Cam Belt replacement - when?

[Mr-H]

I have a Kia Sedona (55 plate) which has done 44k miles. I am being told that cam belt replacement should be done at 6 years or 60k miles WHICHEVER IS SOONER and I am being quoted £400 - £440 for the job. I'd like to find out whether this cost is/is not reasonable, and also whether the 'whichever is sooner' should be followed, or can I go to 60k?

[MASS1961]

I made the BIG BIG mistake of putting off have my cam belt changed. Way after the 65k miles suggested. My focus got to 100k and SNAP on the motorway. What would have been less than £200 turned into a bill of almost £900. I do think your quote of £400+ is a bit excessive Mr-H. Shop around but DON'T put it off.

[seadogg]

Agreed MASS, it happened to us on the A55 expressway in a VW, exactly on the recommended mileage for changing. A lot of motorists ask around among friends for a good little garage who can undercut the big boys without cutting corners. Even £400 might look reasonable compared with the damage a broken belt might cause.

[Mr-H]

Thanks guys. Cheapest price on ebay for the kit is £234, so 3 houtrs labour plus VAT brings it to about £400+. I think I will shop around a bit, but I perhaps shouldn't chance my luck too much, especially as I tow a caravan!!

[beso]

Manufacturers are slowly moving away from driving the camshaft with a belt and going back to chains. Our Hyundai i30 diesel doesn't have a belt even though the petrol version does.

[KJN]

If the £400-440 is the price quoted from a Kia or a reputable garage then that's not bad. I woud accept that, as you are probably aware Kia service charges etc are not the cheapest also this is a job that has to be done correctly . I would be wary of where you take the vehicle.

[TWR]

From what you have posted Mr H, especially as I tow a caravan!! the engine is under strain with the extra load making the belt change sooner rather than later, £400, seems expensive but not as expensive if you Motorway breakdown! what I mean by that, if you are between Junctions & the recovery has to travel extra miles its you that would be paying the price, whilst getting the job done replace the axillary belt's at the same time.

[Thunderchild]

TWR I'm no expert but I didn't think the cambelt had any strain on it other than driving the cams and what the car is towing would not make any difference as the belt does not drive the car along but just turn the cam shaft in the engine.

I was quoted £ 280/90 to have my modeo MK2 belt changed. That was from a local and reliable garage (not a dealer or anything). My mondeo was at 103'000 miles with a recommended change at 80'000 miles, eeek guess i was lucky. I had the decency to tell the guy I sold it too for a die hard repair project.

[TWR]

Hi Thunder, the engine is under extra torque In the first movements of setting off especially with the extra weight that it is pulling.