HOW MUCH?! - I'll Give it a go myself thanks

[Paul the 6th]

time to join a chaveau megane forum eh matt?

I'd prolly find an independent renault specialist and get them to do timing belt, all the standard stuff (oil, filter, air filter, pollen filter - does it have one?, brakes etc.) will be pish. If you feck up the cam/timing belt it's game over (but you could make a lovely wind chime out of the twisted valves )

[timwilky]

Originally Posted by mikerj

Locking the cam and crank is mandatory on some cars, e.g. my ZS, since you need to compensate for any variance in belt length, tensioner and idler diameters and water pump center tolerances by moving the pulleys w.r.t. the cams. You can just wedge another belt on and hope for the best, but chances are the timing will not be optimal and performance and economy will suffer.

I suppose it really depends on the engine design. Yes some you must lock.

[timwilky]

whilst thinking about it. You might need a super extra long extra thin extra expensive plug socket. but a couple of quid if you buy in advance from fleabay

[Paul the 6th]

Originally Posted by timwilky

whilst thinking about it. You might need a super extra long extra thin extra expensive plug socket. but a couple of quid if you buy in advance from fleabay

or standard socket extension bar and a magnet if he's already got them in his arsenal? But failing that the proper tool designed for the job is usually* always the best way to go.



*apart from the rear-most clip on the airbox of a 1998 s4 - apparently Audi sell a long reach tool to get down the 1 inch gap between airbox & firewall to re-attach the clip after you ping'd it open with a long screwdriver to get in the airbox, but a wire coat hanger will do it for free

[timwilky]

Paul, a standard socket just will not fit. these are thin wall. then after all there is not too much torque needed for a plug

[Paul the 6th]

Eeek bloody French people eh? Why can't they just do it like everyone else! Wasn't thinkin in terms of torque'ing them up to 105nm just to save buying new tools for the sake of it but as above, in most cases it's best to use proper tools for the job

Originally Posted by timwilky

Paul, a standard socket just will not fit. these are thin wall. then after all there is not too much torque needed for a plug

Is this a spark plug spanner your refereing to Tim?
hmmm not impressed, I'd assumed the car would come with one seen as the Honda did. back to ebay then

I would seriously consider getting someone to do the belt for you.

If it takes an experienced mechanic 4 hours to do it, it will take you 8 or more, I speak from bitter painful experience.

Sure I got th job done but fek me I wasted a lot of time.

Now you have bought the belt and tensioners etc etc they may only charge £200, Look at it as £200 of insurance, after all of the car was free, and you in total spend £500 on it thats better than spending £300 on parts and killing th engine isnt it?

Do the rest yourself but give yourself the piece of mind and reassurance by getting a garage to do the belt, it will be worth it.

£500 for car that if it lasts a year is still cheap motoring... and what happened to the honda?

[yorkie_chris]

Where's the fun in that?

Yep.

About 7 years ago, I wandered into the local (now gone) Renault to cost up having a CD changer fitted in the boot of my Laguna. He quoted around £240.

£240?!!! I could have had a better full system fitted (head and changer) for just over half that!

And then there's what they cost up for dinked bodywork- ie pushing a bump out and retouching the paint. About 7-800. I had a slight bump with a woman who managed to get it done for £60 from an independant sprayer- that was after HE quoted her initially £120.

Is it me or are car dealerships FAR worse than bike dealers when overpricing stuff?