Cam belt costs.

[merl]

I've been quoted £650 for a Ducato 2013 cambelt change inc parts and labour, that's a Gates brand kit inc belt, water pump, tensioners etc. Is this reasonable?
The van is 9 years old but only 30k miles, is it time to get the job done?
Any comments appreciated.

 

[yeoblade]

2015 Fiat Ducato timing belt change and service

Hi guys need timing belt change with new water pump plus major service done, had the van serviced through main fiat dealer from new, been quoted £1000 by fiat 🤪 the service guy said you need specialist tools and its a specialist job blah blah and they use genuine fiat parts with 2 year...

wildcamping.co.uk

Loads of threads on it if you use search

 

[Tezza33]

I don't know much about the price because I have never paid anyone so my opinion would be worthless, I would certainly change it if it is 9yrs old though, I do mine every 5yrs maximum

 

[SimonM]

It’s not a quick easy job, and the bits are necessary especially the cambelt driven water pump - don’t skimp by not fitting the pump. Ensure they also flush through your cooling system and use new coolant, it has to be removed when they do a cambelt change

Being a rubber belt, it’s advisable to do them on time and not late as rubber hardens with no use, cracks and then goes pop.

It is not a dealer job, but can be done by any worthy multi franchise muckyneck. If you happen to be near Exeter I can advise you who to use.

 

[trevskoda]

I changed mine as soon as I got my van, looked like new but im not one for taking expensive chances, mind you I would prefer a pushrod engine any day over an elastic band.

 

[Drover]

Mine was just under £600 3 years ago... 2013 130bhp 2.3 engine.

 

[n brown]

now you've thought of it ,you'll never rest till you've done it . my lt was every 70.000 miles

 

[trevskoda]

now you've thought of it ,you'll never rest till you've done it . my lt was every 70.000 miles

Or so many years, things datarate over time, us to LOL.

 

[GMJ]

I paid £770 all in (which also included an MOT) last year. 2017 Ducato.

 

[Wooie1958]

I was under the impression that Fiat`s were 5 years or 60,000 miles, whichever comes first.

 

[GMJ]

That's my understanding too Graham. I had mine done at 5 years as I would have kicked myself had anything gone wrong. The garage left the old belt in the MH and tbh it was as good as new.

 

[RichardHelen262]

9 years without it breaking you have been very lucky, you should be buying a lottery ticket

 

[Wooie1958]

My Peugoet 2.8HDi has exactly the same engine as the F.I.L`s Fiat 2.8JTD even down to the stickers and wiring loom.

My timing belt change is 10 years or 72,000 miles yet his is 5 years or 60,000 miles whichever comes first.

Personally i think 10 years is way too long especially give the periods of inactivity then long runs etc. etc. etc. so i decided to have mine done every 7 years.

 

[merl]

I was under the impression that Fiat`s were 5 years or 60,000 miles, whichever comes first.

The garage looked up my reg No and said it was 125K or 60 months which is odd and doesn't corelate with any other info I've heard.

 

[Tim120]

I have been told by a Fiat Professional place (who I trust) they now recommend four years irrespective of mileage. I had mine done at four years and will do again.
Cheaper than the alternative.

 

[Wooie1958]

The garage looked up my reg No and said it was 125K or 60 months which is odd and doesn't corelate with any other info I've heard.

I would stick to the 5 years / 60 months.

 

[GMJ]

Aside from money making, is there any reason why newer Ducato's have belts when the slightly older ones had chains?

It seems a backward step to me moving to belts but I suspect that there may be a rational engineering reason as to why?

 

[merl]

9 years without it breaking you have been very lucky, you should be buying a lottery ticket

I guess my relaxed attitude to getting it changed is born from the low mileage (30k) and even though it's low mileage it gets a run every few weeks. I hadn't considered ageing and to be fair Fiat(Sevel) changing TIMES seem to considerably shorter than other manufacturers, I mean how comes a belt ages quicker when standing idle on a fiat than it does on a ford? Do the belts have a 'fit by' date? NO, so if they age without use why isn't the time they stand on the shelves relevant?
Just saying

 

[trevskoda]

Aside from money making, is there any reason why newer Ducato's have belts when the slightly older ones had chains?

It seems a backward step to me moving to belts but I suspect that there may be a rational engineering reason as to why?

Yes a quiet and no oil tight casings are required along with the allowance for expansion and easy head of jobs, not forgetting money to be made on service

 

[SimonM]

Whatever you do don’t go for an engine using a belt in an oil bath. One of the Fords does apparently according to my muckyneck, and fibres wear off the belt over extended mileages, and then get circulated around the oil passages. Until they stop in places that isn’t good for them. He reckons the engines contaminated like this can never be cleaned and will always have problems.