So I bought that Clio 172 for £1300 yesterday, and today I spot on cliosport.net a thread from June where the seller has spotted that the auxbelt is rubbing.

http://www.cliosport.net/forum/showt...e-6-pics/page2

He didn't tell me about this even though I specifically asked if there were any issue he knew about. I know it's caveat emptor but he withheld stuff he knew about.

The belts were done in February I think by some workshop in Northwich and my guess is they ****ed it up. Like a pulley is on backwards or the tension is wrong, I'm not sure.

The belt will certainly let go at some point and I think that means the timing belt will get jammed and the engine will be need the head replacing at a minimum. That could be in 10 miles or 2000 miles I've no idea.

So just wondering what I should do? That work from Feb might be in warranty, but I didn't pay for it originally.

 

Tricky one, if it was me I'd cut my losses, take it to someone I know / trust, and get them to sort it.

Can't see belts / tensioners costing too much, so for piece of mind I'd bite the bullet.

I wouldn't take it back to the original garage by the sounds of it anyways.

 

You're probably right? Anyone know where in the Manchester area can do this on a Renault? I heard it is a little tricky.

 

Theres not much room to work in the clio with that big engine, as above get it to a garage you can trust, i had a timing belt fail after a garage fitted it 1k miles previous before i got the car, is k-tec not far from you?

 

K-tec is in Dorset so it's miles.

The belts were done by North West Performance in Northwich originally.

 

Alot closer than me lol

On their website theyve a tab just for the clio, maybe worth contacting them first? If not too far away.....

 

As I see it you would have to have proof that a) you asked him the question; and b) he knowingly misrepresented.
If there's email or PM evidence that helps.

However, you'd then have to prove that he knowingly misrepresented ie. that the thread you've picked up does relate to the same problem/car/owner.

THEN you'd have to show that you paid a sum for the car that was compatible with it not being in need of the work and even THEN you could only claim for your loss ie. the cost to put it right plus a few bob expenses.

So, if you paid a couple of hundred less than, say, Parkers or Glasses Guide it would be pointless.

Hawkeye D's probably given the best advice. As long as it's not a huge sum then unfortunately it is caveat emptor.

PS, only been a bit long-winded in case anyone else has a similar problem, to show how tricky these things can be.

 

Hi, Having come from a 182 to the Impreza and being a member on Cliosport I can advise you to NOT take it back to NWP in Northwich, just do a search on there and all will be revealed im afraid.

The ONLY specialist id be taking it to would be Birchdown in Malpass, Cheshire. Again search them on Cliosport, they are awesome

 

Ok thanks. Birchdown is the middle of nowhere lol. I think the nearest train station is 5 miles away?

 

Brian at cams services my wife's 197 based in darwen

 

I have experience in this

I naught an 4wd sierra cozzy and the seller new there was an issue with drive shafts - I proved it in exactly the same way you can. Called trading standards and after a while I got fl money back and the seller ( a dirty copper) got prosecuted ! BOOM

 

Erm yeaaah unfortunately it is lol They have a courtesy car tho that you might be able to use to get home or i'm sure one of the chaps will run you back to the nearest station

 

Was it advertised as a wheel?
https://www.scoobynet.com/scoobynet-...ease-help.html

 

I've got a feeling that they can rub on some sound deadening. Certainly my 182 had a small anount removed due to rubbing and when I asked a specialist they said it was common.

It's not a difficult job, just a bit limited by space. Front bumper off, headlight out and possibly an engine mount iirc. I bought my genuine tensioner and belt via wests renault on cliosport.

 

Well, as per usual plenty of helpful and useful advice on here.

OP - let us know what you decided and how it ended up.

Cheers.

 

They're like a bunch of immature kids on those Cliosport forums.

 

<chuckles at the irony>

 

I need to swap my air con compressor out and so replace the aux belt, I was told you need a special tensioner tool else it's a nightmare...how did you get one?