Renualt Senic Timing belt- replacement

swizzle_2

Hi

Hope you can give me some advise, just had a ltr from the main dealer were we bought our 3 year old car- now 5 years old.

It says that we should have the timing belt changed at 5 years or 72k miles-which ever is 1st.

Rang them up and it will cost over £300, car has only done 40k and we will be changing it in a year. Do we need to have it done? Would it be covered under our warrenty if not?

Thanks in advance

Hintza

Yes, yes, yes.

You do not want it to snap, otherwise it will cost you over £1,500 in a top end engine rebuild.

However you might want to check how much your local mechanic would charge, it should be significantly less. Ensure they renew all the bits and bobs such a tensioners etc (this is a must)

You are talking to the guy who was very lucky and had a golf cambelt go at 33,000 miles and just within warranty the bill VW got was over £1,500!!!

reheat

Absolutely yes. Hintza's advice is bang on. See this thread if youre in any doubt ... Vectra timing belt has gone :eek:.

I'm pretty sure it would not be covered by the warranty if it failed after mileage or time says it should have been replaced and wasn't. If you're changing the car in a year then you're into a gamble - the belt could last years, or fail in 6 months. But when you come to sell it anyone who knows their stuff will know the timing belt should have been done and expect to pay less anyway.

Albert2

Hi Swizzle,

Same boat here, Scenic due timing belt change soon (68k and 02), I get work done by a good friend who has a garage and he mentioned this during my last service.

I'll ask him how much to do it and let you know.

Cheers

Hintza

Timing belts are the achilles heel of all modern cars and should be banned.

They were brought in by the accountants to save money over a more expensive chain if you are ever buying a car and intend to keep it over a number of years it would be better searching out cars that have chains.

ariba10

The belts on some models of the Scenic are easier to change than others.

I would shop around for a price but do not ignore it.

It can be very expensive if it does break.

Cumbrian_Male

Get it done as I spent £900 to get a head gasket done on mine, if you add to that replacing valves, regrinding and a skim and pressure test, upwards of £2000

swizzle_2

Well spoke to hubbie when he got home from work in the car, car has only done 25000 miles, was v low milage when we bought it at 3 years old.

How long should a belt last or is that like saying how long is a piece of string?


Been looking at other cars, I don`t know much but reckon feb is a good month to swap it for another car. Aswell as timing belt, it is also due a service so £500 in all.

Go not know a good mechancic plus everything else service and MOT plus coil problems all sorted at main dealer.

Thanks for all your help

DavidHM

£300 is quite expensive though so if you can find a trusted independent to do it with good quality parts and save £100 or £150... have a look at the good garage guide on http://www.honestjohn.co.uk

Main dealer servicing simply does not make sense for a 5+ year old car unless the difference in cost is very marginal or the independent garage is especially incompetent.

But yes, irrespective of mileage, at five years old, the timing belt must be looked. If you do it now, you won't have to do it again before you sell the car, you won't be knocked down when the time comes to sell and you won't hvae to pay for a top-end engine rebuild (or a new engine) which would probably write off the car at main dealer prices.

nej

A mate of mine at work just had his go in his R reg scenic. It had never been changed... bill of about £1000 from an independant garage.

oldagetraveller

Agree with DavidHM, having it changed will make the car easier to sell, I'm sure any prospective purchaser who's done their homework should know it was due and it would be one of the the first question I'd ask.