Cam belt shocker

[Noodles 4.2]

Hello,

I was just out cleaning the car and checking it over etc... To my horror I noticed a that the cam belt had a chunk missing!!

It looks like something has taken a bite out of it. I'd say it is 20% narrower in this part. How could something like this have happened? I suppose it is just wear and tear and that these sort of perishable items do need changing from time to time.

I should obviously not drive the car until this has been rectified - however my nearest TVR specialist is only 20 miles away. Do you think I should trailer it round or drive it over considering the circumstances?


I shan't be able to speak to anyone about it until Monday. Has anyone had a cam belt changed? I understand it it may be a large job - can someone please let me know what is involved with respect to time and costs?

Thanks in advance.

Tony

[darreni]

Are you sure its not the air con belt that you are looking at? AJP8's are chain driven, not belt.
also the timing chain is not visible( without removal of the front cover)
Darren

[Noodles 4.2]

Ah, it must be - or at least I hope it is.

D'oh! and Phew! at the same time

So it is definitely chain driven?

Thanks

Tony

[chrissy g]

Tony could you take some pictures, I thought the early 4.2 were belt driven I could be completly wrong though.

Chris

>> Edited by chrissy g on Saturday 13th September 19:47
Edited; Thanks jnr

>> Edited by chrissy g on Saturday 13th September 19:48

[jnr]

4.2 is definately a chain driven cam IIRC..


Jnr

[suffolkfox]

If it's at the front of the engine driving the pump thing sticking out the front at the top its the air con belt. Managed to snap mine completely one day and not a single problem, especially bearing in mind the aircon is pretty useless anyway.

[Noodles 4.2]

Well, I knew what the air-con pump looked like and where it was situtated (bolted in between the V at the front).

It looks like I added 2+2 and came up with 5 or a cam-belt!

Thanks anyway everybody.

Tony

[tvrslag]

Just to throw some mud into the water.

I have a 96 4.2 and it has air con, and I can catagorically say that if its the belt that sticks up out of the block and is driving the motor between the cylinder heads and below the fuel rail then this is the alternator drive belt.
The cams are driven by timing chains which are held in situ by some very neat looking nylon guides and tensioners. The air con pump is driven of another belt.
Not a massive disaster if it breaks and not an engine out job but a few hours work probably to remove the fuel rails and posibly the intake manifolds to provide access.

[dannylt]

Aircon is at the front of the crank pulley. Alternator in the middle of the V. Cams chain driven, hidden behind front covers.

See aircon belt in this pic, and timing chains exposed by cam covers removed :-

www.dannylt.com/misc/FuelCooler.jpg

danny

[Noodles 4.2]

Thanks for the picture Danny.

I notice that your dipstick is in a different place to mine (assuming thats what the purple thing is).

Tony

[olly]

On the newer cars (and all 4.5's I think ?) the dip stick got moved to the front of the engine.