Clio 182 auxiliary belt interval- 3 or 5 years?

[Patrick Bateman]

Manual states 5 years/36k miles but the internet is awash with Renault changing this to 3 years but I can't find concrete proof of this.

Can anyone enlighten me?

[Jester86]

If I remember correctly:

Aux Belt: 3 Years / 36K whichever comes first.
Cam Belt: 5 Years 72K whichever comes first.

Get over to cliosport.net for a whole wealth of information!

[Patrick Bateman]

I'm already on there and it just seems to be hearsay.

If it is 3 years it was changed after the service book was printed for them as it does state 5.

I've emailed the specialist that did the belts almost 3 years ago and see what their take on it is.

[Jester86]

I believe it changed after a few aux belts started snapping earlier than the service schedule dictated.

If the aux belt snaps then it takes the cambelt with it. You have to remember the book was printed a good 12-15 years ago!

[StoatInACoat]

The tensioner is the bit that tends to fail and the belt is REALLY tight. It's not a brilliant design and can seize up quite easily and throw the belts. The idler pulley at the bottom gets a beating too because of its location, especially if you're running without an undertray and on the two Clio's I've done the belts on both had worn out bearing on that pulley.

[loose cannon]

Yes it’s 3 years or every 36k otherwise it fails and wraps around crank pulley and takes out the cambelt

[MagicalTrevor]

It's definitely different to the service book. As a poster above said, it was changed because of some early failures.
It's sadly something that causes these cars to become expensive as you have somebody with a £1500-£2000 car looking at a £400+ bill

[Patrick Bateman]

The fact it's a Trophy helps, harder to stomach on a 2 grand car no doubt.

Specialist has said much the same so it's going in for that and a few other things next month.

[MagicalTrevor]

Of course, if you're not keen to stomach the belt costs on a Trophy, I'll buy it off you to save you the costs

[Patrick Bateman]

Still another 2 years until the cambelt needs doing so I'll have to refuse!

[Jester86]

It literally is the biggest bill for 172/182 ownership though. Everything else is pretty cheap!

Unless you have a Trophy which the OP does and spends every 3 years having the Sachs refurbed..... fortunately I managed to avoid that hassle by having a spare set of dampers

[Patrick Bateman]

It's all easier to take when you know you'll be keeping the car for a long time.

[anonymous-user]

That's my thought also Bateman.

Most of the parts are very cheap for these cars. Couldn't believe how cheap it was the completely refresh the entire front and rear suspension including bushes etc.