Cambelt Change

[MJ]

This is confusing, because the service book that came with my '05 LCR says change toothed belt at 120,000 miles. No mention of any time either.

I'm sure this has been discussed before, but I reckon they just are just scaring people into getting them changed way too early. Big profits are made on car maintenance. Or is it that the belts they use these days are not as durable as before?

I've never seen one make it past 100k.

Your service book has info in it that's 8 years out of date.

Profit on vehicle maintenance is getting increasingly smaller by the day.

 

[Xizor]

I've never seen one make it past 100k.

Your service book has info in it that's 8 years out of date.

Profit on vehicle maintenance is getting increasingly smaller by the day.

You say the info is 8 years out of date, but it was current when the car was built. That's what counts, surely?

Mine has done 56K, should I be worried? Is it easy to inspect the belt for wear?

Thanks for any info.

Cheers

 

[MJ]

Yeah but vw couldnt predict the future and behold! the belts started snapping, well shearing teeth at around the 90k mark - hence the drop in change interval time.

ford had exactly the same thing with the zetec engines claiming they'd do a 100k - again changed to 80k once they started popping at 85k.

you cant gauge the servicability of a timing belt, some look old, some look new but theres no telling when it'll go.

 

[tommytucker]

Cheers M_ark.Have the newer plastic ones been modded then as i thought they went to metal beacuse the plastic sheared off and fouled the belt?

 

[tommytucker]

Cheers M_ark.Have the newer plastic ones been modded then as i thought they went to metal because the plastic sheared off and fouled the belt?

 

[MJ]

vw use plastic impellers with a different contruction than there previous parts, they're pretty reliable and backed by a 2 year warranty.

 

[Xizor]

Yeah but vw couldnt predict the future and behold! the belts started snapping, well shearing teeth at around the 90k mark - hence the drop in change interval time.

ford had exactly the same thing with the zetec engines claiming they'd do a 100k - again changed to 80k once they started popping at 85k.

you cant gauge the servicability of a timing belt, some look old, some look new but theres no telling when it'll go.

OK, point taken.

Anyway, mine is 8 years old and done 56K. Should I get it changed asap or will it be alright to leave it a few months?

Cheers

 

[Alexis27]

Eeek! At 8 years old it could go any second

 

[Xizor]

 

[scarface]

But looking at the mileage he has done, I would say wait till 60k miles.

Mines 7 and half years old with 72k miles and not changed yet, booked in for next tuesday.

 

[tommytucker]

Cheers Scarface hope it goes ok-let us know what you think of the garage/cost.Following on from M_ark/MJs comments did you get the part No for the modded plastic water pump with the 2 yr guarentee?
Tommy.

 

[scarface]

No ive opted for the metal water pump. Cars booked in for tomorrow so will report back. Thanks

 

[SEATSAMBO]

Definitely change at 60k with metal waterpump!! SEAT are advising owners to check and consider changing at 40k du to the cold weather but anything after 60k and your running a risk!!!

 

[tommytucker]

Thanks Seatsambo-defo a metal then and not modded plastic version? Why would cold weather affect the pump when its enclosed
Tommy.

 

[SEATSAMBO]

I think it's to do with the freezing weather affecting the physical properties of the belt and also maybe there's more stress on the belt when running in cold weather as everything is tighter? Not too sure but that's what I decided it must have been why, it's just what the guy at the SEAT dealership advised me. My car had a belt done at 60k as confirmed by the garage but I think I'll do another one at 100k just to be safe! I had a cambelt snap on my old polo.. Engine= destroyed!!!

 

[scarface]

Right update on mine:

The cambelt kit (continental) with dampner and metal water pump came to £175 from euro carparts

The labour came in at £175. So all in all £350.

Bit more expensive on the labour side than i expected but the mechanic said the job was very time consuming.

I think the dealers charge from £410 according to the website.

All seems to be running fine.

 

[Muttley]

120K miles OR 4 years in the book, Xixor. You are well past the sell-by date with that cambelt. Every time you fire up the engine you're at risk of losing it.

 

[dazjstuart]

Depends on how much you like gambling, a timing belt can snap at any time, becomes more likely as it gets older. It may last 100k it may last 200k but it may only last 50k. Anyone who has had a timing belt snap on them will tell you to pay the £400 for a replacement and look happy as the bill will be several times that if it snaps.

£175 for labour is not bad at all IMO, my brother did mine for free but he said it took quite a while because it was one of the more fiddly ones engines he had worked on (not his exact words lol).

 

[tommytucker]

Right update on mine:

The cambelt kit (continental) with dampner and metal water pump came to £175 from euro carparts

The labour came in at £175. So all in all £350.

Bit more expensive on the labour side than i expected but the mechanic said the job was very time consuming.

I think the dealers charge from £410 according to the website.

All seems to be running fine.

Glad it went well-whereabouts did u get it done in the end?
Did the metal water pump have a part No?
Gotta get mine done soon
Tommy

 

[Xizor]

120K miles OR 4 years in the book, Xixor. You are well past the sell-by date with that cambelt. Every time you fire up the engine you're at risk of losing it.

I'm getting it done in a few weeks. So it goes on next months CC bill!