Timing Belts.

Dale.

Dale.

Bo Derek
Suspended / Banned
Messages
13,716
Name
Dale.
Edit My Images
Yes
It's that time for both our cars, both are now sitting around the 80k miles mark.

Car 1 is a Seat Leon estate,TDi, 1.6. It's the newer of our 2 cars so Wifey gets it most of the time.

Car 2 is a Renault Megane, bought used and is our second but my main car. It's a 1.5DCi. This is the car that gets me about around the doors, school runs and photography trips.

I've noticed on the Megane this last few weeks, a squeaky pulley or belt, probably something to do with the Aux belt. It could be a pulley or the belt itself. I'm guessing the belt is original as there is no mention of it being changed anywhere in the car's history. I'm getting this investigated. I'm OK with the tools but anything engine related, I leave to the pros. Whilst they are in there, I may as well get the timing belt done too, which is way beyond my skillset, due to the potential for it to go wrong and cause serious damage.

I had a bad experience with my previous car to the Megane, it was a bit of a lemon, so I have to make the Megane last longer than our normal 2-3 years for keeping cars, to break even so to speak, so it's worth looking after.

I have no intention of tackling this job myself. Pads, discs, springs, shockers etc, I'm OK with but a timing belt needs to be left to somebody who knows how to do it, plus I'd have a comeback if it where to go wrong but I don't expect it to.

I'm not sure on costs though. I've asked my local garage for a quote, they're pricing it up now and are getting back to me, hopefully today. I'm thinking anything downwards of £700 would be a good price, as I'd want the aux belt done,the potential squeaky pulley, timing belt and water pump, which would also cause a coolant change. I'd get the oil/filter done too, whilst they have the car in.


I'm ready for a hefty quote, I don't mind that as it's cost effective but is £700 a reasonable expectation?

ta.
 
I know little of car mechanics but when ours was due to change it was recommended to change the water pump as well.
Mind you I like to keep my cars at least 10 years.
 
Peter123 said:
I know little of car mechanics but when ours was due to change it was recommended to change the water pump as well.
Mind you I like to keep my cars at least 10 years.
Click to expand...


Absolutely, the pump will be done as well. (y)
 
IME you are looking at around £650 with a main dealer and £450 at a local garage inc water pump. Last one I had done was 4 years ago so add some inflation to that.
 
Just had our Fabia done, including the water pump and idler/tensioner. £550.00 inc.
 
Last edited:
Have never touched a main dealer for this work, always a good independent mechanic. The Octavia was £350 for a cambelt, water pump and full service. The Alfa was £400 for the same treatment from a trusted specialist.
 
I recently had wifes Seat Leon belt done, at dealer, 5 year warranty on the job cost was £450, couple of very capable mechanics declined as special tools needed for the act engine they couldn't get, Renault job no biggie, indie would be my port of call at £200 ish, although I get mates rates.
 
No news today, maybe tomorrow.
 
If it helps, to replace the timing belt and water pump on the V6 XF was £550 at an independent Jag specialist. This involved the front bumper and other stuff being removed.

To replace the auxiliary belt and also the supercharger belt on the V6 S4 was £272 at an independent Audi specialist. This involved moving the front bumper into service mode and also removing the air filter box etc.

Unless the Megane has some crazy design going on where half the engine needs to be removed then I wouldn't expect anywhere near £700 and more in the region of £300.

I wouldn't go near a main dealer for repair or maintenance work, never ever ever. Always a local independent who has a reputation to protect, ideally a specialist in your marque,
 
gman said:
If it helps, to replace the timing belt and water pump on the V6 XF was £550 at an independent Jag specialist. This involved the front bumper and other stuff being removed.

To replace the auxiliary belt and also the supercharger belt on the V6 S4 was £272 at an independent Audi specialist. This involved moving the front bumper into service mode and also removing the air filter box etc.

Unless the Megane has some crazy design going on where half the engine needs to be removed then I wouldn't expect anywhere near £700 and more in the region of £300.

I wouldn't go near a main dealer for repair or maintenance work, never ever ever. Always a local independent who has a reputation to protect, ideally a specialist in your marque,
Click to expand...

Thaks for that.

I've still not heard anything, in fairness I did say there was no rush. I know the garage owner, he is actually a neighbour. I will chase it up tomorrow.
 
Back in the day I owned 3 Hometune franchise's and a garage , Did 100's if not 1000's
No special tools used just a white touch up paint pen , Mark the pulley's and the same position behind the pulleys , Belt off , new one back on , Job done ,
 
Wish it was that easy for me, no belt but chains.... four of them along with the composite guides. But that would still be too easy, so they located at the rear of the engine meaning the whole thing has to come out. :eek: Serious cha-ching and I'm dreading it.

Sorry for the hijack and yes I am looking for sympathy! :D


1653322085533.png
 
gman said:
Wish it was that easy for me, no belt but chains.... four of them along with the composite guides. But that would still be too easy, so they located at the rear of the engine meaning the whole thing has to come out. :eek: Serious cha-ching and I'm dreading it.

Sorry for the hijack and yes I am looking for sympathy! :D


View attachment 354692
Click to expand...

That is not an easy one, what is it from?
 
Not sure which Jag gman has but I had both ends done (fnar, fnar) on my 3l Diesel recently and that cost me a little under 2 grand but that included a full service, discs and pads on the back and a pair of tyres (among other little things) so not too bad for something that should see the car through the next ten years or so (as far as belts go, anyway!) All done by a local specialist at 1/3 the cost per hour of labour compared to the main dealer...
 
