Gooner II V6 - Reliable motoring at its finest*

[Parky]

The thing is can you actually tell when a belt is about to let go just by looking at it? Are there any tell tale signs to look for (apart from perishing or fraying at the edges?)

 

I suspect many broken belts actually look ok when inspected (apart from the snapped bit obviously). When I had mine done it still looked like new after 5 years but when you bent it the other way the cracks in it were very obvious. Mechanic reckoned I had been pretty lucky

[scaryoldcortina]

Mechanics always tell you that it was about to go and you were lucky to help justify the fact you paid out to get it changed. No different to any other profession that relies on selling something.

 

Most failures are actually caused by tensioner or waterpump failure pushing the belt off the sprockets rather than it snapping, and often a snapped belt turns out to be caused by a siezed camshaft. I'd still recommend changing a belt that looks cracked without bending it and also one where you can see stripes on the back. Totally shiny with all the writing worn off is also a bad sign.

[SiC]

At least Renault/PSA specced metal tensioners and metal impellers on their water pump ... unlike VAGs common offerings.

 

Looks like the aux belt has to come off and possibly the power steering pulley to get to the fixings on the top cam covers.

[scaryoldcortina]

A metal tensioner can still sieze its bearing, and will then silently polish the back of the belt into oblivion in fairly short order, hence the warning about shiny looking belts with no writing.

 

PS, the aux belt condition won't tell you anything much about the cambelt. It runs outside exposed to the elements, has a much harder job in respect of unequal loading and isn't even the same type of belt (Multi-v not toothed)

[406V6]

£695 for a V6 cambelt sounds a good price (for these cars, no-one wants to spend £695) although unclear whether it's including VAT or not. On the 406 coupe forum where V6s are common there are very few incidences of belt failure.

 

Why not buy the other Gooner and keep it as a spare on SORN. Given how often these things seem to break it seems a good idea to have one as backup after an FTP.

[SiC]

That's all included, everything with the VAT, etc. Done at a Renault specialist who have former Renault dealer mechanics. I got recommended them from the Garage I usually use mate (who used to work at Renault himself). Guys in there were what you expected too, 40s odd, no apprentices.

 

I do actually have a spare if it suffers a FTP. Was intending to sell it, but may just let it fester on the drive a bit longer (just in case). Actually gave the other half grandad more for this car than I did for the Gooner. Plus its actually probably worth more than the Laguna right now.

 

I asked for a quote from a Citroen specialist but not heard back from them yet. Their place was very shiney and nice looking, so I guess its going to be more.

 

The Laguna did give me a heart blip moment when I needed to get back to the office, but the keyless start stopped playing ball. Immobiliser light flashing and saying "Insert Card". Luckily sticking the card in made it happy again and allowed me to start it.

 

[Isaac Hunt]

That's all included, everything with the VAT, etc. Done at a Renault specialist who have former Renault dealer mechanics. quote]

 

I had a Montego belt replaced at the correct mileage by a main dealer. It snapped about 3000 miles later, the main dealer mechanic had clearly overtightened the tensioner. Fortunately the old Montego S Series engines were non-interference, so no engine damage.

 

I am sure the mechs from the Gooner school of maintenance have a bit more 'je ne sais qoi'

[cort16]

I think philbusimo just went all out and bought all the proper tools to avoid pissing around I guess with the idea it could just be lobbed back on eBay  once he was done with it.

[tooSavvy]

Roulette = "A man with BALLS!"

 

.... did I miss something?

 

lolzz

 

TS

[PhillipM]

A metal tensioner can still sieze its bearing, and will then silently polish the back of the belt into oblivion in fairly short order, hence the warning about shiny looking belts with no writing.

 

Bingo, this is my V6 metal tensioner....

 

[SiC]

Bingo, this is my V6 metal tensioner....

 

Ouch! I guess you caught it in time? How many miles over and has the belt been done before? (I.e. possibly someone previous over tensioned it)

[Parky]

I think you should get it done properly. Then none of us have to worry about it come Roffle time!

[SiC]

I couldn't get the cover completely off without removing the top engine mount. But managed to bend it back and got these pictures. Was getting dark at this point, so phone camera flash was on.

 

 

The mark on the belt below is the aux belt where I caught it with the cam cover. Only light scuff.

 

Doesn't look too bad shape to me? Are cambelts date coded?

 

The aux belt doesn't look too bad either

 

Not as tight between the engine and car body as I thought. Sealey ratchet at the top for size reference.

[scaryoldcortina]

Yeah, I'd be happy with that given the value of the car vs the cost of changing it. Get driving it until something else breaks!

[PhillipM]

Ouch! I guess you caught it in time? How many miles over and has the belt been done before? (I.e. possibly someone previous over tensioned it)

It was 10k under being due!

 Think some butcher had been at it before, yes.

 

However, the belt looked fine visually and there was no noise from it, even though the idlers were screwed too.

[SiC]

Yeah, I'd be happy with that given the value of the car vs the cost of changing it. Get driving it until something else breaks!

Cool thanks.

 

Noticed earlier after I started it back up that the interior lights flicker badly when the aircon clutch is engaged. 

 

Oh and the keyless start decided it wanted the card yet again.

[SiC]

ES9 / L7X lovers check this out:

 

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Citroen-C5-C6-C8-Xantia-XM-Brand-New-Contitech-Timing-Belt-Kit-CT1052K1-/331764786209

 

Looks mega cheap! Where's the catch?

