My timing belt is finally being changed on Monday.
Woohoo! Interesting to hear how it turns out.
But today in 25C heat in very slow traffic it overheated. ...
I think this may be the reason for the upgraded waterpump.
Very probable. Ours have the upgraded waterpump fitted and we have never seen the water temp move over the four bars.
Good old Matra! They never got some things right.
Only in this case the engine is a co-design between Renault and PSA and was used in the same configuration in Languna and Peugeot 406, 605 and I wouldn't expect them to be different in this place. Would you?
The part number of the water pump is 96 35 018 180 - the Matra parts (and Alpine parts I've been told) all start with 60 in the Renault system, so this is not unique to Espace.
I noticed recently that the black hinges on my opening tailgate glass were corroding just like Bagheera ones do!
Here in Denmark they rot after only a few years - and is one of the more sold Espace-parts from our Renault part breaker. It should be one of the first items you would put in your catalogue if decide to extend your collection with Espace-parts, Will! I renewed them on my car about a month ago, on one of them the paint had fallen off completely after only 5 years! They were ok last year when I picked the car up in Frankfurt, but one winter in Denmark killed that one completely, though it was still opening and closing without problems. I was thinking if it would be possible to have them sand blasted and painted again? Being a Matra part they are quite expensive!
- Anders