clio 172 cup cambelt change.

[jkracing]

Hi everyone,

just after some advice....

I've just bought a Clio 172 cup, as my budget was limited to say the least, it has done 68,000 miles and is due a cambelt change very soon.

I'm torn between taking it to k-tec and letting the pro's do it or doing it myself. My dad is an experienced engineer (all be it tuning motorcycle race engines) and I was wondering how easy the cambelts on these are to change yourself. I've got a fully equipped workshop I can use, but is the DIY approach worth the effort?

It's obviously going to be easier not having A/C etc, but i know some engines can just be a b***h. Anyone done it before?

Thanks!

[16v_paddy]

It could be long overdue a cam belt, iirc the time for them to be changed on the F4R engines is 5 years or 70k whichever is earliest. I've also heard horror stories of overdue belts causing oil starvation problems leading to the heads having to be scrapped.

Have a word with Dan here http://www.519automotive.co.uk/ he'll be able to tell you the best course of action, he's a bit of a freak & knows far too much when it comes to working with those lumps

[Dan519automotive]

That would be me got an offer on for 172 Cup cambelts this month too

[16v_paddy]

Freak!!

[xr287]

It's easier than the standard 172 or 182 yeah but you still need all the proper renault locking tools to be confident it doesn't slip. I would get a specialist to do it if it was me. Based on the amount of work specialists get from fixing the mistakes of other garages and ppl doing it themselves I'd say it wasn't worth the risk unless you know what your doing.

[GTP rpm]

A specialist will get your timing right, by unlocking both cam pulleys and rotating your belt round a few times before the final tentioning. Resetting of the engine management parameters and adaptives is also adviseable as your engine will have learnt your old timing and quite often will feel slower, because of the new belt.

Unless you've got the locking tools (crank is easy to lock, cams not so easy) then I'd give it to a specialist.

[sideways danny]

GTP rpm said:

Resetting of the engine management parameters and adaptives is also adviseable as your engine will have learnt your old timing and quite often will feel slower, because of the new belt.

only reason for it to feel slower is if it's been done wrong. Nice excuse you've been told though, sure that's worked on plenty of people