Cam belt change - what's your view?
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Robmac
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Quite possibly.
A lot of sucking of teeth when the mechanic 'phoned me to tell me what the damage was. I didn't mind though, I hated that car.
mistericeman
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Sometimes it's OK afterwards...
Sometimes it isn't... I've dealt with the aftermath of a couple of folks efforts...
Top end rebuild...
And short time after catastrophic piston fail (both times on different vehicles a piston has dropped pretty much in half and another big end bearing failure on the cylinder that have suffered valve contact)
Suspect shock loading from contact.
Wully
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Just done mine all belts water pump and a completes service. I’ve ran all sorts of vans for for the last 30 years and I don’t get too fussy with them just change oil and filters regularly and only fix things when they break keeping away from main dealers. Mostly sprinters and transits. But my thinking with these Fiats is the engine is pretty small at 2.3 so it must be working pretty hard to get that amount of power out of so doing the timing belt is a no brainer for piece of mind.
bartman
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While the car was in for its MOT a couple of weeks ago at a trusted independent, I asked for a fixed price for the cambelt replacement on the motohome. It's a 2002 Peugeot Hdi 2.0, the price was £457 to include the water pump which I understand is driven by the belt on that engine. I thought that price was very reasonable.
Robmac
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Very reasonable indeed.
Boris7
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No matter what you view on timing belts and their life span once you identify an engine as “interference type” you have to be Sure you stay on the safe side.
Simply put if it’s £500 for a belt change an engine will be much more and cause massive inconvenience, if your the type who puts £500 on a nags nose, then maybe ignore the timing belt, but if you’ve got any sense change it.
Simply put if it’s £500 for a belt change an engine will be much more and cause massive inconvenience, if your the type who puts £500 on a nags nose, then maybe ignore the timing belt, but if you’ve got any sense change it.
Wooie1958
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A local garage which is in the same mill complex as Todds Motorhomes and does a lot of their vehicle work outside routine oil & filter changes did mine.
They can handle larger heavier motorhomes than ordinary garages, mine is 7.5m with a 4.2m wheelbase and a gross of 4,100kg,
£565 for the full timing belt kit, water pump, new anti-freeze and auxiliary belt on a X244 Peugeot Boxer 2.8 HDi.
They can handle larger heavier motorhomes than ordinary garages, mine is 7.5m with a 4.2m wheelbase and a gross of 4,100kg,
£565 for the full timing belt kit, water pump, new anti-freeze and auxiliary belt on a X244 Peugeot Boxer 2.8 HDi.
leetori
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It’s more likely the metal rollers collapse and the belt skips teeth.
Mick H
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Personally, I wouldn't worry, unless you can hear "chain slap". I don't anticipate replacing the timing chain, in my Renault Master, during my lifetime !
gasgas
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When the Citroen BX was released in the early 1980's the recommended change mileage was 100,000 km I believe - a 'high' mileage - or kilometerage if you prefer. It was French so it was all Km. A Solicitor bought one and had it serviced at the recommended intervals at a franchised Citroen dealer. At 60,000km the belt broke and the car needed a new engine. Unsurprisingly Citroen said "Non, sur votre bicyclette" so Monsieur Solicitor took them to court saying he had done all the maintenance specified, at the manufacturer's agent. He won and Citroen was made to change the engine free of charge. They then promptly reduced the maintenance specification for the cam belt change to 30,000 km (I think my numbers are right but if you know better please fill me in).
When I got my current 2009 Transit based motorhome two years ago it had about 30,000 miles on the clock and two auxiliary belts. One had been renewed at some time but the other had not. That belt had hairline cracks all across it, and so it was time for it to be changed. I tried and failed twice to change it because of one particularly difficult bolt I couldn't undo. Then I thought that if I take it to a garage and pay them an hour labour plus the belt, they would do it. So it must be do-able and I worked out that if I removed the air con pump I could get at the bolt and I succeeded in changing it.
This engine, the Ford 2.2 diesel Euro4 I am assured has a valve timing chain, so I have no intention of looking! However if you have a rubber belt, you can usually remove a few bolts securing the black plastic housing around the belt somewhere and inspect it. If it has cracks then change it.
