Change the cam belt or not?

Ben Cole

Ben Cole

Ben Cole

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Porthcawl and Southampton
Normally one would just change the cam belt at the correct interval but hear me out.

The car is a 10 year old Clio 1.5dCi.
It has done 229k miles.
The belt change interval is 72k miles or 5 years I believe.


So obviously the car is worth buttons and although I have no specific reason to suspect the car is about to give up the ghost I have to be open to that possibility.
The car is now slightly overdue on the mileage count but it's only around 3 years since the last change.

I am waiting for a quote to come back. If it's £200 I'll just do it but if it's £400 would you just wait? The last time my local garage did it the bill was £600+ but there was plenty of other work in there too. Perhaps wait till the MOT next July when I can be more sure of getting another year out of it?

I'm thinking that since my usage doesn't have as many heat cycles as one would expect for the mileage there might actually be a fair bit of life left in the belt. It generally gets started and driven 150+miles. Very few start stop short trips. The belt has obviously made the same number of rotations as any other belt with the same miles but surely hasn't been stressed as much by less heating up and cooling down? Also the belt is not all that old.

TLDR
Car is worth a couple of hundred at best. Due a cam belt change which will almost certainly cost more than the car's worth. Car in decent running order.
Change or not?

Any opinions welcomed.
 
If the rest of it is in good working order, I'd have no quibbles with doing it. The belt might cost £400, but even if it only runs for another year or two, that's £400 well spent. As long as you look after the car there's no genuine reason why it would blow up any time soon. Look at the octavia taxis, a lot of them are 500k+ miles because they've been serviced correctly.
 
£400 to keep an otherwise sound car running or £xxxx if the belt snaps to buy a new car which may have any number of things wrong with it?
 
I just spent £400 repairing a £950 car, so why not? :p (e; as said below, the car is worth more than £950 to me, as it has lots of new parts that most "equivelant" cars for sale will not have)

Its worth scrap if the belt snaps.
 
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This question inspired me to post my story in this very forum. My theory? ALWAYS change the cambelt.
 
Do it but my god how much?

My 50 year old pedophile ex Renault Master Tech mechanic under charges "big" jobs like this. To do the timing belt and radiator on a Corolla he charged £40 + parts I supplied.
 
Interesting. I thought there'd be a few more replies that would be more willing to risk it.

The other thing to point out is that the car wouldn't necessarily be replaced. I already have two other cars.

I'll see what the quote comes out at.

Thanks for your input everyone.
 
pepsilol said:
Do it but my god how much?

My 50 year old pedophile ex Renault Master Tech mechanic under charges "big" jobs like this. To do the timing belt and radiator on a Corolla he charged £40 + parts I supplied.
Click to expand...



Hmm funnily enough I also know an ex Renault master tech who is a bit shifty looking Renault garages the new bbc?
 
how many miles do these usually go on for ? no other parts that wear ?

i think your undervaluing it at £200. even if you spend £250 getting the belt done what else can you get for under £500 that you know is reliable , has been looked after , and gets good mpg ?
 
Quote from the local independent that has done all the maintenance on it at £345 which includes water pump.
 
Think that's about the going rate for most cars, I paid about that earlier this year to have my skoda's belt+pump done along with a couple of other things. I'd do it.
 
After checking last night I noticed the last bill for cam belt change had the belt kit at £90odd + VAT.

Throw in 4 hours labour at £45, add the VAT and we're looking at £324. Add in the water pump and it's not far off.
 
Well a timing belt and water pump kit is £58 from ECP.

Add 4 hours labour at £45 totals to £238.

Add the vat - £285.. where is the extra £60 odd going?
 
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