Renault Clio Accessory Belt - Can it be delayed?

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neoprema

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If anyone has experience with this, or you're a mechanic please assist.

A family member has a Renault Clio IV 0.8l Turbo 2013 with 38 000 on the clock.

Its due for a service now (out of warranty and plans) but they want to change the Accessory belt because its due to be changed at 100 000 which what the car should have done roughly. The cost of the belt is extremely high.

I'm wondering, given the low mileage, does the belt really need to be changed or is it just a system saying so due to age? Or is age a major factor in the belt as well as wear-and-tear/mileage? Thanks.
 
If it is timing belt that is +- 100k or 5 years very good idea to replace it , it not fun if it breaks
 
thehuman said:
If it is timing belt that is +- 100k or 5 years very good idea to replace it , it not fun if it breaks
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It has no cam belt, only accessory belt they call it. I'm not sure if that is now actually used for timing or something else...
My knowledge of car engines is basically "If I put my foot down does it go, and if it stops working who comes to collect it and bring me a new one to drive while waiting" :)
 
Accessory belt = aircon belt.

What is the cost though? It should be a couple of hundred bucks at best. These get changed fairly frequently on a car and it's the one you can see quite openly next to the motor running to the compressor.

I would highly advise not starting to take shortcuts with your car now. Usually once you start you don't stop and if you can't suck it up now you won't want to suck it up later.

Belts are usually replaced every 5 years so they are probably basing it on that or the mileage.
 
neoprema said:
It has no cam belt, only accessory belt they call it. I'm not sure if that is now actually used for timing or something else...
My knowledge of car engines is basically "If I put my foot down does it go, and if it stops working who comes to collect it and bring me a new one to drive while waiting" :)
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Pretty sure that car would have a timing/cam belt. and not a chain but then they would have called it that for almost damn sure.

If your knowledge is that limited...then get the work done and trust their judgement because you already know your own is lacking.

As always RTFM as it should give you clear schedules for replacing items and their intervals.
 
Here's the manuals for that motor.

http://www.daciaforum.co.uk/forum/topic/16905-dacia-maintenance-programme-pdf/

Accessory Belt is listed as 115,200km (72,000 miles) or 6 years.

Limited info there I'm now also not sure if that belt is the main timing belt or not as there is no mention of a timing belt anywhere.

But I would highly advise checking your own manual, although it's probably in the car which isn't with you.

How much is the quote?
 
SauRoNZA said:
Pretty sure that car would have a timing/cam belt. and not a chain but then they would have called it that for almost damn sure.

If your knowledge is that limited...then get the work done and trust their judgement because you already know your own is lacking.

As always RTFM as it should give you clear schedules for replacing items and their intervals.
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Yeah thats why i was asking here :)

Renault is asking R3500 to change the belt, Bosch Service Center is asking R900.00. They always service at Renault but in this case the price is high hence me asking if the belt is really needed now. The manual and service center both say it needs replacing at 5 years. But, some people are telling me thats because they assume the car has done 100k or near that in 5 years. When this one has only done 38k
 
Seems if it is indeed the H4BT motor then it does have a chain after all.

Colour me very surprised.

So definitely a belt for the aircon etc and you could probably let it slide until the next service if they are replacing it purely out of the book saying so and not because they've seen it ripping.
 
neoprema said:
Yeah thats why i was asking here :)

Renault is asking R3500 to change the belt, Bosch Service Center is asking R900.00. They always service at Renault but in this case the price is high hence me asking if the belt is really needed now. The manual and service center both say it needs replacing at 5 years. But, some people are telling me thats because they assume the car has done 100k or near that in 5 years. When this one has only done 38k
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Then have it done at Bosch for sure.

Age is a factor here as they do go brittle. In fact I would say the age is more relevant than the mileage actually.

Sorry I didn't pick up that you said 38k originally, for some reason I read 100k.

Put it this way I would rather have it done at Bosch for much less money than skip it completely.

****

Don't quote me on this as I may be very wrong so someone like @Sinbad can maybe confirm but if the belt goes you shouldn't suffer any damage other than your aircon would stop working.

Not sure if the alternator charges from that belt as well which would be an obvious problem as your car wouldn't start again.

Rather safe than sorry with R900 out of pocket, than stranded next to the road and out of pocket a lot more after towing etc.
 
SauRoNZA said:
Seems if it is indeed the H4BT motor then it does have a chain after all.

Colour me very surprised.

So definitely a belt for the aircon etc and you could probably let it slide until the next service if they are replacing it purely out of the book saying so and not because they've seen it ripping.
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Okay I checked, yes its the H4BT - 66KW turobcharged motor.
 
SauRoNZA said:
Then have it done at Bosch for sure.

Age is a factor here as they do go brittle. In fact I would say the age is more relevant than the mileage actually.

Sorry I didn't pick up that you said 38k originally, for some reason I read 100k.

Put it this way I would rather have it done at Bosch for much less money than skip it completely.

****

Don't quote me on this as I may be very wrong so someone like @Sinbad can maybe confirm but if the belt goes you shouldn't suffer any damage other than your aircon would stop working.

Not sure if the alternator charges from that belt as well which would be an obvious problem as your car wouldn't start again.

Rather safe than sorry with R900 out of pocket, than stranded next to the road and out of pocket a lot more after towing etc.
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Cool think i'll just tell her to do that.

i am confused as to the price difference for the belt between Bosch and Renault - Renault should be paying next-to-nothing for the belt as its made in bulk for them.
 
neoprema said:
Cool think i'll just tell her to do that.

i am confused as to the price difference for the belt between Bosch and Renault - Renault should be paying next-to-nothing for the belt as its made in bulk for them.
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The accessory belt is also known as the Serpentine belt, it's a very important belt, google it.
Most of the times it's the labour cost a the dealership that actually increases the overall cost.
 
Sumen said:
The accessory belt is also known as the Serpentine belt, it's a very important belt, google it.
Most of the times it's the labour cost a the dealership that actually increases the overall cost.
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I googled it.

I'm getting everything from "catastrophic failure of AC, Alternator or Powersteering systems" to "Nothing really, the car will just stop and warning lights will come on. Have it towed to the nearest repair center and change the belt."
 
neoprema said:
I googled it.

I'm getting everything from "catastrophic failure of AC, Alternator or Powersteering systems" to "Nothing really, the car will just stop and warning lights will come on. Have it towed to the nearest repair center and change the belt."
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Catastrophic is a bit too far, but once the belt goes some things will stop working until you replace the belt.
 
Any replacement/repair under R1000 these days is a no brainer bud. dont chance it
 
neoprema said:
Cool think i'll just tell her to do that.

i am confused as to the price difference for the belt between Bosch and Renault - Renault should be paying next-to-nothing for the belt as its made in bulk for them.
Click to expand...

The part itself would probably be within 20% price wise.

The labour is the real difference because Renault is paying for all that fancy floor space and all those marble titles on the main road of Trendville while Bosch isn't.
 
SauRoNZA said:
The part itself would probably be within 20% price wise.

The labour is the real difference because Renault is paying for all that fancy floor space and all those marble titles on the main road of Trendville while Bosch isn't.
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LOL, well put.
 
nazmo said:
Any replacement/repair under R1000 these days is a no brainer bud. dont chance it
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Seriously? it is accessory belt not some highly specialised piece of equipment, if OP had just basic knowldge he could do it, R900 is not a bad price for parts and labour, OP just has to make sure that the belt is made by a reputable brand like Gates or something. It is usually as simple as realeasing the tension on the belt, routing the new one on and putting the tension back on.
 
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