Variator on 145qv......worth changing?

[juliethotel]

Hi folks, im going to do my cambelt soon (145 2.0ts) and am wondering whether to bother forking out another 90 odd quid for a variator. If im right then all it does is advance the timing on the inlet cam, which shouldn't make too much difference.....will it?

Apparently they only ever last a year at most so i see it as pointless as im not planning on selling the car anytime soon.

No negative effects to doing this are there? (besides loss of vvt)

Thanks

[V6Alfisti]

If the variator hasn't been done for 2x cambelt changes I would just swap it out, mainly because they make a horrible diesel clatter from cold for about 30-60 seconds.

[tiffx19]

if you aren't getting the diesel noise, then I wouldn't. They only need replaced when they need replaced. They last far longer than a year- as long as the oil is kept clean.

[Fulvisti]

Yes unless it's making noise don't bother. Even then, if noisy they actually won't do any damage to the engine, the noise just get annoying and there will be a drop in low down performance due to it not doing its job.

[juliethotel]

No nasty clatter so its staying on there. There's a point fulvisti, i seem to remember reading somewhere they only operate up to 4k rpm anyway. Cheers

[V6 inside]

that's my old 145!!!

Great to see it still on the road, it was the quickest 145 cloverleaf I've ever driven!

[Pentoman]

Nice looking car. Only ever maneouvered one around a car park, but it felt like it would be great to drive.

[juliethotel]

ah right! when did you own her? and was she lowered with those wheels? glad to hear she was the quickest you've driven (:

[V6 inside]

I bought it in ~2005 as a standard car. It had a supersprint exhaust i think?

I added an induction kit, lowered it on Voghland springs and sourced the 155 sportpack wheels.

It was a great car and sounded sweet on full throttle.

I was working for veloces of london at the time and I think its been sold through them twice since then. I missed out on buying it back recently!!!

[wrinx]

juliethotel said:

Hi folks, im going to do my cambelt soon (145 2.0ts) and am wondering whether to bother forking out another 90 odd quid for a variator. If im right then all it does is advance the timing on the inlet cam, which shouldn't make too much difference.....will it?

Apparently they only ever last a year at most so i see it as pointless as im not planning on selling the car anytime soon.

No negative effects to doing this are there? (besides loss of vvt)

Thanks

What's the mileage on the car?

wrinx

[juliethotel]

Nice work v6 inside, you did a great job with the suspension, it would'nt be half the car without it! (and the proxies) and the wheels were basically the reason i went for this one in the first place. However; i have been tempted to get an airbox lid and take that cone filter off! She's only at 106k at the mo wrinx. Needed plates in the rear floorpans, both wishbones and an ordeal adjusting the handbrake for its last mot.

I've never been sure if thats her original exhaust so ill add a pic or two tonight and hopefully you can tell me.

[wrinx]

If it's never had the variator changed, at 106k I'd be tempted to do it.

wrinx

[V6 inside]

Might be worth asking Veloces if they have any service records when they sold it?

I can't remember if I replaced the Variator when I sold it, but it had 40k miles on it then, I think?

Those voghland springs were amazing, they improved the ride dramatically!

[juliethotel]

Well this is the exhaust that's on it, it looks quite old and i dont think its standard, so its probably the supersprint that you put on it V6 inside!

[Jimbo.]

juliethotel said:

Well this is the exhaust that's on it, it looks quite old and i dont think its standard, so its probably the supersprint that you put on it V6 inside!

Looks like the standard exhaust, with the silly, tack-welded trim...

IMO get it done with the 'belt, You'd me hacked off if it started getting horribly noisy 5k after having the belt changed!

Edited by Jimbo. on Thursday 16th February 23:22