Does anyone know which way round the cams need to be to replace cam belt. This engine came to me with cambelt/head/piston damage so I have not seen it correctly aligned...
By the way, what a job to remove this engine from an Espace, never seen so much wiring!!
What are the timing marks for the cranks shaft to to cam belt drive? Had block apart to repair damaged piston.
There seems to be a lack of information for these engines.
It's the way Renault seems to work! The engines no longer have timing marks - everything is done by locking items in a specific place, which means you have to use special tools. The crank is locked in place with a timing pin. The cams are locked in place with another tool that goes across the slots in the back of the cams (opposite end to the gears). Belts often have white marks in specific teeth that have to be lined up with marks on gears. Cam gears are locked in place by more pins, etc. Some or all of these are used depending on which engine you have. Tension of belts are set with a sound tool - effectively you flick the belt at a specific point with the microphone of another special tool held in the right place, and it tells you by the sound it picks up, if the belt is tight enough, loose or too tight.
Other oddities (for those of us used to more conventional systems) are the crank gear not being locked to the crank by a keyway. It is only locked by friction once the pulley is tightened on. There are no repair sizes available - no oversize pistons, rings, or undersize main or big-end bearing shells. (at least not from Renault) You cannot skim the head. Once the engine is worn, in any way, it is scrap.
When I first started with Renault UK in 2000, it was a big change from anything I had done previously. Their technicians are taught the correct way to set up an engine, but the average mechanic would not know where to start, so the home DIY mechanic stands little chance! Strictly speaking, Renault don't want any non-trained people working on their engines, gearboxes, or electronics etc.
You need to at least read the correct document for doing this sort of job. For me to provide the right one I need your vehicle details. VIN, and Fabrication No. so I can look up the details on the Renault system; or if you have it, engine type and number at least.
Roy