Ticking Noise After Timing Belt Change

[Red Baguette]

I've got an issue at the moment which I didn't have when I took the car to the garage for a belt change.

I've got a ticking sound which seems to be more noticeable from around 1200rpm onwards.

The garage replaced the timing and aux belt, genuine dephaser, tensioner, bottom pulley and water pump.

After I picked the car up I noticed this ticking noise. I took it back to the garage and it wasn't something they had noticed. They checked everything over yesterday, can't fault the timing, any of the parts. They also checked the depahser was working correctly through diagnostic.

So now I'm at a loss as to where I go from here. The sound it hard to pin point, definitely top of the engine, possibly towards the back.

At the moment the garage give the impression there job is done but if I want them to investigate further then it's 7hrs labour with checking the cams etc.

I wondered if anyone has come across this tick before?

Car drives fine, pulls well, no warnings. The only thing the garage said was the timing was initially out and now its correct. Could this of be the cause?
Clio 197

 

[RSRowe]

Who did the belt?
Does it still make the noise with the vvt solenoid unplugged?

 

[Red Baguette]

Who did the belt?
Does it still make the noise with the vvt solenoid unplugged?

It was done by a local company. The owner, who did it is an ex Renault master tech. Seemed very knowledgeable, so was happy that I had found someone local.

Yea he unplugged the solenoid when I first took it back and the noise was still there.

It's becoming very hard to get a clear cause. I've had people say it's hydraulic lifter, tappets, piston slap, exhaust manifold leak.

 

[RSRowe]

Obviously it’s really difficult to diagnose over the internet.

If it was mine, I’d be taking the caps off the end of the head to check whether the timing has been set right.

 

[Helpimonfire]

If it makes you feel any better, mine had the belt done recently and had a similar tick. However it's gone now. I've heard several people saying the Motrio aux tensioner can be a bit noisy to start with. Not overly helpful in your case as it's the wrong side of the engine. One thing that might be worth checking is the welds on the exhaust manifold. If you have a small crack it can cause odd noises. Worth a look before you start spending more money on the car.

If yours is worrying you I'd suggest getting it looked at by someone that knows what they're looking at. (Not saying the guy that did the work doesn't, but it sounds like he's not overly interested now...)

 

[Red Baguette]

If it makes you feel any better, mine had the belt done recently and had a similar tick. However it's gone now. I've heard several people saying the Motrio aux tensioner can be a bit noisy to start with. Not overly helpful in your case as it's the wrong side of the engine. One thing that might be worth checking is the welds on the exhaust manifold. If you have a small crack it can cause odd noises. Worth a look before you start spending more money on the car.

If yours is worrying you I'd suggest getting it looked at by someone that knows what they're looking at. (Not saying the guy that did the work doesn't, but it sounds like he's not overly interested now...)

Thank you. Your not the first to suggest the manifold so that will be next to look at. Yea I'm a bit disappointed they didn't help more, I was going to drive 2hrs to KTEC but I felt like they weren't too interested when I explained and they want £102 an hour labour and said how far do you want us to go. Its difficult, not an easy thing to diagnose. I have friends who are clued up on German and Jap but not so much French.

 

[Red Baguette]

Obviously it’s really difficult to diagnose over the internet.

If it was mine, I’d be taking the caps off the end of the head to check whether the timing has been set right.

I need to find someone else down here with Renault tools. Worth a look though.

 

[RSRowe]

Where are you located?

 

[Red Baguette]

Where are you located?

Down in Plymouth

 

[Red Baguette]

Today the garage are talking about trying another dephaser.

Which isn't great as I had to provide it in the first place as they couldn't get one..so I'll have to pay for another dephaser and the labour.

Could this sound be caused by the dephaser?

 

[RSRowe]

Dephaser issues are very very uncommon on the 197/200's, but it can't be ruled out completely.
The one's I've heard which have failed (on the 1X2 platform) usually make a racket all the time, not a specific rpm.

Checking the timing is correct would the first thing I'd be checking and then a compression or leak down test. For me, that's only gonna cost me some time and replacement caps for the end of the head.

Time and time again, places cock up fitting these belts. So there's always the slight possibility that they've done something slightly wrong or out of sequence.

I suggest you find an independent specialist to be honest.

 

[LiamP]

Have you tried taking the alt belt off just to narrow it down to the engine itself? But as above my money would be on exhaust or flexies, they would have removed the engine mount to fit the belt.

 

[Red Baguette]

Dephaser issues are very very uncommon on the 197/200's, but it can't be ruled out completely.
The one's I've heard which have failed (on the 1X2 platform) usually make a racket all the time, not a specific rpm.

Checking the timing is correct would the first thing I'd be checking and then a compression or leak down test. For me, that's only gonna cost me some time and replacement caps for the end of the head.

Time and time again, places cock up fitting these belts. So there's always the slight possibility that they've done something slightly wrong or out of sequence.

I suggest you find an independent specialist to be honest.

Thank you. I initially went to them because they are a renault specialist, even when I was asking around this garage was recommended. We lack specialists down this way, unless I went 50 miles to main dealer or 2hrs to Ktec.

I'm in talks with them today about going forward. I asked him about the hydraulic lifter he said its unlikely as I'd hear it on tick over and he said its a different sound.

Tonight im going to check the manifold for leaks and clearance.

As for timing, they've apparently checked it twice, he even told me how he uses the locks and what he should expect when inserting them. Hence why he found the timing was out on initial inspection.

 

[Red Baguette]

Have you tried taking the alt belt off just to narrow it down to the engine itself? But as above my money would be on exhaust or flexies, they would have removed the engine mount to fit the belt.

Yes, took the aux belt off, no change. But I'm going to check manifold tonight.

 

[Red Baguette]

A little update on this. I think I found the rattle yesterday, it appears to be coming from the new bottom pulley or at least that area.

It's been a frustrating week, with not much support from the garage who did it. They also told me it was top end and also wanted me to pay for another dephaser, as I supplied the oem new one. Which would be an expensive gamble for me.

I sent them this video and they replied with 'will order another pulley' so I've asked for an oem part this time and I'll pay the difference.

I hope its this. Maybe it's catching the casing where it goes through to the sprocket or its just defective.

Clio 197 Pulley

 

[RSRowe]

Is the tensioner set right?

 

[Red Baguette]

Is the tensioner set right?

No idea. I'd hope they have being a renault specialist.

 

[RSRowe]

Take a picture of it as close as you can

 

[RSRowe]

 

[Red Baguette]

View attachment 156882

Thank you. Is this the tensioner for the cam belt or the aux belt?