Renault Scenic engine death (belt) : Options

robodonkey

Folks, I'd appreciate any thoughts on the options available after a 30 mile an hour timing belt hernia.


Car: 2005 1.6 petrol renault scenic, 60,000 miles and in all round good nick (except for now dead engine obviously)

Mechanic reckons it's mangled, 150 quid to investigate further, with the following options:


(1) Fix current engine - Anyone recommend repair shop that handles this? Cost estimate?
(2) Drop in replacement engine - Anyone recommend place to buy one of these? Worth doing in this car to begin with? Cost estimate?
(3) Sell car with dead engine and buy new car (same sort of price/money) - Anyone know what money a good conditione Scenic with dead engine would get?

Thanks in advance.....

richj

As a quick reply;

1) Fix engine - At least €1,500 maybe more
2) Drop replacement Engine - About the same but your taking a chance on a second hand engine, it could blow after 10 miles!
3) Sell the car with a dead engine - Check what cars like yours are making in good working condition, take away the cost of repair and take away about a grand and that's probably the most you'll get for yours as it sits.

P.S. I would take option 3 if funds allow.

Toyotafanboi

love irish mechanics, sell the car or replace the engine seems to be the solution to most problems other than a standard service.

if it were me i'd repair the engine. probably the cheapest option in the long run and better the devil you know.

Toyotafanboi

richj wrote: »

1) Fix engine - At least €1,500 maybe more

where on earth did you get that figure? :rolleyes:

richj

Toyotafanboi wrote: »

where on earth did you get that figure? :rolleyes:

Very simple;

Pay a mechanic upwards of €30 p/hour to remove the engine, strip it down and review for damage.
Then you start into getting any internal damage repaired by a specialist work shop; possible damage to head and block. most likely cracked or broken valves, damage to pistons, damage to cylinders and in a bad case damage to the crank.
Then once you get the repaired engine back from a workshop you will, as a bare minimum, need to purchase a new timing belt kit, tensioners, water pump, etc. and fit. plus replace any ancillaries that may be damaged by the broken belt.
And finally, once you have the fully rebuilt engine ready, pay the mechanic to re-fit the engine.

I can guarantee that you will not have much change out of €1,500 once you have done all of that.

martinr5232

richj wrote: »

Very simple;

Pay a mechanic upwards of €30 p/hour to remove the engine, strip it down and review for damage.
Then you start into getting any internal damage repaired by a specialist work shop; possible damage to head and block. most likely cracked or broken valves, damage to pistons, damage to cylinders and in a bad case damage to the crank.
Then once you get the repaired engine back from a workshop you will, as a bare minimum, need to purchase a new timing belt kit, tensioners, water pump, etc. and fit. plus replace any ancillaries that may be damaged by the broken belt.
And finally, once you have the fully rebuilt engine ready, pay the mechanic to re-fit the engine.

I can guarantee that you will not have much change out of €1,500 once you have done all of that.

I can guarantee you the engine wont be coming out of it and i can guarantee you there is no bottom end damage.

Op long time since ive done one of these but minimum you will need is timing belt kit,water pump, valves between eight and sixteen, gasket set, coolant and while your at it oil and filter plus labour so anywhere between a grand and twelve hundred euro as i said its a while since i done one prices have probably come down a bit.

Getting the engine rebuilt is probably your best option because your car is worth nothing really as it is and if you buy a second hand engine you still have to replace timing belt and water pump anyway plus service it so all your saving is the cost of overhauling your cylinder head.

robodonkey

Thanks for input folks.

As it stands, the cheapest way to get back on 4 wheels would seem to be a rebuild.

The second hand engine option, like you say, who knows what's under that cover.

As for buy a new car, we would have to write off any notional value in the scenic as it stands and put the 1000 - 1500 (from estimates above and other places that seems fair enough) towards whatever would be coming in, leaving a gap of at least 1000. Soooooo.....better the devil you know it would seem is the correct view.

robodonkey

Just thought I'd follow up for interest and anyone else curious, total bill was 1237 Euro. At least I know its got its belts done now

martinr5232

robodonkey wrote: »

Just thought I'd follow up for interest and anyone else curious, total bill was 1237 Euro. At least I know its got its belts done now

I wasnt far off ;-)

jca

robodonkey wrote: »

Just thought I'd follow up for interest and anyone else curious, total bill was 1237 Euro. At least I know its got its belts done now

An expensive lesson unfortunately. A bit late now but another option would be to get a secondhand head. I know someone who did that with a Yaris after putting in 20/50 engine oil that was used in his Fathers mini from the early 60's. The tensioner for the timing chain doesn't like 20/50 oil, especially on a frosty morning!! The Yaris is still flying around on the secondhand head. P.s. It managed to mangle 15 of the 16 valves they even became entangled in each other,nasty...