What are the cam belt settings for a 1.2 Renault Clio?

Answer 1

I assume you mean what is the correct tension on a Clio cam belt?

Using the twist method on the longest section of belt, it should twist between 30 and 45 degrees.

Too tight and it will whine, too lose and it will slap about.


I am writing this to try and improve the above answer. On my Clio 1.2 diet 8v the new cam belt when fitted with the adjuster fully backed off the belt would only twist about 45 degrees with moderate pressure on the section of belt Haynes suggested! ( between the water pump and the crankshaft pulley...) This was too lose! However hard I pushed it onto the belt it still only twist about 45 degrees (and this was now too tight as it whined on start up!..... so this method is too hit and miss. DO NOT RUN IT WITH THE AUXILIARY DRIVE BELT PULLEY REMOVED AS THIS PREVENTS THE BELT WALKING OFF THE SPROCKETS! ( I DID AND I ONLY JUST STOPPED THE ENGINE IN THE NICK OF TIME)


With the lock nut for the tension jockey wheel left loose push the wheel with you thumb upwards (it should be moving anticlockwise) so it is pressing onto the belt with only enough pressure to fully remove the slack. While holding it firmly against the belt lock off the nut too hold it in position. I found that if you grab the water pump and try and turn it if you cant get it to turn the belt is too taught. If it spins freely it a bit loose. If you can just get it too turn against the stationary belt its about right! I have to say however that I bricked it and purchased a facom dm.16 tension gauge and checked it was correctly tensioned. Ive heard to many Horror stories with Renault and £64 pounds buys lots of piece of mind.