Citroen Xsara Picasso, advised that while the belt is showing signs of wear, at least it is not on its last legs. Quoted £400 last year to replace belt, all pulleys and water pump from a local garage. (I have my cars serviced by someone local who does it in his spare time, also not having the right tools does not want to do the job)
 
My quote is in.

First garage bugged out, didn't want to do it.

Second garage quoted me for,

aux belt,
timing belt,
water pump,
coolant,
oil and filter,

£640.

Could be more as it depends what the squeak is but that could be the aux belt itself, or a pulley bearing.


I am quietly pleased with £640.
 
Happy to swap bills with you!!!
 
andya700 said:
That is not an easy one, what is it from?
Click to expand...

S4 Avant B8.5 with the CREC engine, where many inherent issues were sorted including the timing chain guides so I'm hoping for little issues.
 
Dale. said:
My quote is in.

First garage bugged out, didn't want to do it.

Second garage quoted me for,

aux belt,
timing belt,
water pump,
coolant,
oil and filter,

£640.

Could be more as it depends what the squeak is but that could be the aux belt itself, or a pulley bearing.


I am quietly pleased with £640.
Click to expand...

I'd certainly be happy with that.
 
gman said:
S4 Avant B8.5 with the CREC engine, where many inherent issues were sorted including the timing chain guides so I'm hoping for little issues.
Click to expand...

Nice car, someone down the road from me has an S4 Cabriolet, it sounds superb.
 
andya700 said:
Nice car, someone down the road from me has an S4 Cabriolet, it sounds superb.
Click to expand...

Thanks, aye it pretty much ticks every box. Obviously not as economical as a diesel or smaller petrol but I can still get around 28mpg urban if pottering about and on a long run I can get high 30's and sometimes into low 40's, unless I accelerate that is lol

I've started cycling now now because I feel like we are being properly conned by oil, energy and Gov and loathe all the tax they are raking in as well. Helps keep me fit as well but my ring is still numb and the crap roads don't help with this as I bounce around.
 
There has been a development.

This last week or so, I have noticed, barely, a humming sound whilst driving. It's very quiet but there and new. I thought it was the tyres at first as they are those fat, economy type things. I've always had a sound from the car, a bit like air in a rolling football type thing, it's just road noise.

This humming though is new. I'd intended to get the car up on the ramp and check it over, for pads/discs, springs, that kind of thing before committing to the belts.

I'm glad I did check it. So the car is up on the jacks, on the ramp. I go around every wheel, starting at the rear driver's wheel, then over to the passenger rear wheel and then nearside front. All good, nice and smooth. The last wheel I checked, driver's side front, spun ok, no resistance. I held the spring though and spun the wheel and lo and behold, vibration in the spring, very faint but there, so I can only assume it's a wheel bearing.

To be fair, this is all I could find wrong, no broken springs, leaking shocks, all pads and discs are fine but the front ones could probably do with changing soon, the discs aren't great on the insides.

So, I'll speak to the garage Monday about a new wheel bearing, I'm guessing (hoping) around £150. Not a job I can do as I have no press and they are pressed bearings.

If it's not too expensive, I'll get the bearing and belts done at the same time.
 
Not sure of mileage but it could be a CV joint on its way out too. You can normally feel wheel bearings if you wiggle the wheel when it's off the ground, ideally when the bearings are up to working temperature.
 
Nod said:
Not sure of mileage but it could be a CV joint on its way out too. You can normally feel wheel bearings if you wiggle the wheel when it's off the ground, ideally when the bearings are up to working temperature.
Click to expand...


possibly, just gone through 80K.
 
It was a wheel bearing. Originally quoted £100 plus the part, so budgeted for £150 ish after an internet search of prices.

Car went in yesterday morning, 9am, I walked home, had a few coffees, phone rings. It was the garage. They'd broken the ABS sensor getting the bearing out. So add £70 to the original estimate for a sensor and another hour's labour trying to get the old one out and save it.

The extra £70 extra stung a bit at first but all things considered, a new wheel bearing and ABS sensor fitted, for £224 isn't bad. Quietly pleased.

Also got advised on front discs and pads, the drivers side disc is a bit scabby on the inside, so that's next but can do that myself, probably next weekend.


Belts can wait for now but they'll be done soon too.
 
To be fair, wheel speed sensors can be problematic as the plastic housing often breaks when trying to pull them out.

It happened to me not long after getting my car and other than a front bush it's the only thing which as failed so I was quite happy at at £29 sensor....until I went to remove it! lol Spend a good hour slowly and very carefully drilling into it so as to force enough plastic out until it was free enough to pull. The two main dangers I was aware of was drilling too far and hitting the ABS ring or/and also some of the broken up plastic from drilling falling through into the ring area.

Sounds like you did pretty well.
 
gman said:
Spend a good hour slowly and very carefully drilling into it so as to force enough plastic out until it was free enough to pull.
Click to expand...


Braver than me.

gman said:
Sounds like you did pretty well.
Click to expand...


I'd agree. The extra was not expected but all things considered, it was a good price.

The car is back to being quiet too, it's amazing when sounds creep up you that you don't really notice them until they become tangible. Then, when they're gone suddenly with a new part, the difference is clear.

MPG has gone back up to the usual 54 or so, as opposed to the previous 48 ish with the worn bearing.
 
Last edited:
Surprised that the bearing had that much affect on the MPG and glad it was just a bearing rather than a CV joint!
 
Nod said:
Surprised that the bearing had that much affect on the MPG and glad it was just a bearing rather than a CV joint!
Click to expand...


Might just be coincidence. The car is a lot quieter though.

Me too, on the CV joint. (y)
 
  • Like
Reactions: Nod
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top