worth changing the cam belt on an old banger? or just let it go?

Sportacus

Usually this needs changing at around 75,000 miles. On a £500 car is this worth doing a second time at 150,000 miles? I know the belt will go at some point and that's the end of the car, but how long can these belts really last?

arcon5

Comes down to personal preference.
Cars can go much longer nowadays.
If you know its history you know its reliability you may not be wasting your money getting it done. Would also make it easier to sell.
But there isn't really a blanket yes or no answer.
Also depends on the car..?

How long it will last is anyones guess. Could be 15k could be 15 miles. I had one go at 76k once - due at 75k.

If not getting it done then plan for the worst and hope for the best.

Sportacus

yeah, I guess it depends on the condition of the car generally, and the cost of changing it (on some cars it's a DIY job, on others the engine has to be taken out - I heard it's £800 on Ford Galaxys)

arcon5

800 sounds a lot for a galaxy.
The engine has to be supported to get the belt past the mount but never known for an engine to have to be removed - although I could believe it with bigger powerful engines.

Is that a main dealer quote by chance? The belt kits and water pumps are only usually around 60-100 quid then labour. Galaxy what... 3-4 hrs with its restrictive access?

droopsnoot

Also, not all engines are what you might describe as "interference engines" - that is, when the cam belt goes, it doesn't necessarily mean that the engine is done for. Many are, but not all.

Norman_Castle

On my last car, a Citroen diesel, the belt was due at 80,000 or 12 years. I sold the car for the engine to be re-used at 86,000 and 16 years on the original belt. Current car at 160,000 and practically worthless is overdue a belt change but will not get one.

I've known two belts break. One had recently been changed the other was halfway through its recommended service life.

Stoke

droopsnoot wrote: »

Also, not all engines are what you might describe as "interference engines" - that is, when the cam belt goes, it doesn't necessarily mean that the engine is done for. Many are, but not all.

Pretty sure a galaxy probably is.

Herzlos

How long are you planning on keeping the car and how inconvenienced will you be if the belt goes on you unexpectedly?

If you're expecting to replace it imminently and don't make many trips where you can walk home, then I'd leave it to chance. If I'm using it a lot I'd be looking at getting the belt done or changing the car.

nobbysn*ts

The key driver is can you get the car recovered, scrapped, and a new one sourced for as quickly as you need? If you end up buying a heap of junk, as you need a car quickly, you're onto a loser. If you have time to find a good replacement, you're onto a winner. I've bought cars in one day when I needed to, and 12 months when I didn't. The one day purchase wasn't as good a bargain.

Strider590

It's not the belt itself that fails, it's the pulleys and more often than not the cambelt tensioner.

Basically if you start hearing noises from the cambelt area, which sound like bearings rattling, then your on borrowed time.
Tensioners are spring loaded and after a time the spring weakens, which loosens the belt and causes it to flap about.

I just had mine changed 10k early because I could hear the tensioner rattling, sure enough the removed item was completely knackered.

jimjames

Herzlos wrote: »

How long are you planning on keeping the car and how inconvenienced will you be if the belt goes on you unexpectedly?

If you're expecting to replace it imminently and don't make many trips where you can walk home, then I'd leave it to chance. If I'm using it a lot I'd be looking at getting the belt done or changing the car.

Mine needed doing at 180k on Golf TDI. Car was all running fine so paid dealer for it to be replaced. Well worth doing if you are intending keeping the car and if everything else is fine on it. Fairly small price to pay for keeping a vehicle running when you have no depreciation to worry about.