2000(W) 1600 Megane Auto.
Just started making a strange sort of screechy noise, sounds like its coming
from one of the belts.
The question is, is it a belt or a pulley or a bearing, or what, and is it
the alternator/PAS belt or the cambelt.
I thought it was coming from the PAS pump, but bro-in-law reckons it sounds
like it is coming from under the timing cover.
It's going in to the garage tomorrow first thing, but before they tell me it
definitely needs a cambelt change, I'd like to be sure it really does.
Cambelt is suppoed to be changed every 75K or 5 years - so it is due this
summer anyway, but I'm not convinced this is the cambelt.
Planning to sell the car in the next couple of weeks, so this is a fine
example of sod's law in action...

"Steve Burt"  wrote in message 
news:42c41f2a$0$13703$ed9e5944@reading.news.pipex.net...

> 2000(W) 1600 Megane Auto.
> Just started making a strange sort of screechy noise, sounds like its 
> coming
> from one of the belts.
> The question is, is it a belt or a pulley or a bearing, or what, and is it
> the alternator/PAS belt or the cambelt.
> I thought it was coming from the PAS pump, but bro-in-law reckons it 
> sounds
> like it is coming from under the timing cover.
> It's going in to the garage tomorrow first thing, but before they tell me 
> it
> definitely needs a cambelt change, I'd like to be sure it really does.
> Cambelt is suppoed to be changed every 75K or 5 years - so it is due this
> summer anyway, but I'm not convinced this is the cambelt.
> Planning to sell the car in the next couple of weeks, so this is a fine
> example of sod's law in action...



Does the Megane drive the waterpump off the cambelt?  If so, and the 
screeching is coming from the cambelt area it could be the waterpump on the 
way out. Get it sorted now, if it seizes you'll lose the cambelt and cause 
much pain to your valves :)

Hellraiser..........>

It's in today having the cambelt changed.
Yes, as far as I know the water pump is driven off it, and yes, it
could be the water pump on the way out - could also be one of the
tensioners or pulleys on the cambelt.

Hopefully that's all it is, not something else in the engine; I'm sure
these French cars know when you're planning to sell them.....

On 04/07/2005 10:41 pyruse wrote:


> It's in today having the cambelt changed.


Ouch, that'll cost you dear if it's a main Renault dealer (though less 
than if it breaks).

My daughter has a 2000(V) 1.6 Megane and was quoted 340-400 (depends on 
exactly which engine apparently as one type requires the tensioners 
replacing too) for a 72k service incl. cambelt and a regular major 
service is ~180.

Parish

"Parish"  wrote in message
news:42c90a8c$0$41915$ed2619ec@ptn-nntp-reader03.plus.net...

> On 04/07/2005 10:41 pyruse wrote:
>
> > It's in today having the cambelt changed.
>
> Ouch, that'll cost you dear if it's a main Renault dealer (though less
> than if it breaks).
>
> My daughter has a 2000(V) 1.6 Megane and was quoted 340-400 (depends on
> exactly which engine apparently as one type requires the tensioners
> replacing too) for a 72k service incl. cambelt and a regular major
> service is ~180.
>

Not at a main Renault dealer - the local Renault dealer is to be avoided at
all costs
350 for the cambelt all inclusive. I'd always want the tensioners
replaced - madness not to, IMO.
However, the problem turns out to be the water pump - the pulley bearing was
worn so it was making the noise.
It least its been fixed *before* it seized, broke the belt, and trashed the
engine.
Why do they design cars so a failed water pump can knacker your engine
instantly?

Yes, servicing is quite pricey for the Renault - one of the reasons we're
selling it.
Shame - it's a lovely car to drive, very comfortable, nice handling, very
economical on fuel.

Anyone want to buy a nice 5 year old Megane 1.6 Auto with all mod cons (air
con etc), 55K, gearbox replaced last summer, cambelt & water pump just
changed. 3990 or offers. It's just outside Cambridge.

> Yes, servicing is quite pricey for the Renault - one of the reasons we're
> selling it.


It's 5 years old - you don't *have* to take it to a main dealer for 
servicing, you know.  And is it general servicing that's the expensive bit 
or things like replacing gearboxes? ;-)


> Shame - it's a lovely car to drive, very comfortable, nice handling, very
> economical on fuel.
>
> Anyone want to buy a nice 5 year old Megane 1.6 Auto with all mod cons 
> (air
> con etc), 55K, gearbox replaced last summer, cambelt & water pump just
> changed. 3990 or offers. It's just outside Cambridge.


Peter

Iit's never been serviced at a main dealer since we've had it, and I've
no intention of taking it to one. Did I imply that? If so, I didn't
mean to - it just gets serviced at the local garage.

Servicing is quite expensive even without the cost of replacing the
gearbox; I was unpleasantly surprised at the cost of last summer's
service.

On 04/07/2005 14:20 Steve Burt wrote:


> Not at a main Renault dealer - the local Renault dealer is to be
> avoided at all costs 350 for the cambelt all inclusive. I'd always
> want the tensioners replaced - madness not to, IMO. However, the


Depends on the deign of the tensioner(s) I guess.


