Renault Scenic Timing Belt Question?

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shrek

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We Have 1.4 Renault Scenic Sports Model.
Bought Last Year From Local Garage. The Timing Belt Needs To Be Done Now As There Is Over 60,000 Miles On The Car. We Got A Bit Of A Shock To Be Honest. When I Enquired About Getting The Timing Belt Done. I Was Told Timing Belt Can Only Be Done On This Model At A Renault Dealer. The Cost Was Going To Be €650.00 (thats After We Pursued The Dealer )we Bought The Car From Cos We Were Never Told The Timing Belt Would Need To Be Done At 60,000 Miles
So The Car Is Now Due A Service, Timing Belt Needs To Be Done And It Needs Four New Tyres!! We Are At Loggerheads Over What To Do.
Whether To Spend The Money And Keep The Car For Another Few Years Or Trade The Car For Another Make Where We Wont Have The Hassle With Timing Belt. Garage Advised Timing Belt Will Have To Be Done Again At 120,000 Miles. Annoying Thing Is Brother Got His Peugeot Van Done Yest And The Timing Belt Cost 60.00 Euro......
Other Wise Car Runs Grand Serves The Purpose Gets Us From A To B. Any Of You Had Timing Belts Done On Renault Scenic Or Any Opinions On The Above.
Thanks
 
I don't see why it should be a main dealer job. The belt must be done or else you risk this persons bad experience....

"I have a 1.6 petrol 16valve Scenic 2000 (W reg) good car, very adaptable but all went wrong when at 48000 miles, the auxillary belt sheaded, the debris got into the timing belt and ruined the engine. my question to Renault can this happen, their reply was non comittal but said in certain circumstances that this could happen and tough luck!!! Buy a new engine £2500. I have been very careful with this belt ever since but a couple of weeks ago after the Major 72000 mile service the aux belt went again, the renault dealer said the jockey pully caused the break. Bill was £289 for repair, next day after 5 miles the car came to a stop. you`ve guest, the aux belt again but this time it has ruined the engine again. Cause this time, alternator problems. Renault should realy get to grips with this, making engines that can fail when the auxillary belt fails, but they have not and indeed the current cars on sale, all have this potential expensive problem. I understand the problem covers all their current engines 1.4, 1.6 2.0 petrol and 1.9 deisels. On my experience a broken aux belt has a 66.6% probability of writing off the engine. BE WARNED.
In 45 years of motoring with all types of cars including other Reaults I have never had engine trouble because of Auxillary Belts."
 
Hi

Thanks for your reply, I have a 02 model and when I questioned the various garages about gettting the timing belt done I was told that this model had to got to a renault main dealer that other garages or mechanics would not touch the timing belt so we are still none the wiser as to what to do whether to spend the bucks getting the work done or to move away from Renault ....
 
Will check on an 02 model....the belt has to be done however.

You risk disaster if it's not replaced.
 
Can't see anything specific on the 02 model.

Get it done, but check more indepenent garages first for price. The belt may be very awkward to access or may need specialist tools to release and retension.
 
Just had a look at Honest John's website. Get rid of it before anything else goes. Renault seem to be nothing but trouble and the dealers couldn't seem to care less.

"In June 2001 Renault was rated by Motor Warranty Direct as Britain's joint 4th worst out of 22 marques for used car warranty claims. 20th from bottom for reliabilty in Auto Express 2002 reader survey of 100 models. High number of complaints from Telegraph readers and honestjohn website visitors. Joint fourth bottom in 2002 Which reliability survey of cars up to 2 years old; 241 cars surveyed. Renault had above average warranty repair costs in 2003"
[broken link removed]

Go Japanese for relaibility.




Murt
 
The Scenic is a good old bus. A big seller and rightly so. They sell readily 2nd or 3rd hand if in good knick, and even retain decent value.

Murt is probably right that the jap cars are a bit more reliable, but they tend to be a little pricer, and might not be so well equipped. My experience of jap cars is limited to a Corolla I hated (co. car) and which I tried to kill quite a few times, and failed. The only issue I had since was a quite troublesome Alfa Romeo (it was great fun though) and a timing belt snap in spectacular style on an low mileage Opel (whilst bouncing off the rev limiter). I've owned 6 new Fords in the last few years and have never had a problem. Reliabilty would not be a buying concern for me therefore, but each to their own.

I reckon get the belt done, and motor on.
 