It depends if you can do it yourself in which case the £80 or whatever it is cost for a whole kit including idler wheel and water pump is well worth the effort of doing. If you have to pay a garage several hundred pounds, phone round a few. I had one vehicle that needed it and there was a huge difference between garages.
Think of it as the same as changing tyres when the walls are cracked. You can spend lots of hundreds of pounds changing them all or you can risk a blow out on the motorway.
One alternative which a lot of people adopt is: "My tyres are cracked and my cam belt has been there for 60,000 miles and the engine battery doesn't turn over very fast - £900" and trade it for a newer model with everything ticketty boo.
Which in turn goes a long way to justifying buying a used motorhome from a dealer - and do see if you can find reviews of the dealer before buying . . .
As a last thought, the early Mercedes car engines and presumably commercials, had duplex timing chains. The owner of CAK tanks told me he had a diesel van, one of those with a sticky-out nose, and at 500,000 miles he thought it might need an overhaul. He removed and dismantled the engine, cleaned everything and reassembled it with new seals. At 1,000,000 miles he sold it. A couple of years later he met the buyer who told him that the van was still running, at about 3 million miles. Presumably the driver was held sedated in some secure accommodation somewhere.
When I got my current 2009 Transit based motorhome two years ago it had about 30,000 miles on the clock and two auxiliary belts. One had been renewed at some time but the other had not. That belt had hairline cracks all across it, and so it was time for it to be changed. I tried and failed twice to change it because of one particularly difficult bolt I couldn't undo. Then I thought that if I take it to a garage and pay them an hour labour plus the belt, they would do it. So it must be do-able and I worked out that if I removed the air con pump I could get at the bolt and I succeeded in changing it.
This engine, the Ford 2.2 diesel Euro4 I am assured has a valve timing chain, so I have no intention of looking! However if you have a rubber belt, you can usually remove a few bolts securing the black plastic housing around the belt somewhere and inspect it. If it has cracks then change it.
It depends if you can do it yourself in which case the £80 or whatever it is cost for a whole kit including idler wheel and water pump is well worth the effort of doing. If you have to pay a garage several hundred pounds, phone round a few. I had one vehicle that needed it and there was a huge difference between garages.
Think of it as the same as changing tyres when the walls are cracked. You can spend lots of hundreds of pounds changing them all or you can risk a blow out on the motorway.
One alternative which a lot of people adopt is: "My tyres are cracked and my cam belt has been there for 60,000 miles and the engine battery doesn't turn over very fast - £900" and trade it for a newer model with everything ticketty boo.
Which in turn goes a long way to justifying buying a used motorhome from a dealer - and do see if you can find reviews of the dealer before buying . . .
As a last thought, the early Mercedes car engines and presumably commercials, had duplex timing chains. The owner of CAK tanks told me he had a diesel van, one of those with a sticky-out nose, and at 500,000 miles he thought it might need an overhaul. He removed and dismantled the engine, cleaned everything and reassembled it with new seals. At 1,000,000 miles he sold it. A couple of years later he met the buyer who told him that the van was still running, at about 3 million miles. Presumably the driver was held sedated in some secure accommodation somewhere.
gasgas
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Don't even mention the Dual Mass Flywheel Trev!
(I can't figure out how to add a quote)
A Dual Mass Flywheel for a bog standard Mondeo cost my soninlaw £1400. That alone justifies the extra cost of buying an automatic based vehicle in the first place. You wouldn't need a new auto box in the time it takes to wear out a poncy jingly-jangly clutch with extra bells and whistles.
All these new garbage computerised cars mean that I am pursuing a 1972 Mercedes car as being one which will outlast the latest fancy thing, and it will be far cheaper to maintain. Further, although I could afford a new motorhome - yukkeroonie, no thanks! I do not need to turn on the heating or the toilet light using my phone while I am in bed. For those terribly difficult tasks I want to push a switch which goes click, and does not go wrong.
(I can't figure out how to add a quote)
A Dual Mass Flywheel for a bog standard Mondeo cost my soninlaw £1400. That alone justifies the extra cost of buying an automatic based vehicle in the first place. You wouldn't need a new auto box in the time it takes to wear out a poncy jingly-jangly clutch with extra bells and whistles.