> problem turns out to be the water pump - the pulley bearing was worn
> so it was making the noise. It least its been fixed *before* it
> seized, broke the belt, and trashed the engine. Why do they design
> cars so a failed water pump can knacker your engine instantly?
> 


A crazy idea. Is the water pump driven off the back of the belt, i.e. by
friction, rather than the toothed side? At least that should give some
margin (you notice it overheating before the belt snapped) although I'd
still want the belt replacing in that scenario.

I was pleased to discover that my Saab uses a chain drive for the cams -
makes me feel a lot happier.


> Yes, servicing is quite pricey for the Renault - one of the reasons
> we're selling it. Shame - it's a lovely car to drive, very
> comfortable, nice handling, very economical on fuel.
> 
> Anyone want to buy a nice 5 year old Megane 1.6 Auto with all mod
> cons (air con etc), 55K, gearbox replaced last summer, cambelt &
> water pump just changed. 3990 or offers. It's just outside
> Cambridge.
> 


No thanks ;-)

Parish

> Iit's never been serviced at a main dealer since we've had it, and I've
> no intention of taking it to one. Did I imply that? If so, I didn't
> mean to - it just gets serviced at the local garage.
>
> Servicing is quite expensive even without the cost of replacing the
> gearbox; I was unpleasantly surprised at the cost of last summer's
> service.


Out of interest, how much was it, and what needed doing above the basic cost 
of the service, like brake discs/pads etc.?

Peter

"AstraVanMan"  wrote in message
news:JEbye.22436$Ar5.21876@newsfe5-win.ntli.net...

> > Iit's never been serviced at a main dealer since we've had it, and I've
> > no intention of taking it to one. Did I imply that? If so, I didn't
> > mean to - it just gets serviced at the local garage.
> >
> > Servicing is quite expensive even without the cost of replacing the
> > gearbox; I was unpleasantly surprised at the cost of last summer's
> > service.
>
> Out of interest, how much was it, and what needed doing above the basic
cost
> of the service, like brake discs/pads etc.?
>

It was around 200 - oil and coolant change, aircon refill, filters changed.
I think that was it.
At least the MOT was free (part of the deal when we bought the car was free
MOTs for the life of the vehicle)

"Parish"  wrote in message
news:42c943b9$0$2022$ed2e19e4@ptn-nntp-reader04.plus.net...

> On 04/07/2005 14:20 Steve Burt wrote:
>
> > Not at a main Renault dealer - the local Renault dealer is to be
> > avoided at all costs 350 for the cambelt all inclusive. I'd always
> > want the tensioners replaced - madness not to, IMO. However, the
>
> Depends on the deign of the tensioner(s) I guess.
>
> > problem turns out to be the water pump - the pulley bearing was worn
> > so it was making the noise. It least its been fixed *before* it
> > seized, broke the belt, and trashed the engine. Why do they design
> > cars so a failed water pump can knacker your engine instantly?
> >
>
> A crazy idea. Is the water pump driven off the back of the belt, i.e. by
> friction, rather than the toothed side? At least that should give some
> margin (you notice it overheating before the belt snapped) although I'd
> still want the belt replacing in that scenario.
>
> I was pleased to discover that my Saab uses a chain drive for the cams -
> makes me feel a lot happier.


Yeah - we're replacing it with a Nissan Almera 1.8 Auto - also chain drive.


>
> > Yes, servicing is quite pricey for the Renault - one of the reasons
> > we're selling it. Shame - it's a lovely car to drive, very
> > comfortable, nice handling, very economical on fuel.
> >
> > Anyone want to buy a nice 5 year old Megane 1.6 Auto with all mod
> > cons (air con etc), 55K, gearbox replaced last summer, cambelt &
> > water pump just changed. 3990 or offers. It's just outside
> > Cambridge.
> >
>
> No thanks ;-)
>

Hey - everything that could go wrong has done so.....

>> > Servicing is quite expensive even without the cost of replacing the
>> > gearbox; I was unpleasantly surprised at the cost of last summer's
>> > service.
>>
>> Out of interest, how much was it, and what needed doing above the basic
> cost
>> of the service, like brake discs/pads etc.?
>>
> It was around 200 - oil and coolant change, aircon refill, filters 
> changed.
> I think that was it.
> At least the MOT was free (part of the deal when we bought the car was 
> free
> MOTs for the life of the vehicle)


That's not all that expensive really, considering you got the aircon 
regassed, and the coolant changed as well.

I'd expect to pay around 100-120 for a proper annual service, about 50 to 
get the aircon regassed, and a bit extra for the coolant change.  It won't 
be much different for all that lot, whatever car you've got.

But getting shot of a Renault with an auto box while everything's still 
working is definitely a good move though!  ;-)

Peter

> Yeah - we're replacing it with a Nissan Almera 1.8 Auto - also chain 
> drive.
>
>> > Yes, servicing is quite pricey for the Renault - one of the reasons
>> > we're selling it. Shame - it's a lovely car to drive, very
>> > comfortable, nice handling, very economical on fuel.
>> >
>> > Anyone want to buy a nice 5 year old Megane 1.6 Auto with all mod
>> > cons (air con etc), 55K, gearbox replaced last summer, cambelt &
>> > water pump just changed. 3990 or offers. It's just outside
>> > Cambridge.
>>
>> No thanks ;-)
>>
> Hey - everything that could go wrong has done so.....


And probably will again before too long :-)

Peter