Hi

I have a Mondeo, similar cost E600 :( these belts need changing at 70,000 or every five years. But it is not just a simple question of changing belts. There are pulleys, bearings,belts and engine mounts have to been taken out. The labour time on a mondeo is 3-4 hours. On previous Fords that I owned years ago it was just a simple belt change for £6-£10. Engines are for more complex now, and go for far more without services.
 
RS2K said:
My experience of jap cars is limited to a Corolla I hated (co. car) and which I tried to kill quite a few times, and failed.
Click to expand...

Forgive me if I find it amusing that you tried to kill the Corolla and failed - Japs are reliable - that's it. How one can rate Jap, French, German etc. models against each other for driving experience sounds silly to me when all we're talking about is budget 1 litre to 2 litre cars that let's face are just modes of transport.

By the way I believe if the Punto belt goes there's no harm done - one (if not the only) reason to buy one.
 
You are forgiven. It was supposed to be a funny remark!

The Corolla was 100% reliable, quite economical,....driving pleasure wise it was hopeless. It was an appliance - like driving a fridge I'd imagine.

If driving for you is a matter of transport and nothing else, fair enough. For me it can provide quite a bit of pleasure. Driving smoothly and quickly (not fast) and obeying the laws can be good fun. It's good to arrive safely at a destination and a pasenger to say "you drove well". I take some pride in that.

I enjoy comparing various cars personalities and differences in performance, handling, comfort etc. Doesn't really matter if it's a 1 litre or 5 litre.

Going back to the timing belt issue - it's possible what you say about a Punto is true. The function of the belt is to ensure all the bits of the engine which are moving up and down, and sometimes in and out relative to each other, do so at exactly the corrct time. If the belt snaps mayhem can ensue under the bonnet and a lot of damge can occur. Metal on metal contact.

I wouldn't drive a Punto if I knew the timing belt was overdue a change regardless if I thought it snapping would cause serious engine damage or not. I wouldn't be happy with the uncertainty of it. Change it. It's like buying good insurance.
 
Let's agree to differ then RS2K - my point was that ordinary cars don't give a genuine drive like for example a Ferrari or a Morgan. They're not intended to - they're "made by robots and tested by dummies" as the old Volvo adverts said. Enjoy your Renault
 
I don't own a Renault!

I know what you mean though. Some mass produced relatively "ordinary cars" do have a bit of character however.
 
Pollock said:
Sorry am I missing something
Click to expand...

Must be. I've never owned a Renault Scenic. Ican't see where the quote came from either, but never mind.

My 1st car was an R4 however.
 
I take it that the second paragraph from RS2K's post above (second post on this thread) is a quote copied from somewhere else, as distinct from RS2K's own words.
 
My wifes 00 Scenic died again for the second time in a fortnight. It was previously the starter motor, replaced at a cost of €350, I am now told it is the fly wheel into which the starter motor sits. The whole engine and gearbox has to come out ( its an auto box) in order to replace this fly wheel. I'm looking at in excess of €1000 to get it back on the road.

In a year, this car has been in the garage on 5 different occassions. Unfortunately for me, the last two complaints have happened just outside the twelve months parts and labour that it came with. The car has only 39k on the clock, 1 previous owner, bought from main dealer. Currently does no more than 3k miles per annum.

It will be the last Renault I ever part with my hard earned for.
 
LDFerguson said:
I take it that the second paragraph from RS2K's post above (second post on this thread) is a quote copied from somewhere else, as distinct from RS2K's own words.
Click to expand...

Ah I see now. Liam is correct - thanks. I got that from Honest John I think.
 
Hi,

Female driver here with no clue about car mechanics.

I also own a renault scenic 1.6RT 1998. 110k on clock. Recently the rev meter on occasions starts to throw a wobble. Usually on starting or pulling into the driveway. The car is at a standstill but the engine is revving up without my foot on the pedal.

Got worried there when I read this thread on the timing belt thing shattering and destroying the engine. Could this be my problem. Is my belt about to snap?

Have also had numerous problems with this car. Starting to cut out allot while in low gear or coming down a gear.

Apologies for my lack of mechanical jargon.
 
Fiona,
That sounds like trouble, although it's unlikely be timing belt related. If the belt snaps there will be no symptoms nor warnings. It'll just go and the engine will mash itself up. It's essential to have it changed at or before the recommended interval.
From your description I'd suspect some electronic gremlin. Get it checked using the plugin diagnostic computer. Renault dealer job unfortunately so will be expensive enough.
110k miles is quite a bit, and it might be a good time to consider replacing the car.
Sorry to be the bearer of bad news.
 
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