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My cam belt has just gone on my six year old Renault Megane (74k on clock). Bill for repair is £860. Should the garage have identified the need for a cam belt change at its major service in December last year? I have just discovered that cam belts should be changed on renault meganes every 72k miles or every 5 years whichever comes sooner.Could they be liable as they didn't identify it or am I fighting a losing battle? Any advice would be appreciated.
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Owner is responsible for knowing service history, same thing happened to my aunty in her skoda, I made the same thread was told tough pink fluffy dice on her.
I have little sympathy any more to be honest. 74K is always going to be pushing it.
If you know nothing about cars then I have every sympathy but if you have a passing interest then it is something you shouldn't have missed. Hopefully a good lesson learnt :).
Sorry if above sounded harsh it wasn't supposed to.
Edited by Dynamic Dave on 04/10/2009 at 04:41
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I doubt you have a case. It would be up to you to specify a major job like a cam belt change.
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Exactly, I mean I can imagine a thread
"garage charged me £400 for a service because they replaced the cambelt, a job I didn't want them to do"
If it makes it easier on the OP a lot of dealers have been quoting a freind £300 to change a cambelt on her Clio so think of it like you're out of pocket by about £500 rather £800.
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Know nothing about cars and wanted to get some advice from those in the know and those who have had similar experiences.
Not a good lesson learnt but a lesson learnt nonetheless.
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Fair enough my original comment was too harsh. It is a very well known problem and anybody with a slight interest in cars know that modern cars need regular cambelts changes (unless it has a chain).
As I also said this is quite an expensive job for a renault dealer so the price you have been quoted is not that bad. My uncle had to pay around £1500 for his expensive lesson.
I always try to avoid cars which need regular cambelts, all the cars I have owned had a chain so may be next time you are car hunting buy one which dosn't need a new belt for years or one that has a chian :).
Either way to answer your question you have no case at all against the dealer that serviced your car I am affraid. I am a computer engineer and its a bit like saying I should have known my hard drive was about to fail when you fixed it, well no if there is no symptons of hard drive failure why should I?
That said it would have ben nice if the garage had told you its due then you would have known. I usualy warn customers with slightly older computers (anything more than 18 months) that their hard drive may fail so back everything up, it sort of covers me in case the drive fails two hours after me repairing the PC :p
I have also learnt many motoring lessons the hard and expensive way so I do have some sympahty. Once again sorry for harsh original post :).
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I have just discovered that cam belts should be changed on renault meganes every 72k miles or every 5 years ...
This information should be in the maintenance booklet with your car, and unless you are lucky with your garage I'm afraid that it is up to you to ask for it to be done. When I say 'lucky' I mean they remind you of the mileage or the age and advise that the belt is changed. After all, unless they have known the car from new they may well assume it has been changed already. If you are unlucky they don't think about it, or they do it without asking and charge you afterwards.
The former happened to my daughter with her 205 - serviced at 50K (belt change advised at 48K), belt went soon afterwards. Replacement engine, £550; and that was about 15 years ago.
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i assume 1.6 engine
i looked at hj"s car by car for this engine under cc and no comments
however i found this
www.honestjohn.co.uk/forum/post/index.htm?t=69776
and agree with Andrew Moorey (Tune-Up),i dont like this engine and seen about 4 in the last twelve months with very bent valves
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My belt on my 16v Scenic went at 6oK. Unfortunately a couple of months after I had sold it to my next door neighbour. £ 850 at my local independant but I know him and knew he would do a good job.
Went halves on the cost with neighbour...it's only money !
Now got a Nissan Note...with a chain. Have had belts changed on 3 family cars this year, all about £200. Better safe than sorry. I don't think you'll have any luck with the garage.
Ted
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Reminds me of my dads Escort, bought it for £1600 seven years old. It had a lovely zetec engine which sounded silent. I more less force my dad to pay £160 to have the cambelt changed he didn't believe me and thought I was making a fuss, my mums friend had an identical car she didn't have it changed. Six months later hers snapped and needed a complete top end rebuild.
At least with a chain you often get warning if something is up as they make a racket if they don't have the proper oil supply.
Also its only money is a good way to live, I used to get upset about even £5 if I lost it but I realise now its just not worth it. I've lost £100's from buying duff cars but I have learnt so much in the process I am not bitter. The original poster may have lost a fortune now but his nearly gained knowledge could save him a fortune one day.
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>>>The original poster may have lost a fortune now but his nearly gained knowledge could save him a fortune one day<<<
Experience is the best school, but the fee's are very high!
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>> I have just discovered that cam belts should be changed on renault meganes every 72k miles or every 5 years ...
I have a '53' 1.6 16v Megane and was told by my local Renault dealer that the cam belt interval is 50k. Mine's going in on Monday to be done - £280. Though that's my local indie who I can trust with my car and they've not contradicted what the Renault garage have said re the cam belt interval.
Hope you manage to get your car sorted.
Cheers.
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50,000 miles or 5 years would be the recommended replacement interval on your Megane
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OK I know we've been here many times before but given that a cambelt change is important surely it should be part of the standard service regime unless the owner specifically instructs otherwise? Seems these days it's considered opt in rather than opt out.
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My Volvo lot even a month after buying a used V70 said cam belts were not their responsibility. In fact the main things that tend to break are not covered by warranty.....funny that.
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If you know nothing about cars
I thought buying a Renault itself is a reflection of the same ;)
On a different note, I still don't understand why all engines not have cam chains. How much extra it costs for a chain to be fitted?
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>> If you know nothing about cars I thought buying a Renault itself is a reflection of the same ;)
Oi!!! :-)
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Chains aren't the panacea.....
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Chains can and do fail, and do not have an indefinite life. It is very unusual for a belt to fail within the specified change interval these days, so long as it has been correctly fitted, and they are certainly cheaper to replace than a chain !
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But they usualy last at least the life of an average engine. Also when a chain starts to go they often rattle so you get warning a lot of the time, with a belt there is no such warning.
I realise that chains are not perfect but I bet there are many 300k+ engines out there on their original chain.
I know on my car if the chain goes it is usualy due to insufficient oil supply due to blocked oilwells so if a chain goes it will probably be best just to pay Gaz down the pub a couple of smackerooniers and stick a new lump in.
I was told Vauxhall charge £350 to replace a chain on a twin cam Corsa but that seems a bit cheap to me.
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Due to blocked oilwells ...
If the oilwells are blocked I think we are all in trouble. You must mean oilways, Rattle :-)
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i will oilways remember that one
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