[PhillipM]

I paid almost twice that the cheapest I could get at the time too

[SiC]

 

 

The prize (amongst other parts)

[Dave_Q]

Is that cheap? I paid about 80 quid for a gates belt kit and water pump for my Berlingo, although thats a 4cylinder.

 

Based on that I'd say that belt kit is priced about right.

[SiC]

Mornings work. £60 for this lot. Not as cheap as I hoped, especially as I pulled it. But not too bad I guess (for down south).

 

 

[Captain Furious]

I would definitely just roll with that cambelt, I always think of these things in terms of % of the value of the car, so on my last car an oil and filter change was a big financial decision. I know with cambelts if it fails it almost certainly equals death of car, but were that to happen it's just a great opportunity to experience another bargain shitewagon. The other option is that it carries on with no problem for the duration of your ownership and you don't have to spend £600-700

 

So somehow, in my head, is a win win..just make sure you're in the AA

[Parky]

Cam belt or no cam belt I would wager that's fine advice for any Laguna owner

[SiC]

A week + a day in and 400 miles. First tank averaged 24mpg but thats including motorway cruising on the collection.

 

No hint of FTP, starts everytime (excluding when keyless start says nope), runs well, everything that was broken has stayed broken and nothing more has failed. Cambelt I'm going to chance, gearbox fluid definitely needs doing and replacement ABS pump obtained (to fix ESP warning).

 

Fixed the bonnet stay - important thing to have working well on a Laguna 2.

 

Plugged in new ABS pump and did a code scan. Only code was low battery voltage. Checked live sensors, brake pressure sensor is reading zero (faulty reads max). So hopefully a good pump!

 

 

Debating whether to swap it whole or use the valve body on mine (that contains the brake pressure sensor). Might not fit swapping the valve body or incompatibilities. If swap whole, then as from a 2.0dci, it may have different ESP setup and programming.

 

Went to fit replacement tyre pressure monitoring receiver. Disconnected the antenna and discovered this.

Bugger! I didn't cut off the connector at the one in the scrappy either. Looks like I'll need a trip back.

 

Fixed the interior map reading lights not working unless pressing hard on the switch. Contacts were really dirty, so a scrub of sandpaper on them brought them back and made the bulbs brighter.

 

This is a lesson in using the least possible materials in making this work. The contact design looked proper shonky! This part is made in Switzerland...

 

 

I still can't believe I only paid £520 for this. I keep seeing adverts for bog standard 1.8 petrol Laguna's around 2002-2004 for similar money. Phase 2 stuff like this one but with standard petrols tends to go around 1k and diesels more.

 

Still love it. That was part of the dilemma with the cambelt, its easy to get swept away by these when they're functioning* but loose sight of the fact it's still carries the Laguna 2 reputation.

 

 

 

* Functioning in 2000 era Renault's speak means that a loose collection of parts are all making progress down the road in roughly the same direction.

[beko1987]

When I did the meriva cambelt it all looked fine for a while yet.

 

Surely the autoshite way is to buy a £100 spotter and run that about whilst you diy the cambelt over a few weekends?

 

Your impending wedding might be an issue there though, unless you combine the honeymoon with a collection? Bonus points for pez shots in full wedding clobber

[SiC]

Unfortunately the weekends aren't free. I'm going on my stag do next weekend - I suspect it won't be quite as fun and entertaining as changing a cambelt on a FWD v6 French car. (I genuinely would have totally love that as a stag do).

[SiC]

This arrived today. Not bad for £50 posted from Germany.

 

Especially as just one of these in Mobil is £50.

 

It says it should do the trick (Aisin Warner JWS 3309 spec). Of course its only a bargain if it doesn't bugger my 'box up. 5 years shelf life - 10.5 years the stuff has been inside my box. So probably due flushing just on oil age.

 

Very fresh stuff too!

[Honey Badger]

I'm looking forward to you being the guinea pig for that ATF, if It doesn't break a Renault autobox then I'm hopeful that it should work in a Honda.

 

Not a lot beats wafting about with the growl of a V6 on tap, gets expensive if it sounds too good though, I seem to hammer my Accord about at full chat all the time just for the pleasant soundtrack.

[tooSavvy]

I suspect it won't be quite as fun and entertaining as changing a cambelt on a FWD v6 French car. (I genuinely would have totally love that as a stag do).

.... oof! Having a gang of $hiters turn up for an 'autobox refresh/stag do' will deffo be you on your back, waving a limp filler tube about, while they testdrive the intended 'up the back lane'

 

TS

[SiC]

I'm looking forward to you being the guinea pig for that ATF, if It doesn't break a Renault autobox then I'm hopeful that it should work in a Honda.

 

Not a lot beats wafting about with the growl of a V6 on tap, gets expensive if it sounds too good though, I seem to hammer my Accord about at full chat all the time just for the pleasant soundtrack.

This is a bit too silent for my liking tbh. There are no aftermarket exhaust options available either. Tempted to have the middle silencer section taken out for a bit more growl. However it's probably a one-way street and expensive to have put back in if too noisy.

 

I did realise yesterday that it literally has zero indication of what engine is in it. No door badges that say 3.0 v6 (ph1 said it on the passenger door) - just says Initiale, no externally visible exhaust differences, no extra trim, nothing. Could quite easily be a 2.0 petrol, 2.0t petrol, 2.2dci, 2.0dci or the v6! No wonder I get people looking when kicking down and release the growl. A proper sleeper.