Advice needed on snapped cambelt, clio 2010 1.2
Discussion
I'm seeking some realistic and helpful advice please.
The cam belt went last weekend on my 2010 Clio whilst driving on a dual carriageway and due to the nature of this I have been told there could be serious and costly engine damage due to the interference engine, valves, pistons, etc.
I am not mechanically minded at all but after recognising the engine was louder than normal I did reach out to a mechanic I have regularly used over the years, multiple times the last month seeking advice on the issue requesting to have it looked at however he only replied a few days before it was too late! Totally my responsibility I know as I should’ve taken it elsewhere and I am now kicking myself as I have been left with the consequences and in a worse position.
Without a car I am pretty stressed out and in a real bind about what to do based on the age of it, financial constraints and everything else. I have only had the car 3 years- got a fairly good deal and it has relatively low mileage around 60k. I haven't had many issues at all with it up until now but I also scraped the passenger side so body work is not clean. Mentioning all this as it factors into the overall market value when looking at alternatives or a replacement!
I have spoken to a few mechanics who have said scrap it, it's not worth the cost. The mechanic who let me down has quoted £680 parts and £500 labour. Others have suggested looking at sourcing a second hand engine as an option rather than the effort and cost to replace the cam belt and all the other parts that may pop up however this also comes down to labour costs? Is it worth it? Any advice, greatly appreciated.
The cam belt went last weekend on my 2010 Clio whilst driving on a dual carriageway and due to the nature of this I have been told there could be serious and costly engine damage due to the interference engine, valves, pistons, etc.
I am not mechanically minded at all but after recognising the engine was louder than normal I did reach out to a mechanic I have regularly used over the years, multiple times the last month seeking advice on the issue requesting to have it looked at however he only replied a few days before it was too late! Totally my responsibility I know as I should’ve taken it elsewhere and I am now kicking myself as I have been left with the consequences and in a worse position.
Without a car I am pretty stressed out and in a real bind about what to do based on the age of it, financial constraints and everything else. I have only had the car 3 years- got a fairly good deal and it has relatively low mileage around 60k. I haven't had many issues at all with it up until now but I also scraped the passenger side so body work is not clean. Mentioning all this as it factors into the overall market value when looking at alternatives or a replacement!
I have spoken to a few mechanics who have said scrap it, it's not worth the cost. The mechanic who let me down has quoted £680 parts and £500 labour. Others have suggested looking at sourcing a second hand engine as an option rather than the effort and cost to replace the cam belt and all the other parts that may pop up however this also comes down to labour costs? Is it worth it? Any advice, greatly appreciated.
A lot of that information is irrelevant.
What's the car worth in its broken state?
What would it cost to buy a similar but unbroken car?
What's the maximum you would expect to pay to fix it back to the state it was in before this happened?
With those numbers you can see immediately whether it's financially better to fix it or replace it.
What's the car worth in its broken state?
What would it cost to buy a similar but unbroken car?
What's the maximum you would expect to pay to fix it back to the state it was in before this happened?
With those numbers you can see immediately whether it's financially better to fix it or replace it.
Either replace the engine or scrap it. You could also try selling it spares or repair, but may not be worth the hassle.
It is possible to fix your engine but it is a complete time sink, and not really worth doing unless it was something special.
It is possible to fix your engine but it is a complete time sink, and not really worth doing unless it was something special.
Edited by johnsmith222 on Saturday 26th April 17:37
LCA4783 said:
I'm seeking some realistic and helpful advice please.
The cam belt went last weekend on my 2010 Clio whilst driving on a dual carriageway and due to the nature of this I have been told there could be serious and costly engine damage due to the interference engine, valves, pistons, etc.
I am not mechanically minded at all but after recognising the engine was louder than normal I did reach out to a mechanic I have regularly used over the years, multiple times the last month seeking advice on the issue requesting to have it looked at however he only replied a few days before it was too late! Totally my responsibility I know as I should’ve taken it elsewhere and I am now kicking myself as I have been left with the consequences and in a worse position.
Without a car I am pretty stressed out and in a real bind about what to do based on the age of it, financial constraints and everything else. I have only had the car 3 years- got a fairly good deal and it has relatively low mileage around 60k. I haven't had many issues at all with it up until now but I also scraped the passenger side so body work is not clean. Mentioning all this as it factors into the overall market value when looking at alternatives or a replacement!
