Hawkeye cambellt change
Hawkeye cambellt change
Author
Discussion

DKL

Original Poster:

4,855 posts

245 months

Monday 5th December 2011
quotequote all
Car is in having cambelt service. Just had a call to suggest changing what sounds like 2 guide belts for the cam belt. But at 120 each they are going to add quite a bit to the bill.
New one on me so anyine care to comment - should these be changed automatically?

ScoobieWRX

4,863 posts

249 months

Monday 5th December 2011
quotequote all
Whenever you do a cambelt on a scoob it's a good idea to change the idler pulley and cambelt tensioner as a matter of course. Just standard stuff.

IMHO it's a good idea to buy yourself the cambelt, idler pulley and belt tensioner, oil and filter plus anything else you want changed prior to getting a garage to do the job. Then all you're paying for is labour. They shouldn't charge the earth because the engine doesn't have to come out to do a cambelt.

DKL

Original Poster:

4,855 posts

245 months

Monday 5th December 2011
quotequote all
Just a bit shocked at the cost of the parts - even Porsche don't charge that much!

CaptainSlow

13,179 posts

235 months

Monday 5th December 2011
quotequote all
Too late I'm sure but all the bits here for £180+

http://www.importcarparts.co.uk/parts.asp?cat=96&a...

DKL

Original Poster:

4,855 posts

245 months

Tuesday 6th December 2011
quotequote all
Turns out its 2 of the rollers they suggest are noisy and want changing. In 30K?
I suppose the alternative is failure which would be a whole lot more pricey but still a little perplexed.

ScoobieWRX

4,863 posts

249 months

Tuesday 6th December 2011
quotequote all
After 30K miles it's not that common to have noisy rollers, i'm sure it happens but pretty rarely. I'm not saying that isn't the case in your situation but generally even after 50K miles they aren't particularly noisy but get changed as a matter of course anyway when you're doing a cambelt which is absolutely fine.

I'm surprised you're having the cambelt done after 30K miles. Normally it's 50K miles and 100K miles.

Are you having the work done with a reputable Subaru specialist or main stealership??




DKL

Original Poster:

4,855 posts

245 months

Tuesday 6th December 2011
quotequote all
5 years old so its due a belt even though the miles are low.
Main dealer here have it and I don't drive it (much) so am keen to have confidence in it.
I've told them to get on with it - they seem fairly conscientious and were keen to point out the others were fine.

ScoobieWRX

4,863 posts

249 months

Wednesday 7th December 2011
quotequote all
Good luck with it. I hope they do a good job for you.

Perhaps next time from a cost point of view you might have a look at a reputable Subaru Specialist. They'll save you a packet and will do a cracking good job every bit as good if not better than a stealership.

A reputable specialists stamp in your service book from an enthusiasts point of view is worth more than a stealership stamp every time. Every specialist i know is made up of subaru enthusiasts who have a passion for these cars. They tend to go the extra mile for customers, will generally bend over backwards to make sure you're happy, and do a bang on proper job every time.

It's a different experience.


matt-ITR

892 posts

212 months

Friday 9th December 2011
quotequote all
ScoobieWRX said:
Whenever you do a cambelt on a scoob it's a good idea to change the idler pulley and cambelt tensioner as a matter of course. Just standard stuff.

IMHO it's a good idea to buy yourself the cambelt, idler pulley and belt tensioner, oil and filter plus anything else you want changed prior to getting a garage to do the job. Then all you're paying for is labour. They shouldn't charge the earth because the engine doesn't have to come out to do a cambelt.
Any idea if Subaru change the idler pulley and cambelt tensioner under the recommended service routine?
I'm looking to buy a WRX that is due a cambelt change and the garage have agreed to do it, but only what is on the recommended routine, with anything extra being at my cost.

If it isn't included, is it worth including or not and if so, how much extra should I expect to pay?

ScoobieWRX

4,863 posts

249 months

Friday 9th December 2011
quotequote all
Your average Subaru dealer charges between £500-£650+vat for a cambelt service. It doesn't take long to do and cambelts are no more than £50-£60 new. I don't know if they do them or not officially at the first cambelt change or if they advise you to, you'll have to ask however, if they don't change both the idler and tensioner at that time for the money they charge, IMHO they aren't doing a proper job.

Your average man in the street mechanic with a workshop manual could probably do it in 4-6hrs. A subaru mechanic should be able to do it in 2-3hrs all in.

Go and see a specialist for a quote as well.

pidsy

8,589 posts

180 months

Sunday 11th December 2011
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Would it be a noisy roller that's "ticking" on start up? Goes away when the engine is warm - and is definitely in time with one of the belts spinning (have just had my 2 aux belts changed)

Sorry OPfor dragging this OT.

ScoobieWRX

4,863 posts

249 months

Sunday 11th December 2011
quotequote all
Could be anything producing a ticking sound when cold then going with warm. Very difficult to diagnose anything remotely, you really need to be there to see/hear what's going on.

Go and see a Subaru specialist.