how urgent is the timing belt?

[jamie128]

Im looking to change my car in about 6 months time.

Its an 08 and just gone 6 years or nearly is, its only covered 33,000 miles and the manufacturer guidelines for cambelt says 77,000 miles or 6 years

Is it just as vital to go by age and get it changed ASAP, or with the very low mileage would it be ok for another 6 months/6000 miles?

[Orangecurry]

You have answered your own question.

[Oldandslow]

A canny buyer will expect discount if the belt hasn't been done. So weigh that versus the cost of getting it done yourself beforehand.

The belt rubber ages and may fail just through this rather than mileage done. If the belt goes and takes out valves etc it'll get very expensive to fix.

[skyrover]

depends if it's an interference or non-interference engine

[Pothole]

is it an interference engine?

[jamie128]

Pothole said:

is it an interference engine?

its a 1.1 clio campus>?

[vit4]

Use it as a selling point

[Pothole]

jamie128 said:

Pothole said:

is it an interference engine?

its a 1.1 clio campus>?

which question are you answering?

[lel]

If the age limit for the belt is reached then change it. Rubber dries out and cracks over time (same as your car tyres) and one small crack will quickly escalate into a snapped belt

[DanielJames]

I imagine it'll be fine.

[ADM06]

I'm in the same boat as you, six years old in April. However the car is a Megane R26 and I'm not going to risk it.

[sjj84]

I got a banger last year, 29k miles, 13 years old, original cambelt and tyres. It didn't explode in a ball of fire. I did get them changed pretty quickly though.
Having it done will make it easier to sell though so probably worth doing.

[Rubin215]

I bought a Laguna about ten years ago, knowing it needed the belt done (used it as a haggling point too).

Booked it in to get done the following week but still decided I could take the family away for the weekend...

I rebuilt the top-end myself having been towed 100 miles home by my brother (who obviously had to drive 100 miles to come and get us in the first place).
Total PITA.

[Nigel Worc's]

If you change the belt, ffs change the tensioner and anything else it powers, like the waterpump, if you don't do these, don't bother changing the belt, you're wasting your money.

[surveyor]

Do you feel lucky?

[ouch]

I've just rebuilt the top end of my A6 engine due to a failed tensioner, belt wasn't due for another year..

[ADM06]

Chains should be a legal requirement by now. It's not the stone age.

[Rubin215]

ADM06 said:

Chains should be a legal requirement by now. It's not the stone age.

I work with a guy who's 40k Mercedes snapped its chain and lunched the engine.
No comeback whatsoever.

[ADM06]

Rubin215 said:

I work with a guy who's 40k Mercedes snapped its chain and lunched the engine.
No comeback whatsoever.

And if it had a belt?

I had a 328i for three years, sold it to a friend with 130k on the clock, original chain. He sold it two years later with 155k on the clock, still on it's original chain.

[Jim AK]

ADM06 said:

Chains should be a legal requirement by now. It's not the stone age.

Chain isnt foolproof either. A friend is being relieved of £1000 (after a goodwill payment) by Mini to change the chain on a 20000 mile 57 plate Cooper `S`

OP Change the belt. Its just not worth the risk. If it goes before you change car you will be spending a lot of the money you will need for the new car to de lunch the Clio

Edited by Jim AK on Thursday 30th January 22:47