replacement of timing belts

If a timing belt should be replaced for the first time after 40,000 miles or five years, why are future replacements based on number of years and not mileage?

Are they? I've never had a new one but I thought the same criteria would apply to replacement belts as it would to original ones.

Frank

Just had ours done, 1996 Duetto, 66k miles. It had been done once, a few years ago by a previous owner. We were told, by an independent Ford specialist, that the belt is a belt rather than a chain, so age dependent rather than mileage dependent, if you see what I mean. 

So we had it done; £280 all in. 6 months/6000 miles warranty.

The argument was that if the timing belt fails, the damage to the engine could be catastrophic, so regular replacement is an insurance.

hope this helps. We're off to Exmoor in the van this weekend, I hope the weather improves....

My cam belt was supposed to be replaced when we purchased my boxer but I have no proof. Also been told that the belts should be replaced every 5 years etc. and while there its a good idea to replace the water pump. I am having both done as the van has 60000+ on the clock with only sketchy vehicle history. I sometimes wonder if garages just try to drive up the bill. Like using flushing oil before an oil and filter change, never used to do that.

If you have any doubt about the age or condition of a timing belt, then, IMHO it MUST be changed.

Comparatively low cost £300 or so, max.

And get the pulley and water pump(if appropriate) kit as well.

Any failure of the timing belt = new engine. For some of the older vans on here that could well make it a financial write off.

I have mine done, the MH is a chain cam, on the car at half the recommended life

IanH wrote:If you have any doubt about the age or condition of a timing belt, then, IMHO it MUST be changed.

Comparatively low cost £300 or so, max.

And get the pulley and water pump(if appropriate) kit as well.

Any failure of the timing belt = new engine. For some of the older vans on here that could well make it a financial write off.

I have mine done, the MH is a chain cam, on the car at half the recommended life

I took the same view 

I would agree too. When we bought ours we could see a belt change had been done recently from the paperwork.

Annoyingly wee are now hearing a whine from the engine when it's cold which goes as it warms up  so I suspect the pulley or water pump bearings are tired so they can't have been replaced.

JandJ wrote:I would agree too. When we bought ours we could see a belt change had been done recently from the paperwork.

Annoyingly wee are now hearing a whine from the engine when it's cold which goes as it warms up  so I suspect the pulley or water pump bearings are tired so they can't have been replaced.

Or it could be the alternator or PAS pump?

Frank

I'm afraid that just a belt change is not enough. Many have questioned why the water pump should be done as well, as, I have to say, I did. The water pump (if driven by the cam belt) acts as an idler pulley and the bearings in it are possibly the most stressed in the drive path.
 To be honest J&J I'd go for a new belt and the pulleys, wee bit of cost and lets better sleep!!

Thanks all.  I bought my 1995 Duetto at the end of 2012, started using it April/May 2013;  52,000 on the clock; timing belt had been replaced in February 2007 at 42,200 miles.  There is now between 72 and 73k on the clock.  I am planning a trip to Cornwall which will be about 550 miles each way plus detours.  It might be sensible to have it replaced now?

When I took van for first service the garage man asked about the timing belt and from what he was saying it sounds as though, if the timing belt goes, the engine can just stop without warning.  Is that right, or are there symptoms beforehand?

Hi, I had a old car years ago, belt snapped and it was game over instantly, had no warning, engine was scrap and not worth fixing due to value of car, luckily it was just a £200 car to get me about whilst getting my next car ready

Matt

Mac

No symptoms at all, just perfect normality one second and a wrecked engine the next
The engine core continues to run as it is attached to the wheels through the transmission. When the belt fails, the valves in the cylinders stay where they are and inevitably collide with the still moving pistons. Usually, that means a new set of.......valves, pistons, con rods, prob crankshaft. Don't want to scare you and I'm sure your trip will be fine your mileages are quite low. If you can change before your trip, do so, but don't lose sleep over it and spoil your trip!

