Alfa GTV 3ltr cam belt change

[richard90]

Hi,
my GTV (MY1999) is due a cam belt change, it's 3 years since it was last done but only 14,000miles.

I fancy doing the job myself. I've changed belts on 16v DOHC engines before but people ofter state that on an Alfa, it's a specialist job.

Has anyone got any DIY experience of this job, any tips or is it a NO NO as previously mentioned.

Cheers,

Richard.

[sjg]

Overview here: http://www.alfaworkshop.co.uk/alfa_v6_cam_belt.sht...

They sell the cam locking tools too. TBH, if you don't have the special tool and a TDC indicator then that's a good way towards the cost of getting someone else to do it for you.

[sjn2004]

Got mine done this week, its a 2001 with only 21000 miles and it was its first change. The dealer charger 458 for the cambelt plus 160 to do the tensioner. I asked them to keep the old belt so I could see how it had faired. Its still in very good condition with no real wear/tears etc, very surprised as I thought I may have been playing Russian Roulette the last year. Apparently the workshop manual says its a 6.9 hour job.

[JR]

As mentioned by Alfaworkshop: "The interval on V6 and diesel engines stay at 72,000 (or 5 years - whichever is sooner), which in our opinion remains too long." Although 3 years and 14,000 miles seems to be low. Have you considered leaving it a year? Or at least until it's warmer in the summer. My car's first belt did six and a half years and 49,500 miles. I changed it immediately after buying the car.

[Zombie]

Its not an easy job. The cam pullies are not keyed to the camshafts, they're on a taper lock only. Cam locks are a necessity. The main problem is undoing the aux crank pully. Its always bas***rd tight. You either need a VERY big impact wrence and a large compressor or a 3/4 drive breaker bar, a scaffolding pole and a method of locking the engine.

I've posted some info in this thread:

http://forum.alfa156.net/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID...

Yes, its a complete engine strip but I do go in to some detail about what's involved in a cam belt change you just need to read the whole thread....

Edited by Zombie on Monday 15th December 12:57