"Cambelt gambling"...

[Croutons]

Car is 5 years old. Has done a whopping 28K.

Book says swap the belt at the earlier of 5 years or 90K.

I will get it done, but my goodness at £600 it's tempting not to.

Anyone else taken the risk? I have had sheds I've wilfully let go over as I've been looking for an excuse to get rid, and I once took the cover off a 300,000 mile Pug 205 to see the metal webbing exposed on one side, and merrily carried on for 40K.

[Ali Chappussy]

I thought mileage was the criteria, not age.

Just my two pennyworth.

[Krikkit]

Ali Chappussy said:

I thought mileage was the criteria, not age.

Just my two pennyworth.

Both - the components wear through movement associated with mileage, but the materials (like rubber and plastic) age in the heat cycles and environment of being strapped to a constantly heating and cooling blob of metal.

Not worth it on a young or expensive car, but definitely on a shed.

[Jimmy Recard]

Ali Chappussy said:

I thought mileage was the criteria, not age.

Just my two pennyworth.

Can be either - my car is 4 years or 40k miles, whichever comes first

[TTmonkey]

The guy I took my car too said he'd take a quick look at its condition, advise me if it needed doing. He was doing something else at the time, took a cover off, advised that it looked new, so didn't get it changed.

that was on a car with 120k miles on it. I took it to 299,750 before selling, Cam belt never done.

You takes your chances. never ever had a cam belt go. But a mate had two engines feked by them (same car, Ford orion).

[Benni]

You might try the eastern european variant (no warranty on this, disclaimer etc) of just changing the cambelt :

Remove belt cover
Cut existing belt in half along the whole length
Push half-belt towards motor side on the pulleys
Push new belt on pulleys until old half-belt falls off
Cut and remove old half-belt
Put belt cover on

That way, timing stays the same, but also tensioners & tension rolls stay the same,
since your car has only run very small numbers these parts may not be worn out.

[e30m3Mark]

Depends on whether it's a non interference head or not? The gamble isn't all that big if it's not.

[mgv8]

Ask any MGF owner about cambelts and they will tell you to get it done on time (or before). So depends on the car, but you can not tell by looking at it. MX5 does not matter as non-interference.

[anonymous-user]

I got the cambelt done on my summer toy last year. Last time was 7 years before, when it should have been 4. Bit naughty, but as it does less than 100 miles a year normally, I just couldn't bring myself to spend the £400 any sooner.

[Big_Dog]

e30m3Mark said:

Depends on whether it's a non interference head or not? The gamble isn't all that big if it's not.

This. Check if interference.
Get some recovery.
All good.

[5harp3y]

£600 belt

or

£££££££ engine / car

but depends if its an interference engine or not

[littleredrooster]

Bought Mrs. Rooster a 205 diesel about 20 years ago, it had done 38,500 miles - belt change due at 39,000. Bought the belt/pump/tensioner kit, but bad weather prevented driveway surgery taking place for about 3 weekends.

Snapped the belt and wrecked the head at 40,000 miles the day before I was going to do it...wouldn't ya just know it!

If it wasn't for bad luck, I think I'd have no luck at all.

[J4CKO]

Benni said:

You might try the eastern european variant (no warranty on this, disclaimer etc) of just changing the cambelt :

Remove belt cover
Cut existing belt in half along the whole length
Push half-belt towards motor side on the pulleys
Push new belt on pulleys until old half-belt falls off
Cut and remove old half-belt
Put belt cover on

That way, timing stays the same, but also tensioners & tension rolls stay the same,
since your car has only run very small numbers these parts may not be worn out.

For full kudos, must be done whilst engine is running

[Jim AK]

[Previous]

Just done mine on a 2013 vw cc @ 50k.

Ive done 30k miles in the past 18 months since i bought it, and am about to start a new role where ill be driving about 30k pa, so for me its just not worth the time / hassle if it snaps.

[Jimmy Recard]

Previous said:

Just done mine on a 2013 vw cc @ 50k.

Ive done 30k miles in the past 18 months since i bought it, and am about to start a new role where ill be driving about 30k pa, so for me its just not worth the time / hassle if it snaps.

This. I've heard people say "mine doesn't have an interference engine so I'll just change it when it snaps."

But what if it snaps when you need to get to work or you're just setting off on holiday?

[bungz]

600 would suggest it is not a simple job so what engine is it?

If the car has a decent lump of value in it seems daft not to get it done tbh.

[Bennet]

Assuming it is an interference engine, what actually happens when they go? Will the engine suddenly lock up and stop turning?

[chris4652009]

I've never had a belt done on any of my cars, never had one fail on me either.

[cuprabob]

Bennet said:

Assuming it is an interference engine, what actually happens when they go? Will the engine suddenly lock up and stop turning?

Before it stops, the pistons will bend some valves.