Please can someone explain to me what a cam follower is, and what damage can it cause when it gets stuck the head? I have a Renault Megane Scenic 2001

Kelly, March 2009

Thank you so much for replying - it's helped a lot. Please could I also ask you the following:-

I have been told that the aux belt has shredded & caught in cambelt. Also cam followers stuck in head & a new cam pulley needs fitting - is this a big job? and would this have caused damage to the engine? Any idea on how much this might cost to repair?

Kelly, March 2009

Go here and see the animation near the bottom of the page...

http://www.howstuffworks.com/camshaft.htm

The cam followers in the animation are orange bits that rock up and down.

The bit in the middle with lumps on it is the cam shaft and it's usually driven by a toothed belt - if the belt snaps all sorts of expensive damage can occur to the valves and pistons etc

More about timing belts here...

http://www.addisonauto.com/English/Services/Mechanical_Shop/Timing_Belt.html

Peccavi, March 2009