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Can you tell if a cambelt has been changed

8K views 4 replies 4 participants last post by  gaz12 
#1 ·
I'm about to buy a Y reg Scenic Expression + 1.8. The current owner doesn't know for sure if the cambelt has been changed, and there is nothing in the service book to say that it has despite a FSH. He does say that he bought it with just over 70k on the clock and thinks he would've got it gt it changed for peace of mind.

The car has now done £87k. Is it possible to tell if a cambelt has been changed?:confused:
 
#3 ·
If it had just been done, then you could look for signs of the dirt being disturbed in the appropriate areas. But a few thousand miles down the line, that's not going to help. Even taking the cover off, I doubt that the belt's going to look brand new after that many miles.

In a nutshell, if nobody can tell you outright that it's been done, then chances are that it hasn't. Especially if this is backed up by there being no record in the service history.

If it hasn't, then you're on borrowed time already. I know it'll be annoying if you end up having to pay to replace a belt that's done less than 20K, but it won't be as annoying as the engine shredding itself because it's done 90K+ on the original belt.

To be honest, as you haven't paid for the car yet, I'd challenge the current owner to provide proof that it has been changed. If he can't, then assume that it hasn't, and make sure that the cost of having the job done is reflected in the price that you pay for the car.

I'm not sure about that particular engine, but on a lot of Renaults, the belt change isn't officially due until after 70K anyway. That, on top of everything else makes me think that the car's probably still running on its original belt.
 
#4 ·
I'm not aware of any visual method of checking whether a cam belt has been changed or not...

To be on the safe side, if you buy the car, get the belt changed... that way you're safe, and you know you don't have to do it for a while!!
 
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