Should I put him down?

stufai

Hi all,

Just taken my 2001 Rover to the garage with the plan of getting the cam belt replaced after 85k miles (bought 2nd hand so not sure if it's been done before).

They've just called to list the faults with it and what I may need doing. Some of these were noted on my previous service in 2009, but haven't really caused me many problems:

- Gasket is leaking (noted last year)
- Worn radiator
- Worn alternator valve/tensioner
- Obviously I need a new cam belt as well

Do these things sound like typical garage 'add-ons', and any idea how much all of this to be fixed should cost? Is it worth looking at a new car? Any help would be much appreciated!

TiTheRev

Head gasket is a given with a Rover, and from other threads on here looks to be £300-400 for a good quote. Not sure how a radiator can be 'worn'?? Leaking maybe. Alternator tensioner might be £100, but all-in-all not worth it IMHO.

colino

"Worn" bits are a bit of a strange reason for replacement, surely everything is worn at that age. If they mean that they really need replaced soon, I would pay them for their time and simply drive the car as is. No point shelling out more than the car is worth and you may be lucky and, keeping oil and filter changes and safety items up to date, might get years of service out of it.

Inactive

Which model Rover is it?

Not that any are much better than the next one.

bosseyed

colino wrote: »

"Worn" bits are a bit of a strange reason for replacement, surely everything is worn at that age. If they mean that they really need replaced soon, I would pay them for their time and simply drive the car as is. No point shelling out more than the car is worth and you may be lucky and, keeping oil and filter changes and safety items up to date, might get years of service out of it.

Yeah I'd agree with that - I'd say get the cambelt changed as you originally intended, then just drive it til it dies. Which might be years from now, even with the faults listed.

ArsenalFC

I would not replace even the cambelt and run it till it die, as the head gasket is on its way.

Only change the radiator if there is a leak, but i think the garage is trying it on.

Get recovery cover in case it dies one day.

stufai

Ok, thanks everyone - sounds like a plan!

I'll get the cambelt (and the water pump as I was told that was best) changed, and then just keep topping up the leaks, etc. and see how he goes.

Thanks for all your advice!

It's a Rover 25, 1.4 btw.

stufai

ArsenalFC wrote: »

I would not replace even the cambelt and run it till it die, as the head gasket is on its way.

Only change the radiator if there is a leak, but i think the garage is trying it on.

Get recovery cover in case it dies one day.

The cambelt going could be quite dangerous if travelling at speed though couldn't it? And it's quite random. Whereas the head gasket could obviously go at any point, but has been 'leaking' for 11 months now without any major issues.

I guess like everything it's a lottery, but if I can just get another year out of the car it would be great.

TiTheRev

stufai wrote: »

The cambelt going could be quite dangerous if travelling at speed though couldn't it? And it's quite random. Whereas the head gasket could obviously go at any point, but has been 'leaking' for 11 months now without any major issues.

I guess like everything it's a lottery, but if I can just get another year out of the car it would be great.

The cambelt going at almost any speed is potentially end of (engine) life. Potentially the head gasket could be leaking onto the cambelt, so even a new one may degrade or slip if it's not done at the same time?

I'd sellit while it's got tax and mot and chop it in for a more reliable car.

Ebe_Scrooge

If the cambelt snaps, it's not dangerous - at least, not for you. It will, in all likelihood, write off the engine though. If you do change the cambelt then yes, it's a good idea to change the water pump at the same time - the reason being, the actual parts are quite cheap, it's the labour that costs as it involves quite a bit of dismantling, so you may as well change the pump while you're there.

However, you're looking at a fair amount of dosh for a cambelt change - I don't know for your car specifically, but it's usually around the £200 - £300 mark. So I'd question whether it's worth it if you're planning to run it into the ground. You may be lucky and get another 30,000 miles out of the cambelt, or it could snap tomorrow. "Do ya feel lucky, punk ?" :-)

Rolandtheroadie

Any time a timing belts went when I've been driving (4 now) it's been accelerating again after a roundabout or junction. Never had one going at speed.