Timing belt question

[welshy]

Hi Folks
have a question on timing belts.
My car is coming up to 70,000 miles and i am going to replace the timing belt. I did actually take it into my local renault garage, who are doing total replacement inv VAT for £150.00. This seemed like a good option, but while in the garage, they seemed to insist that i should also be replacing the the rollers & tensioner belts, which was an extra £100.
I had not budgeted for that, so none of the belts are done yet.
The garage seemed to say that if something should go wrong with the timing belt, they would not guarntee the job unless these other belts were also replaced.
Question. Should i be getting these done also ?
and also , if the timing belt was to be replaced, and not the others at the same time, How easy would it be to go back and replace these at a later date, or would it be an easy job to get them all done at the same time ?
all the best
Tom

[arry_b]

Have they checked the tensioners and rollers yet? Or (as I'm guessing) have they told you "they've got to be done".
If it's the latter, tell them where to go - you've become a victim of the "maximise the profit from each customer" policy.
What you need is a sensible garage that will do the belt, but check the condition of the rollers, tensioner and water pump and advise you accordingly.
At 70K, they are likely to be fine but do need checking carefully. The question you need to ask is will they last till the next belt change without failing. If they do fail, then the engine is dead - huge repair bills.
I've recently done the belt on my ZX (at 120K), and one of the rollers was *just* getting the slightest hint of roughness, so I changed them all. It may have been OK, but the belt has to come off to work on the tensioners so you'll be paying twice for the same job. The belt itself is pennies in comparison to the labour involved.

[welshy]

THanks my friend, that has answered all my questions.
cheers
Tom
Ps, they didnt even look at the rollers or tensioners

[mIkEyJ]

Yesterday rang main dealer who quoted €700 for a timing belt change, said it was a complete kit and the lot had to be done at the same time water pump, tensioners etc as it comes as a complete kit.They emphasised that there is special equipment used so no one other than a Renault dealer could do the job, load of crap or true, advice please.

[JohnT]

You can not expect a reputable garage to stand the cost of being responsible if at a later date the tensioners, idlers or water pump goes twang. I have replaced many belts where the customer insists of saving money but I offer no guarantees (in writing).
If the job is to be done right those items should be replaced. It depends how much of a gambler you are and if you want to pay£65 an hour to a main dealer or £30ph for a local good garage.

[faffer]

I am about to have my timing belt replaced on my Lag II. I had been getting a few prices in and had been told that Renault do not recommend the re-torquing of the ancillary belt etc hence they all have to be replaced. My dealers price (with discount) is only a few pounds more than an independant price I was quoted. But neither of them mentioned anything about the water pump needing replacement.

[faffer]

Decided to have the water pump replaced along with the cambelt and ancillary belt etc. With my previous luck and this car the water pump probably would have failed next anyway. Had the work done at Renault all for £416.

[admiral51]

i must concur with faffer i have always had the lot done at the same time what price do you put on piece of mind

colin