Timing belt snapped - energy engine replacement?

Level 6 User Joined: 17 Apr 2005 Posts: 130

Hello

Last week my car broke down on the M6, the guy who 'recovered me' (of Â£105! Shocked

) thinks my timing belt has snapped. I know that if it has I'll be looking at bent valves etc. I've tried to have a look for myself to see if it's snapped but it's all covered up by some sort of housing which I can't get off to see. When he tried to restart it the engine sounds like its going to start but makes a fast whirring sound Shocked

which sounds like a snapped belt? I was going approx 70mph at the time, I rolled over to the hard shoulder and switched it off.
Anyhow, I've seen an engine on eBay but it's off a 1.4 (energy engine) Clio, mine was a 1.2 energy engine so it should fit -right? My Clio though only has four gears Embarassed

would this *do anything* like cause damage to the gearbox or engine? Or just simply not fit?

Thanks in Advance Laughing

Nicola

Level 10 User Joined: 27 Apr 2005 Posts: 620

the wiring loom is different, i think the 1.4 has got a few more sensors i.e oil pressure, and level, and recall the 1.4's having tachos aswell, what reg is your clio? and wat year is the other engine?

Level 6 User Joined: 17 Apr 2005 Posts: 130

Well my Clio is '93 and I don't know what year the other engine is. It's from the same 'era though looking at the pic on Ebay.
When I got my Clio I had no rev counter or temp gauge so I got some clocks of ebay from an RT and the wires were already there behind my old clocks which plugged straight in.
Both engines are 8v Energy Engines, I just don't know what year the eBay one is.

Level 10 User Joined: 27 Apr 2005 Posts: 620

have to admit thats strange for a 1.2 to have a 1.4 loom but hey they reletively the same engines, i dont see why it shouldnt fit having 5 gears on the 1.4 wont matter because the linkage to the g/box wll take care of that, how much does he want for the engine? whos fitting it for you? any ideas ont he history of it? if you do buy it have the cambelt, aux belt, head gasket and that done, does yours or the other engine have power steering because if yours doesnt and the other does you might have to buy the steerng rack of it aswell

Level 6 User Joined: 17 Apr 2005 Posts: 130

Yeah, someone said they all had the same loom but some models didn't have the extra stuff like a ciggy lighter rev counter etc. My Clio was a basic model but I got some stuff from an RT and it all plugged straight in Cool

I've actually 'won' the engine on eBay for Â£26 - I don't know what year car it came from, just that it's a Mk1 same as mine. I don't know how many miles its done, I don't know anything about it Rolling Eyes

TBH I only biddded on it becasue I can go and pick it up as it's nearb. I get the feeling I could be asking for trouble here Crying or Very sad

The seller said he bought two as one auction on ebay to fix his girlfriends car cos she had a snapped belt he used one engine and this is the other. If he sells me his duff one at least I'll have his address to send someone round to do him in Laughing

But! Surley if I replace the timing belt, head gasket etc then i should be okay? Shouldn't I? I don't know whos putting in in for me yet either!
There is a lad whose always doing stuff to cars accross the way from me who said he would have a go if I hired a hoist.
Am I wise or just plain dumb?

Nicola Razz

Level 10 User Joined: 27 Apr 2005 Posts: 620

nah if thats the way you wanna go about gettin the car back on the road then thats fine, c the problem when buying a engine out of a car is you dont know how much its been ragged, how many miles its done, nor service history like oil changes and stuff, and you cant hear the engine running to see if its ok does it chuck alot of smoke etc etc, i mean for 26 quid thats a bargain so you wouldnt loose out on much just if it is a duff one then it means gettin anuther engine and removing the 1 you just putin.
in my opinion i would of done a 16v conversion on it rebuilt the engine and waked it straight in.
id get the belts done professionally if i was you i mean someone who knows renaults, just make sure theres nice clean oil in it, loads of antifreeze and water, g/box is full, and change the engine mounts while your at it and fingers crossed it will be ok

Smile

jay

Level 6 User Joined: 17 Apr 2005 Posts: 130

Thanks Jay Very Happy

The garages round here are quoting me Â£500+ to get my engine sorted out. To get an engine from a scrappy and put in its gonna cost Â£250+ thats not including new belts etc so I thought if I can get an engine off eBay then I will be saving myself Â£Â£Â£ which I can use to change the belts etc on that one.
The risk is, like you say, not knowing any history or wether it's any good etc but perhaps I can find that out before I get belts done on it?
Im not really in any rush because I've just bought a Cat C Stolen Recovered Fiat Punto - which I like better than my old Clio Laughing

which needs no work apart from a new ignition barrel and its got a leaky cylinder (something to do with hydraulic clutch) It cost me Â£190 for the car and getting the cylinder thing done now for Â£48 and its taxed and tested til Feb. In feb I could sell the Punto and carry on with the Clio or just sell the Clio.

