how long can we leave our car in a layby?

worto03

we got the car back OK but the cam belt had gone - the garage wants £120 to replace the cam belt but if it's damaged other parts we'll have to pay between £600-£800 to get it fixed.

Sadly it looks like new car time - it's 11 years old but had only done 53,000 miles and had only ever been driven by my mom and my girlfriend.

I don't think it's worth gambling another £120 on it just on the off chance that there isn't more damage - she was going 70 when it snapped so the odds of everything being OK seems to be pretty remote

Thanks for the info anyway.

Kite2010

Cambelt breaking at 70, sadly it a case of goodbye engine

Not a nice extra expense at this time of year for anybody.

KeithP

Kite2010 wrote: »

Cambelt breaking at 70, sadly it a case of goodbye engine

Really?

We don't even know the make of car do we?

MX5huggy

Indeed if it's a MX5 its not a problem. I would be inclined to gamble the £120, if it fixes the car, its better than any other car you can get for £120.

rev_henry

Ew thats not good. I believe the extent of the damage depends on whether its a 'non interference' engine or not. Something about certain engines designed such that if the cambelt breaks the valves shouldn't hit each other and break the engine.
Unfortunately the belt couldn't really have broken in worse driving conditions. I know its all very well saying so now, but was the belt due to be done?

anewman

rev_henry wrote: »

Unfortunately the belt couldn't really have broken in worse driving conditions. I know its all very well saying so now, but was the belt due to be done?

As it's 11 years old, then if it had never been done the answer is yes.

worto03

Hi again,

It had just had a service and they didn't change the belt because it was 7000 miles short of needing a replacement mileage wise - given the age and a bit of hindsight I'd say yes it should have been done on age.

The car is a 11 year old clio - I have no idea what type of engine it has but the garage said it would stand a better chance if she'd have coasted into the layby without trying to do anythign else but because she didn't know what was wrong she was trying to put it in gear & out of gear & in gear again etc etc.

It's only worth about £800 and I guess it needs replacing soon anyway so we're going to buy another car - is the Clio worth anything to sell on ebay or anything or do we have to just have it scrapped?

Thanks for all the replies.
worto.

rev_henry

Mileage wise maybe it had 7000 miles left but they do deteriorate over time as well. Usually manufacturers state either X miles or Y years whichever is first. Poor advice from the garage I think. Anyway what's done is done now, you'll know next time.

anewman

If you stick it on ebay describing it accurately I am sure someone will take it off your hands. Even if it is just for the scrap value.

If you have owned it for over a year then scrappage could still be an option, you just need to get the car to the dealers. (As far as I know the rules state you need V5, current MOT, insurance, and tax - but do not state the car must be running).

worto03

If you have owned it for over a year then scrappage could still be an option, you just need to get the car to the dealers. (As far as I know the rules state you need V5, current MOT, insurance, and tax - but do not state the car must be running).

This is news to me - I thought it had to be in working order - I'll have a look into it but it will certainly open up a few options! We were looking at getting a car about 3-4 years old for about 4-5k but with the scrappage scheme we might be able to get a new one

hummmmm..........