Cam Belt

[flipnflap]

I got my car new in 2007. Dealers say it's high time it had a new cam belt. But the car has been running fine. And I don't fancy forking oout £400-plus for a new cam belt. How necessary is a new cam belt nearly 5 years on?

[Hopkirk]

If you reveal the make, model and mileage, someone here will be able to advise you better.

[Hopkirk]

My Astra needed one at 6 years or 60,000 miles, but other cars have completely different recommendations - even other Astras.

Mind you, my trusted back street garage charged a lot less than £400.

[TWR]

Would I be right in saying that your car has covered approx55>>>65000miles? if yes Renew, if a Diesel, what CC,

[chas2008]

never take a chance on a cambelt, false economy

[Graham-W]

Most manufacturers have revised the time/miles between cambelt replacement downwards from the original recomendations.
I think it was VW who recently revised it to 4 years. My old Peugeot was revised from 60k to 40k as it wasn't unusual for the belt to snap early.
If you think £400+ is expensive for a cambelt, how much do you think a repacement engine would be. It would probably be a lot cheaper for the cambelt at an independent garage than main dealer.

[Hopkirk]

I'm not sure I agree with Bill about it needing 'a complete retiming of the engine valve facilities'

I would have thought that as long as the engine isn't turned after the old belt is removed, they would just slip the new one on.

[TWR]

Its not as simple as that Hop, it only take a tooth out, that one notch can make one hell of a difference.

[bednobs]

mine cost £80 to replace at a main dealer (about 15 years ago though!)

[Blueflame]

All engines have either timing marks or special tooling to ensure that the timing is not lost during a belt replacement.Belts are changed after the vehicle has reached a specific mileage or after a certain time interval (both vary depending on the make or model) My experience (after 30+years in the motor trade) is that the mileage is much more inportant than the time interval.Nevertheless,the cost of engine failure is far greater than the cost of belt (and associated parts as recommended) replacement.Shop around for quotes!

[SpikeyBush]

My local Opel dealer was quoting a special offer of €450 to do the timing belt on a cdti engine. I thought that was mighty dear so I decided to get the bits myself and have my own mechanic do the work. The bits came to over €250 and my mechanic was calling me names, it wasn't an easy job. But at least I know the job was done properly. This is not an area you want to skimp on unless you fancy buying new pistons, valves and a heap of labour.

[jomifl]

change it earlier than the recommended mileage and replace the idlers, pulleys and tensioners as recommended. The alternative isn't worth thinking about. I've done 3 different cars with no problems. It helps if you can get hold of a manual, esoecially for identifying the timing marks.

[Captin Kirk]

Depending on the car the water pump can often be recommended to be changed at the same time as it can take out the cambelt if it goes.

[BRIGHT SPARK]

I know its tempting to use the bloke around the corner...however if the new belt fails shortly after its fitted will he replace the engine F.O.C?

[wilkesneil]

timing belts are a serious bit of kit for your car, the belt only has to slip tooth on the cog for catastrophic results and major price for repair.
certain cars such as bmw use a chain rather than a belt...

£400 is not a big price for a dealer to charge for this work as engine needs to be lifted from car and all cogs have to be placed correctly..

also consider looking for a specialist repairist as they usually started at a dealer before opening their garage doing the same makes of cars but are usually a lot cheaper.

as stated earlier--- please tell us make , model of car and also engine size & mileage

[jomifl]

The only indication your car will give you that the cambelt needs replacing is the loss of power cause by the destruction of your engine. If you are very lucky you may only need new valvegear and a new cambelt.

[solvitquick]

The cam-belt is critical to the operation of the car engine. It used to be call the timing-chain. If this fails the car can come to a halt..dangerous if you are being tail-gated by a heavy vehicle. If you survive this you will have to replace bent valves (expensive) or buy a new car/engine. The solution is to replace the whole cam running cog/runner system. The parts that most fail are the plastic runners. Do not confuse with the cooling belt.

[Hopkirk]

The engine needs to be lifted from the car, for a cam belt change, wilkesneil?

You're having a laugh, surely.

[Graham-W]

as engine needs to be lifted from car and all cogs have to be placed correctly..

What sort of car is that on? If you have had this done the mechanic hadn't a clue.

[solvitquick]

I agree with Hopkirk, lifting out the engine is nonsense. Not very funny Wilkesneil!