i paid £400 for that.

 

[_Kenny_]

how much more diffcult is it to change the cmabelt on an RS Clio than my mk2 1.4 for example? My 72k service including cambelt change was £360! From a 'normal' mechanic too

 

[edde]

how much more diffcult is it to change the cmabelt on an RS Clio than my mk2 1.4 for example? My 72k service including cambelt change was £360! From a 'normal' mechanic too

There more space on a 1.4

 

[TomTom]

I've done one or two on the side like that GR7, there not much fun without a 2 poster, using a trolley jack for everything. Your arms look like you've been wrestling a grizzly afterwards.

 

[GR7]

£1400!!!!!!!! i paid £400 for that.

I think the £1,400 included a service as well... dealer/stealer prices!!

 

[GR7]

It's a 5 hour job (less than 30 mins for a Saxo)

Someone asked what is necessary for the job:
A "Timing Belt Kit" is needed - the parts are

R7701476675 Kit Distribution £123.59 (inc VAT)
R7700106271 Core Plug £7.26 (inc VAT)
R7700274026 Plug £3.20 (Inc VAT)

(Two seals are needed for the back of camshafts because
the originals have to be removed to get tool in) (?)

£134.05 total from the Renault dealer