cam belt life span

[poptosis]

I just booked her in for her first B. The guy at the dealership wanted to know if the cam belt had been changed and said it should be done every four years. This is news to me. I thought they were done on the C service which is after six years or 54,000 miles. The car is late 1999 with 16,000 on the clock. Should I consider getting it done or is he pulling a fast one?

Over to you oh Lotus wise ones.

[paulwakinshaw]

hmmmmm funny one this

Early cars (up to 1999 I think) had the six year service intervals - ie "C" service was 54k

but later on in production lotus changed the service intervals so the "C" service falls at four years or 36K

I'm sure someone will be along soon to make a more detailed comment.

Hope this helps

Paul

[bogie]

Id go with 4 years which is what is recommeded now (guess they had quite a few go early) - not worth the expense if it goes

[Peter Calver]

We did the wife's MGF at 4years 35k miles thge belt removed was cracked!

[S Works]

I asked Miles @ Fibreglass Services about this back in March when I had the tyres replced - he said the "new" service interval for the cambelt was news to him, he'd heard nothing from Lotus.... hmmm, anyone else in the trade heard different?

[steff]

Its better to get it changed early than risk the consequenses.

Its £200 at a main dealer to get the belt changed which is worth the piece of mind.

[PeterCee]

The reduced cambelt change interval appears to be true.

See :

www.340r.net/news/cambelt.htm

[pley]

4 years def!

[xxplod]

Yep. Second the feelings posted. I believe Lotus revised their feelings on it, after a few cambelts failed before they were due. I think you should bear in mind it is as much based on time as mileage. Personally, if I had a 4 year old Elise, that hadn't had it done, I'd get it done. It ain't that expensive, well worth the peace of mind.

[MATRS]

If used for track days, lot of revs etc - best changed at 3yrs 36,000miles