I have spoken to a few mechanics who have said scrap it, it's not worth the cost. The mechanic who let me down has quoted £680 parts and £500 labour. Others have suggested looking at sourcing a second hand engine as an option rather than the effort and cost to replace the cam belt and all the other parts that may pop up however this also comes down to labour costs? Is it worth it? Any advice, greatly appreciated.
The price you have been we quoted is an absolute steal for the work required. To the extent that I don't believe it can be done so cheaply (DIY aside).The cam belt went last weekend on my 2010 Clio whilst driving on a dual carriageway and due to the nature of this I have been told there could be serious and costly engine damage due to the interference engine, valves, pistons, etc.
I am not mechanically minded at all but after recognising the engine was louder than normal I did reach out to a mechanic I have regularly used over the years, multiple times the last month seeking advice on the issue requesting to have it looked at however he only replied a few days before it was too late! Totally my responsibility I know as I should’ve taken it elsewhere and I am now kicking myself as I have been left with the consequences and in a worse position.
Without a car I am pretty stressed out and in a real bind about what to do based on the age of it, financial constraints and everything else. I have only had the car 3 years- got a fairly good deal and it has relatively low mileage around 60k. I haven't had many issues at all with it up until now but I also scraped the passenger side so body work is not clean. Mentioning all this as it factors into the overall market value when looking at alternatives or a replacement!
I have spoken to a few mechanics who have said scrap it, it's not worth the cost. The mechanic who let me down has quoted £680 parts and £500 labour. Others have suggested looking at sourcing a second hand engine as an option rather than the effort and cost to replace the cam belt and all the other parts that may pop up however this also comes down to labour costs? Is it worth it? Any advice, greatly appreciated.
A replacement engine will likely cost a good deal more and always has risks involved (I always go this route but only because I can do the work myself).
Also think it important to point out that the mechanic didn't in any way 'let you down' in the situation you describe.
The repair costs sound about right. Cost of a used engine + labour for fitting will probably be in the same area, but then you have an engine which may be just about to snap the cambelt again unless you replace it before use, so add another £300-£500 for that (total guess, I don't know how complex the engine is).
Net result, I would suggest, is just to bite the bullet and scrap it now for whatever you can get for it - ebay as a non-runner may be a starting point.
Life hurts, sometimes - been there, done that with exactly the same problem.
Net result, I would suggest, is just to bite the bullet and scrap it now for whatever you can get for it - ebay as a non-runner may be a starting point.
Life hurts, sometimes - been there, done that with exactly the same problem.
TL,DR - cam belt snapped on a 2010 Renault clio with 60k on the clock - should you try and fix it, get a replacement engine, or scrap it?
I'd probably sell it as spares or repair. Clios are pretty common, and not particularly special, so rather than throw money at it with an expensive repair, I'd just put repair money towards a new car.
Sorry for the snapped belt, that sucks. Be sure to check the servicing of the next car you buy and keep up with the maintenance.
I'd probably sell it as spares or repair. Clios are pretty common, and not particularly special, so rather than throw money at it with an expensive repair, I'd just put repair money towards a new car.
Sorry for the snapped belt, that sucks. Be sure to check the servicing of the next car you buy and keep up with the maintenance.
Only you as the owner knows truly how well maintained or not your car is, if apart from a side scratch and the obvious current engine damage its an otherwise A1 condition car then it might be worth the expense, its monetary value to another buyer only comes into the decision if you intend to sell it, if its just another neglected mass market car then probably best to flog it as it is and move on.
Cambelts and all other must do servicing most of us have learned the hard way to make sure these things are done on time/mileage, if lucky and i was 40 odd years ago it was a non interference B20 engined Volvo which proved a simple DIY repair at the side of the road.
If you replace the car suggest don't buy a car with a wet cambelt, design lunacy.
Cambelts and all other must do servicing most of us have learned the hard way to make sure these things are done on time/mileage, if lucky and i was 40 odd years ago it was a non interference B20 engined Volvo which proved a simple DIY repair at the side of the road.
If you replace the car suggest don't buy a car with a wet cambelt, design lunacy.
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