All these new garbage computerised cars mean that I am pursuing a 1972 Mercedes car as being one which will outlast the latest fancy thing, and it will be far cheaper to maintain. Further, although I could afford a new motorhome - yukkeroonie, no thanks! I do not need to turn on the heating or the toilet light using my phone while I am in bed. For those terribly difficult tasks I want to push a switch which goes click, and does not go wrong.
Fisherman
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I started my career in the fire service in 1974.
I remember well being told then by some of the old hands that the fire engines being produced then were crap in comparison to those from the 50s and 60s.
I always find it fascinating that when we want to look at better times, better equipment we always look back in time.
The fact was when I retired in 2004 we were using Scanias, the finest fire appliances ever built.
They needed less maintenance, were more reliable, more powerful, better designed, easier to drive, more comfortable, quieter, less polluting, better fuel economy, than what went before.
And I have no doubt that since my retirement what they are using today will be even better than in my time.
But one thing is definitely the case, they will be far superior to what I rode in in 1974.
I remember well being told then by some of the old hands that the fire engines being produced then were crap in comparison to those from the 50s and 60s.
I always find it fascinating that when we want to look at better times, better equipment we always look back in time.
The fact was when I retired in 2004 we were using Scanias, the finest fire appliances ever built.
They needed less maintenance, were more reliable, more powerful, better designed, easier to drive, more comfortable, quieter, less polluting, better fuel economy, than what went before.
And I have no doubt that since my retirement what they are using today will be even better than in my time.
But one thing is definitely the case, they will be far superior to what I rode in in 1974.
Brad
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I would say : "Ignore servicing advice at one's peril !"
I have enjoyed had many, many miles on various vehicles, most have not been taken at relaxed speeds, although less furious with my 3.0HPI Iveco Daily conversion with remap. but the few occasions I have blown an engine (apart from my racing bikes) have been when I have extended/ignored a service. Many years ago the BMW motorcycle was lauded as being capable of "going around the clock", so 100,000 miles plus, however ,,"bikers" in the know, including my friends & I, had many Japanese motorcycles (Zeds, GS, XS, VFRs) which also clicked past 99,999 miles & we believe collectively that this would not have been achieved by ignoring recommended service schedules. My two long ownership Toyota Land Cruiser & Hilux Surf 3 .0TD engines have also passed 200k miles (both owned since @ 50k ) with careful attention to oil - 5000 mile oil changes - , belt & bearing changes & I am sure the " indestructable reputation of these engines would never be realised if changes had been skipped as everything deteriorates rapidly once its lifespan has been reached.
Indeed, despite the expense of oil & filter changes, as simple as they are & especially at 5000 miles, should never be intentionally extended, the same applies with the belts & bearings, but consider how you would feel yourself if your vehicle suffers a catastrophic engine failure due to stretching out your vehicles service intervals.........a very expensive result of trying to save a little money.
Sorry if this appears like a lecture but keep your service up to date & drive with confidence in your vehicle.
UFO
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This thread made me think as my van is 13 years old with 64,000 miles - Fiat Ducato 100 Multijet. An MOT and service is coming up so I checked with my mechanic about the timing belt. He called back and said that my engine has a chain. Did some checking on the internet to verify. This alledgedly originates from the https://www.fiatcamper.com/ website although I can't find it myself.
The "for life" timing chain of 100 MultiJet, 160 MultiJet Power and 180 MultiJet Power engines does not need to be replaced. 120 MultiJet, 130 MultiJet and 150 MultiJet engines have a timing belt.
The 100 Multijet is a Ford Puma engine.
Good news for me.
The "for life" timing chain of 100 MultiJet, 160 MultiJet Power and 180 MultiJet Power engines does not need to be replaced. 120 MultiJet, 130 MultiJet and 150 MultiJet engines have a timing belt.
The 100 Multijet is a Ford Puma engine.
Good news for me.
barryd
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Do you know how to blow up or destroy a Hyundai i10 by any chance? I bought it in haste about four years ago. Hate it but it refuses to die or even break down.
Robmac
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Do you know how to blow up or destroy a Hyundai i10 by any chance? I bought it in haste about four years ago. Hate it but it refuses to die or even break down.
I do Barry.
Lend it to one of my kids.
