The Mégane II Owners' Club

Hello,

Earlier this year i got an 04 plate 1.6 vvt megane 3 door hatch.

Iv got a few questions as im confused about the situation im in.

Basically i got my dads machanic friend to look around it before purchasing and the service light was on and the air bag light was on. But he said other wise the car is in good conidtion and seems a good car. So that in mind and doing my own checks i decided to put a deposit down ensuring the problems were fixed.

On the test drive i noticed that there was a noice coming from the engine which seemed to be a belt so i pulled the garadge up on it and asked them what it is. They told me that it was the alternator belt. So i stupidly thought that was the case and beleived them. And they gave me 3 months warranty or 3,000 mile warranty so some reasurrance.

Since iv brought it i have had it to their independant garage and renult to find out why i get this noice and on cold starts the car cuts out or almost cuts out. But noone seems to be able to find the problem. After reading some people comments on various forums i come to the conclusion that it must be a dephaser pulley fualt. Renault also noticed that the heat sheild was loose and adjusted it but since then has come back and it sounds like a tank.

What i need to know is where do i stand even though my 3 months warranty is up and im over the milege. Although i brought the problems up with them before they expired?
The finace company say they cant do a lot without going to the garadge first but the garadge are so unwilling to help.

I feel like iv been ripped off and a £548 bill for cam belt and depasher is the only way to im going adjust the problem.

Please help. It has caused me so much stress and worry over the last few months.

Thanks in advance.

Marcus

Is it possible to do the cam belt and dephasher myself? Or is it best to just go to renault?

It doesn't look good. Check out the sales of goods act for the time frame.

You could do the work yourself if you are very mechanically inclined, but that price (parts and labour) doesn't seem bad.
An independent might offer a better deal.

Yeah i will do that. Everything was reported to the finance company before warranty expired so its on record.
Yeah my local renault dealership have discounts on labour at the moment which takes about £40 off so its not bad.
I would love to repair myself to gain some experience doing it but i think im too scared i would completly destroy my car.

Would these issues be common in a failing dephaser;?

• cuts out or the revs almost die

• sometimes rattle on first start up

• Feels sometimes sluggish/unresponsive to throttle

• and the noise which seems to come from the cam belt area

Those are the absolute classic symptoms of dephaser failure.

Thank god. I thought when i first heard it, it might of been something really serious.

Just a matter of saving now .

Could i just claim the dephaser cost through the dearler do you think? As thats the problem.

You will have to investigate the legal position. These are complicated matters - who is ultimately responsible is difficult to ascertain given that we don't know how and with whom you have a contract.

Renault will not likely bear the cost owing to the age of the car. But it is worth phoning their customer support line and asking for a good will gesture.

Yeah thats the problem its so complicated.
Thats a good idea thanks i will try that. Do they have a direct number?

Here are the problems i have had since buying the car;

Depahser pulley

Clicking on the steering wheel when i turn in to full lock and sometimes while driving.

Front and rear brakes at 18% left. Squeeking when braking.

Spinning like noise from the bottom of the car when slowing down in 2,3 and 4 th gear with clutch up and no braking.
Hoping this is not a clutch problem

Also clutch seems to bite quiet high but apprantly these clutchs bite high anyway.

Air bag light comes on when i move the drivers seat. Although had brand new loom replaced two years ago.

I know these are money pits but i cant beleive it.