Cambelts

Wee_Willy_Harris

rev_henry wrote: »

On the subject of alternatives to cambelts, have pushrod engines totally died now?

Not quite. Some larger capacity engines are still made using pushrods. The Chrysler Hemi for example. But there are many practical advantages to the OHC.

Wee_Willy_Harris

skiddlydiddly wrote: »

Agree with this.I bought a car and the history was a bit patchy so rather than start chipping on the price I got the dealer to service it and change the cambelt instead.
I've paid for an engine rebuild in the past(although that was due to ringland damage) and don't want to do it again.

There's no guarantee that you will lunch the engine if the cam belt breaks. You almost certainly will on a diesel, but some petrol engines with enough clearance between valve/piston might get away with it, particularly if failure is at very low revs. Sadly, as tollerances get tighter, the more modern the car, the less likely this is to be the case.

skiddlydiddly

Its a diesel and I didn't want to take the risk really.

goldspanners

michpotts wrote: »

So basically its a big rip off!

you've bought a small car with a relatively big engine so there has to be a compromise when it comes to utilising space.
im sure vauxhall could have fitted the engine longditudal but you would complain about how much space it takes up in the front of the cabin area between the 2 front seats,changing the timing belt would probably only take 30 minutes that way.

£200 to change the belt, pulleys and water pump is hardly a rip off.

Rolandtheroadie

I've just spent £600ish on parts alone for my timing belt change, labour was £250 but that was cheap considering the belt had snapped and there was other work involved (not simply just renewing belt). Another £200 for the damage caused (and £400 for specialist tools).
So if anyones got a chrysler or ldv 2.5crd/2.8crd, thats a breakdown on prices getting it done cheap (although all genuine parts were ised).

alliwantistosave

Having just had a cambelt go on funny enough a VW like your Husband I wouldn't even think twice about getting it done. Our Engine is B*llocked and now trying to find a replacement for a decent price is a nightmare.
The cost will depend on how long it will take them to do it, i.e. how long it takes to take it apart, change the belt and put it back together again. I would ask main dealer how much they charge and use that as a guide too.
HTH

datostar

scotsman4th wrote: »

I've just spent £600ish on parts alone for my timing belt change, labour was £250 but that was cheap considering the belt had snapped and there was other work involved (not simply just renewing belt). Another £200 for the damage caused (and £400 for specialist tools).
So if anyones got a chrysler or ldv 2.5crd/2.8crd, thats a breakdown on prices getting it done cheap (although all genuine parts were ised).

Did the garage charge you for tools and did they get to keep them after the job was done? Good job they didn't need a new 4 post lift at the time!

Rolandtheroadie

datostar wrote: »

Did the garage charge you for tools and did they get to keep them after the job was done? Good job they didn't need a new 4 post lift at the time!

There was no way an independent would have had the injector removal tool and at £300, they wernt likely to buy it for 1 job. Likewise the timing belt kit needed when a timing belt goes on one of these.

The garage never asked me to buy them, chrysler forums had said that without them, i'd be stuffed so I chose to buy them myself (and keep them).

peediedj

JUST HAD THE TIMING BELT AND RENSIONERS DONE ON MY 2002 FORD FOCUS,had it a month,a old lady had it rom new but didnt do timing belt on it,has 46,000 miles on clock but didnt want to take the chance on it going my mechanic friend quoted me 2 1/2 hrs labour and £90 parts(so £175 all in,but only took 1 1/2 to do it so saved me £52.50)

johnnyroper

michpotts wrote: »

Just bought a 6 year old 1.8l 16v petrol Vauxhall Meriva with 45,000 miles on the clock. Am wondering if it's worth getting the cambelt changed. Tried asking Vauxhall themselves through the website and via email and get conflicting advice- 40,000 or 4 years, 62,000 or 6 years, 80,000 or 8 years are all answers I've been given.

My husband had a cambelt snap on him in a VW Caddy van a couple of years back and it cost £1000 to put right (with a second hand engine) so I know its a dear do. Tried phoning a few garages and they won't give me a price- they just say "bring it in and we'll look at it". Haven't got a clue what it costs- will I have a pay an hour's labour just to get a straight answer?

I worked for vauxhall some years ago and they had numerous problems with belts,normally it was rollers or tensioners taking the belt rather than straight belt failure. It was that bad the belt change interval when back to 40k or 4 years from 80k or 8 years not sure what it is these days.
The engine in the meriva I would guess is the z18xe which us slightly better than the old x18xe and x18xe1 but personally nonmatter what interval vauxhall suggest I would not leave it longer than 40k or 4 years.
Always change everything belt,2 rollers,tensioners and water pump.
No need to get done by a dealer find a decent indipendant garage to a well known make like gates etc,as they make the parts for manufactors anyway.just make sure the garage supplies and fits the parts so there is some comeback in case of problems