Cam belt snaps after 13,000 miles -any comeback ?
Discussion
Trying to help a neighbour out here ..he has just bought ( private sale ) a 60,000 mile Renault Clio with a recipet for a new cambelt fitted 13,000 miles ago.
Today the cambelt has snapped on him, accellerating gently in 5th year at about 60mph.
The reciept states that a cambelt "kit" was fitted with new tensioners.
Does he have any comeback or expecation of a goodwill from the garage that fitted the cambelt ? ( and if their fitting is not at fault, the manufactuer of the cambelt....)
I feel for the guy, he just got the car, did everything right in checking the service history, but it looks like he will lose all his money, local garage who we trust has quoted around 1100 pounds to have the head taken off and repaired.
Today the cambelt has snapped on him, accellerating gently in 5th year at about 60mph.
The reciept states that a cambelt "kit" was fitted with new tensioners.
Does he have any comeback or expecation of a goodwill from the garage that fitted the cambelt ? ( and if their fitting is not at fault, the manufactuer of the cambelt....)
I feel for the guy, he just got the car, did everything right in checking the service history, but it looks like he will lose all his money, local garage who we trust has quoted around 1100 pounds to have the head taken off and repaired.
I doubt it, unless some kind of transferrable warranty was offered with the new cambelt. If it was replaced by a main dealer with OEM parts there may be some kind of goodwill repair contribution offered (assuming it's been serviced only by Renault dealers) or a parts warranty (assuming the belt is not too old (in years as well as mileage) but otherwise it just sounds like one of those things.
I assume the repaired car would be worth more than £1100, in which case that quote doesn't sound too bad, although I'm sure a skilled amateur mechanic could do it for less.
I assume the repaired car would be worth more than £1100, in which case that quote doesn't sound too bad, although I'm sure a skilled amateur mechanic could do it for less.
I'd check that the receipt for the new cambelt relates to the car that he bought and not another Renault, although being a private sale would mean it doesn't matter anyway. Also, would the change of owners mean that further problems with trying to claim from the garage would be encountered? I have no idea if it will or not.
Flanders. said:
S Line Luxury said:
worth a shot, but the garage if they had any sense would point to the Renault badge to identify the real underlying problem here
Don't suppose it would happen to an Audi would it?
Read that, proves that they are put together using proper parts, not the seconds bin
TooLateForAName said:
Any idea what caused the problem?
Contamination of belt from oil leak?
Seized water pump?
Tensioner/Pulley failure?
Aux belt failure getting tangled in t/belt?
Other?
This.Contamination of belt from oil leak?
Seized water pump?
Tensioner/Pulley failure?
Aux belt failure getting tangled in t/belt?
Other?
I used to work for a parts factor, and whilst I have heard of similar circumstances getting repaired free (at barebottom labour costs and after much arguing between garage and parts supplier) usually theres another cause. If something else has caused it (such as the waterpump going) theres no comeback.
Assuming all the belts were replaced with the cambelt, did the water pump get done at the same time?
ExPat2B said:
Trying to help a neighbour out here ..he has just bought ( private sale ) a 60,000 mile Renault Clio with a recipet for a new cambelt fitted 13,000 miles ago.
Today the cambelt has snapped on him, accellerating gently in 5th year at about 60mph.
The reciept states that a cambelt "kit" was fitted with new tensioners.
Does he have any comeback or expecation of a goodwill from the garage that fitted the cambelt ? ( and if their fitting is not at fault, the manufactuer of the cambelt....)
I feel for the guy, he just got the car, did everything right in checking the service history, but it looks like he will lose all his money, local garage who we trust has quoted around 1100 pounds to have the head taken off and repaired.
1. Post it in the right forum - speed plod and lawToday the cambelt has snapped on him, accellerating gently in 5th year at about 60mph.
The reciept states that a cambelt "kit" was fitted with new tensioners.
Does he have any comeback or expecation of a goodwill from the garage that fitted the cambelt ? ( and if their fitting is not at fault, the manufactuer of the cambelt....)
I feel for the guy, he just got the car, did everything right in checking the service history, but it looks like he will lose all his money, local garage who we trust has quoted around 1100 pounds to have the head taken off and repaired.
2. Maybe, depending on what the fault was. Your mate will need a report done from the garage who does the repair. Actually, it would be normal to make a complaint to the garage where the work was done, and invite them to fix it at their cost. So get a report done and then offer the repairs to the garage who fitted the cambelt.
S Line Luxury said:
Flanders. said:
S Line Luxury said:
worth a shot, but the garage if they had any sense would point to the Renault badge to identify the real underlying problem here
Don't suppose it would happen to an Audi would it?
Read that, proves that they are put together using proper parts, not the seconds bin
TomJS said:
1. Post it in the right forum - speed plod and law.
I'd have thought the right forum would be French bred, where they are more likely to have model specific information.FWIW, I've only done one 16v Clio head, and it was a right PITA, and it's entirely possible the whole head will be scrap depending on how lucky you are. Whip it apart and have a look
S Line Luxury said:
Flanders. said:
S Line Luxury said:
worth a shot, but the garage if they had any sense would point to the Renault badge to identify the real underlying problem here
Don't suppose it would happen to an Audi would it?
Read that, proves that they are put together using proper parts, not the seconds bin
rallycross said:
tell him to find a cheaper garage to fix it.
13,000 miles is a long time, you have no come back.
It should be between £300 and £700 fix depending how many valves etc.
Not on all Renaults is that a normal price as I have as a second car, a Megane Coupe, the timing belt broke in that and took 10 or so valves with it, £1200 was the best price I could get the work done for, rebuilding the head cost as little under £800, oils, filters new belts etc came to about £100 and the labour was £250 ish 13,000 miles is a long time, you have no come back.
It should be between £300 and £700 fix depending how many valves etc.
lescombes said:
S Line Luxury said:
they are put together using proper parts, not the seconds bin
other than the cheapo alloys they use....Edited by HellDiver on Tuesday 20th July 12:09
What are the actual requirements for this cars belt replacement? If it has had a new belt at 47k then I assume the interval is very low. Just because it has only done 13k since the belt could have been due another change based on age. I would look at that and what caused the failiure first. Like others have said seized pump etc.
In terms of expense of that kind of failiure it really is a matter of guess work. None is going to know anything until they get the head off. I have seen some belt fails want a new head as they use a cam carier that broke on contact. The cams are line bored with carriers fixed on so the whole head needs replacing. This head could be a different style entierly so I wouldn't worry uneccessarily. I'm just trying to express how much of a guess has been taken to the cost unless it has been pulled appart a bit to find out. I have done another snapped belt and all that was damaged was one bent valve. So all done for a few hundered.
In terms of expense of that kind of failiure it really is a matter of guess work. None is going to know anything until they get the head off. I have seen some belt fails want a new head as they use a cam carier that broke on contact. The cams are line bored with carriers fixed on so the whole head needs replacing. This head could be a different style entierly so I wouldn't worry uneccessarily. I'm just trying to express how much of a guess has been taken to the cost unless it has been pulled appart a bit to find out. I have done another snapped belt and all that was damaged was one bent valve. So all done for a few hundered.
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