It is not always an immediate write-off of an engine if the belt snaps. It depends on various circumstances, like the rpm when it snapped, the design of the engine etc. etc..
Some engines are non-interference and some are designed to snap a rocker arm if the belt breaks for instance.
It is obviously wise to replace the belt at the recommended intervals but it isn't going to snap exactly when the recommended mileage / time is exceeded.

Frank

Thanks Frank.  I don't want to go all the way down there with the possibility of it happening  bothering me - there are plenty of other possible causes for break-down which can't be anticipated to worry about!  I have checked out re AA's relay cover too though (see other thread) - what you might call belt and braces 

Hi jacking Fiona `s thread here, sorry, The dealer I am buying the Topaz off, has said that when they do the service if the cam belt wants doing he will do it f I pay him £350 ,that doesn`t not include the water pump. Makes sense to me if replacing belt water pump as well, always have before on other vehicles.

It has 72,000 on the clock and the belt was changed 2012 , I was thinking not having him do it, get her home and let my mechanic have her, only 50 miles to get her home, the dealer has tried to put the frighteners on by saying " do you know what happens when a belt goes, engine kaput , he was quite insistent, I do know that ,but still think it is a rip off, so inclined to leave it. I never had a problem when I bought from Spinney, they even replaced things that I didn`t know about before hand , they just did it.
What are members views?
Thank you
Marg

If the belt is due for changing at the date of sale then surely he should change it as part of the service with no extra charge?
If it is not due at that date, and it breaks within 50 miles then surely the van is not fit for purpose? I think it would be better to have it done by someone you know and trust.

Frank

When I had mine replaced (2004 Boxer), I remember the book said 60k or 10 years, whichever came first. At the time the van had covered 37k but was 10 years old. I have the invoice, £270 including rollers and water pump. Most garage mechanics paint the date of replacement and mileage on the timing chest cover in case paperwork gets lost.
BTW motorhoming friends of ours had a timing belt break on their Fiat based van when touring Wales. The garage repair bill was around £1200.
Al.

I phoned garage and have  booked it in for next Thursday - timing belt only - "about £200.00, maybe a bit less".  Will think about water pump.

Is the waterpump on your van driven from the timing belt or the alternator belt? If it isn't driven from the timing belt then there is no need to replace it, unless its leaking.

Frank

IanH wrote:I'm afraid that just a belt change is not enough. Many have questioned why the water pump should be done as well, as, I have to say, I did. The water pump (if driven by the cam belt) acts as an idler pulley and the bearings in it are possibly the most stressed in the drive path.
 To be honest J&J I'd go for a new belt and the pulleys, wee bit of cost and lets better sleep!!

If it's the first cambelt change on a van you don't know the previous mechanical history of it's definitely worth having a new pump fitted even if the existing one is still functioning ok because sooner or later you will curse the day you didn't!

Mine packed up in Germany last year on a roasting hot day just a few miles away from where i was heading for so i topped the tank to overflowing and drove on. Cost £327...ouch....thanks Brexit! Naturally a new belt had to be fitted which had only been replaced a year before!

Hi Frank- I 've no idea about that.  Garage man can check it out, but out of interest, is there some way of telling without digging into engine?

The garage man should be able to tell you just by looking at the engine - if he doesn't know already.

Frank

IanH wrote:I'm afraid that just a belt change is not enough. Many have questioned why the water pump should be done as well, as, I have to say, I did. The water pump (if driven by the cam belt) acts as an idler pulley and the bearings in it are possibly the most stressed in the drive path.
 To be honest J&J I'd go for a new belt and the pulleys, wee bit of cost and lets better sleep!!

Thanks for the explanation Ian. Checked the paperwork today and our pre-sale service did include both belt AND water pump.

New timing belt now fitted - cost £160 - it's easier to do and cheaper with older vans ; no water pump required as not connected .

Well done, now ready to roll.

Happy and safe 

Best wishes,
Margaret