The only thing is I've already spent Loads of Â£ on the Clio or I would have just scrapped it - laugh at this at your lesuire:

Clio = Â£26 off eBay (HG gone)
Delivery = Â£60
Engine&Fitting from scrappy = Â£240 ( no mention of changing timing belt then! I didn't know about that sort of thing then!)
New Clutch= Â£60(+new driveshaft as the gaitor split Â£15 Scrappy)
new Exhaust parts =Â£50
MOT Time:
Welding to underneath
Failed emmissions test due to overheating (faulty electric on fan)
Suspension spring snapped
Cost me Â£90 to get fixed from the scrappy who put the engine in
Front brake discs warped and corroded = Â£30 + pads

All this was done the day before I took my driving test in it!!! Laughing

(which I passed thank god!)

And now the timing belt has snapped Shocked

I'm pretty miffed with the scrappy for not even mentioning to me that the timing belt should have been changed if you don't know anything about the history etc.
The thing is the Clio was my first car prior to getting it I knew nothing about cars and the dangers of a snapped timing belt Wink

I do now though! Laughing

Level 10 User Joined: 27 Apr 2005 Posts: 620

my advice in this case is stick with the punto and just sell the clio for spears or repair and cut ur losses i know its easy to say cut ur losses but when you come to actually doin it it does put u down i mean ive had to give away 19s coz i couldnt afford to repair them and now ive another 19 which i bought of ebay 3 days later the engine seized dropped another lump in and day by day things went rong and now its up for sale inc buying the car its cost me 1700 quid and im lettin it go for 600 quid what can you do ey, but wateva you decide to do good luck and hope all goes well

jay

Level 6 User Joined: 17 Apr 2005 Posts: 130

I know it's hard! Im attached to the Clio - I passed my driving test in it Laughing

and its taught me a lot about cars and how they can go wrong etc. I'm a sentimental fool. All the sweat,swearing and bloodied hands meant nothing if I'm gonna send it to the Renault heaven in the sky Embarassed

My little lad, whos 7 now has asked me will I keep it for him when he's old enough to drive. LOL it would be 20 odd years old then Cool

Level 5 User Joined: 19 Sep 2004 Posts: 115

Just whip the head off and get the valves replaced. LOL.

Level 6 User Joined: 17 Apr 2005 Posts: 130

Hmmm it's not that easy to "whip the head off" (for me anyway) - how come garages want Â£500 off me if that's all they're going to do?

Site Subscriber Joined: 28 Jan 2005 Posts: 3547

due to havin to grind the valves in etc, just take the head off of the 1.4 and put it on the 1.2. as far as i know they are the same!

Level 6 User Joined: 17 Apr 2005 Posts: 130

Ahh right I'm with you. How big a job do you reckon for that then?

Site Subscriber Joined: 28 Jan 2005 Posts: 3547

swap the heads? aslong as they are the same head(PM Chris H, he'll know!), couple of hours tops! new belt, headgasket,align everything, head on, torque it down, and start her up!

Level 6 User Joined: 17 Apr 2005 Posts: 130

danlp6 wrote:

start her up!

I think this Clio is a him, only a man can cause this amount of hassle Laughing

Thanks for giving me the idea though! I never thought of doing it that way Cool

Nicola

Site Subscriber Joined: 28 Jan 2005 Posts: 3547

lol bless, my 19 was jus like my ex, a black hole for money Rolling Eyes

Level 5 User Joined: 19 Sep 2004 Posts: 115

I did my head when i snapped my cambelt. Just whipped the head of ground in some new valves and dropped the head back on. Replaced the waterpump and cam belt and head bolts and away we went. 10,000 miles and its still running. Oh yeah and i had never done anything like it before. Cost wise cost me about 200 quid including parts and a couple of tools i needed.

Site Subscriber Joined: 10 Jun 2004 Posts: 2317

Changint he head on a 1.2/1.4 does look well easy, much easier than a valver at any rate which was a bit fiddly.

Forum Moderator Joined: 02 Mar 2004 Posts: 19978

eh?

buy 1.4 lump put it in, turn key drive away.

The looms etc are the same or if its a real basic one you don't get the rev counter.

A real easy engine swap.

Site Subscriber Joined: 07 Oct 2004 Posts: 2281

Get Chris to do the swap for you.... ply him with plenty of Irn-Blu out of a glass bottle and he'll have it done in like, half an hour.

Maybe.

Level 6 User Joined: 17 Apr 2005 Posts: 130

Irn_Bru is better in a glass bottle - doesn't taste the same in a can or a plastic bottle IMO.

Anyway, I'm approx 5 hours away from Chris Shocked

What do you reckons easier:

A)Splitting the head
B)Swapping the whole lump
C)Just getting a young lad from scrappy to fix the valves on original engine
D)**** it off and scrap it Mad