Megane timing belt snapped

boatbuilder

99 megane 1.4 petrol 16 valve engine.

I was driving along today, must have been doing no more than 30 and I think the timing belt suddenly snapped. Engine stopped and as it stopped I could hear the remains of a belt whipping around.
Car was bought for 450 euro two years ago.
Is it even worth taking the engine apart to check what happened?
I understand there's more than a fair chance of bent valves etc, then new cam belt etc which requires a special tool to fit...which I don't have.

Need to get back on the road ASAP as I really need a car for getting to work! Can't afford a new car or to pay someone to fix this one. At times like this I think I might be as well off on the dole!

Beaner1

Car is a write-off. Sell it for scrap and buy another.

biko

The first question is: is it an interference engine? If not then in theory you can just get another belt and carry on driving.
Is there any damage you can see?

SIX PACK

Yep 99 Megane wouldn't even be worth 500 if it was running. Probably over 200,000 miles on clock . Cut off the catalytic converter if you can ul get €100 for that alone as strap as for the rest of it ud be lucky to get €150 .

boatbuilder

I think it's an interference engine

martinr5232

boatbuilder wrote: »

99 megane 1.4 petrol 16 valve engine.

I was driving along today, must have been doing no more than 30 and I think the timing belt suddenly snapped. Engine stopped and as it stopped I could hear the remains of a belt whipping around.
Car was bought for 450 euro two years ago.
Is it even worth taking the engine apart to check what happened?
I understand there's more than a fair chance of bent valves etc, then new cam belt etc which requires a special tool to fit...which I don't have.

Need to get back on the road ASAP as I really need a car for getting to work! Can't afford a new car or to pay someone to fix this one. At times like this I think I might be as well off on the dole!

If its sixteen valve its not worth lifting the bonnet never mind doing anything else.

Cut your losses sell it for scrap and buy another cheap yoke it would cost you what you paid for it to do a belt and it wont work.

boatbuilder

Ah so not exactly good news then!

martinr5232

boatbuilder wrote: »

Ah so not exactly good news then!

Nope i seen lads timing them wrong starting them and bending eight valves on cranking.

You would pick up another one of them for small enough money anyway sure.

boatbuilder

Just passed the nct last month and renewed the tax for three months dang it.
Wonder if it would be worth trying to drop in a second hand engine if I could get one for 150 or so?
I've swapped an engine in a Peugeot 306 before so could probably manage it...
would have to hire or buy an engine hoist though. Does anyone know if it would be a straightforward swap ie no messing around with ecus and immobilisers etc?

martinr5232

boatbuilder wrote: »

Just passed the nct last month and renewed the tax for three months dang it.
Wonder if it would be worth trying to drop in a second hand engine if I could get one for 150 or so?
I've swapped an engine in a Peugeot 306 before so could probably manage it...
would have to hire or buy an engine hoist though. Does anyone know if it would be a straightforward swap ie no messing around with ecus and immobilisers etc?

Not a hope of getting an engine for that money.

boatbuilder

Just found an engine for €190, going to collect it tomorrow and am planning to swap the engine at the weekend....
I'm putting a timing belt kit and water pump on the replacement engine before I fit it - anyone got any tips for doing this?

Beaner1

boatbuilder wrote: »

Just found an engine for €190, going to collect it tomorrow and am planning to swap the engine at the weekend....
I'm putting a timing belt kit and water pump on the replacement engine before I fit it - anyone got any tips for doing this?

You'll be down money by doing that not to mention the massive hassle.
Scrap it and put the money towards a newer car.

George Dalton

As above, you are flogging a dead horse at this stage. You got the value out of the car. It is important to recognise when the time is right to cut your losses and move on.

boatbuilder

Well when I really thought about it, I've just recently taxed it for six months and it went through the NCT less than a month ago.
So if I scrapped it I'd be losing the tax money which is a couple of hundred euro.

And if all goes to plan, the engine swap will cost about 330 euro in total, and I doubt I could buy an NCT'd for a year car with six months tax on it for €330. Yes there is the hassle of swapping the engine but I'm a glutton for punishment.

Gael23

Get rid of it and move on.
Your only throwing good money after bad.

endacl

boatbuilder wrote: »

Just found an engine for €190, going to collect it tomorrow and am planning to swap the engine at the weekend....
I'm putting a timing belt kit and water pump on the replacement engine before I fit it - anyone got any tips for doing this?

Obvious question....

If you've the skills to do all that, why didn't you just sort the timing belt and water pump before she blew?!?

Beaner1

Makes a bit more sense with the tax already paid. It sounds like you might enjoy the act of fixing it so you might as well dive in. It will be a learning experience for sure.

boatbuilder

endacl wrote: »

Obvious question....

If you've the skills to do all that, why didn't you just sort the timing belt and water pump before she blew?!?

the fella i bought it from had assured me that the belt had recently been done so I didn't consider it a priority - there was no indication there was anything wrong until the moment it broke..

iano.p

boatbuilder wrote: »

Just found an engine for €190, going to collect it tomorrow and am planning to swap the engine at the weekend....
I'm putting a timing belt kit and water pump on the replacement engine before I fit it - anyone got any tips for doing this?

Go for it what's the worst that can happen. Keep us updated.

quadrifoglio verde

boatbuilder wrote: »

Well when I really thought about it, I've just recently taxed it for six months and it went through the NCT less than a month ago.
So if I scrapped it I'd be losing the tax money which is a couple of hundred euro.

And if all goes to plan, the engine swap will cost about 330 euro in total, and I doubt I could buy an NCT'd for a year car with six months tax on it for €330. Yes there is the hassle of swapping the engine but I'm a glutton for punishment.

Send it to an authorised scrapper and you'll get the remaining tax refunded to you!

boatbuilder

Just an update... Got the engine swapped over ok with the help of a haynes manyal. Hardest part was undoing the three seized and rusted nuts holding the exhaust onto the engine. Had to drop the sub frame to get access and even then it was a matter of filing the nuts and studs down to nothing with a power file.

Only issue I have now is the new engine is revving up and down a bit at idle almost like a pulsating rythym to it. Swapped over sensors from the old engine in case of faulty ones on the new engine but it made no difference.

biko

Pulsing revving in idle can be idle control valve.

gk5000

Also, may have to reset Idle control valve

http://www.justanswer.com/uk-car/1tnwl-coupe-renault-megane-fitted-intermittent-stalling-junctions-etc.html