Please change your cambelt every 36k!!

[pwig]

We have a customer with us at the moment, whos cambelt has gone after 40k miles.

The customer is now faced with a VERY expensive bill.

PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE get it changed every 36k, as it is cheaper if you get it done as part for the service.

I would hate it to happen to a pistonheader.

Regards,
Pwig.

[jimbro1000]

Given that the stated cambelt service interval according to Fiat is 60k how did the garage stand on this?

I had mine changed at less than 24k because there was every sign that the belts were heavily worn - that was my choice and it cost me more than a few pennies.

[pwig]

No, the cambelt must be changed on the 72k service, however on the 36k (which the customer did not have) service, the cambelt is checked, then the customer is advised on if they need to change it before 72k. Please just get it done people.

[AJLintern]

I've been changing the cambelt on my Alfa since I got it a year ago, and I've still not finished Maybe I should have just taken it to the garage...

[wombat rick]

Wise words PWIG.
Don't forget the tensioners too.

[pdV6]

Out of interest, pwig, which engine does your customer have?

[jacobyte]

Which engine are we talking about?

My 147 has a 2.0 TS engine. It's now done 47K miles (I got it new in 2001). Next service is due in a month or so - get it changed then?

[wombat rick]

jacobyte said:

Which engine are we talking about?

Any Twin Spark.
The 2.4 JTDs and V6s seem a little more durable.
(touchwood!)

jacobyte said:

Next service is due in a month or so - get it changed then?

Yes. 3 years or 36,000 miles is the usual advice. It is much cheaper at an independant garage (sorry Pwig! ), and really you need to get the balancer belt changed as well as the cambelt and the two pulleys. You may or may not want to change the variator at the same time - an extra £75 or so). You will be looking at £350-£400 at an independant.

[jacobyte]

Thanks!

[pwig]

It is a 1.6, the 2.0 shouldn't cost much more than £600 at a main dealer, just ask for a discount

>> Edited by pwig on Wednesday 2nd March 19:16

[Avocet]

Yep! Wife's 1.8 T' spark shed its teeth at 57,000. Cost me 8 valves (could have been worse!)

Absolutely Bloody furious at Alfa. I'd have changed it twice a week if they'd told me to but like an idiot I just read the book that came with the car and that told me to change it at 72,000 so that's what I was going to do. (in fact, I was intending to do it at the 60,000 'cause 72,000 just sounded unbelieveable). -turned out it was!

Anyway, Alfa weren't in the least bit willing to help me out and I'm a few hundred squid poorer but I'm sure you can all guess how many more Alfa's we'll be buying! Pity, I really love my old 164.

[pwig]

Avocet said:

Yep! Wife's 1.8 T' spark shed its teeth at 57,000. Cost me 8 valves (could have been worse!) Absolutely Bloody furious at Alfa. I'd have changed it twice a week if they'd told me to but like an idiot I just read the book that came with the car and that told me to change it at 72,000 so that's what I was going to do. (in fact, I was intending to do it at the 60,000 'cause 72,000 just sounded unbelieveable). -turned out it was! Anyway, Alfa weren't in the least bit willing to help me out and I'm a few hundred squid poorer but I'm sure you can all guess how many more Alfa's we'll be buying! Pity, I really love my old 164.

How old was it?

[Avocet]

Just less than 5 years. It was an August '99 car and this happened at the end of May 2004.

[pwig]

Surprised there was no contribution from Alfa

was the cambelt check part of the 36k at the time?

[Avocet]

Apparently it was - I just didn't know about it. It hadn't been serviced at an Alfa dealership before we got it (as far as I can tell) and I fixed the damage myself when it happened. I guess if I'd have spent the thousand or so sqids to have it done by a dealer, they might have knocked a few hundred off but that would still have been more expensive than doing it myself.