Gates Timing belt genuine or fake?

BeenThroughItAll

londonTiger wrote: »

so tps buys parts from ebay? why would a distributor buy from a middleman?

No one mentioned TPS or distributors. Merely a 'good source'.


Go back and try again.

EdGasket

Contacted Gates in Dunfries however if you select the technical support option you are just referred back to their website, end of call. So you have to select the 'sales' option to actually speak to someone; they can then put you through to tech. support. I have emailed them pictures and description , should hear back this afternoon on their verdict.

colino

Disappointing that "customer service" seems to have diminished, that sounds like it could have been answered by a knowledgeable tech. in 30 seconds. They used to be very good and in fact, at one time you could actually speak to the guy examining a failed belt; they did it forensically, and could tell if a belt was faulty or had been wrongly fitted. (Levering on with two screw-drivers does leave marks!).
Fingers crossed they do get back to you.

EdGasket

Update: Gates called back to say it was distributor repackaged but that they hadn't used that packaging for a few years. When we checked the belt itself he said from the codes on the belt that it was over 8 years old and therefore should not be used. AAARRRRGGGHH. So I took that back for a refund. Chap on the counter wasn't really interested but I got a refund. I expect they'll sell it to the next poor sod who orders one.

So now I have to try and source another belt. It would be handy if Gates would print the date of manufacture on the packaging instead of using codes. If it is important that the belt is not past its shelf life then why make it impossible for the customer to tell other than contacting their tech support team via the sales line?

EdGasket

Further update to this thread:

I had to get a Gates kit for a Honda and ordered one from Amazon Prime. It arrived, from Belgium I think, was sealed and had a copyright 2011 on the box so was definitely less than 8 years old. All good.

So then I tried ordering my timing belt only (different car) from Amazon Prime. When it came, the box had been previously opened and stuck up with sellotape. The belt had lots of fluff on the edge, the cording was exposed and it looked like it could even have been a secondhand belt. Rang up Gates again and turns out it was manufactured in 2003! That one went straight back.

Latest attempt is from mister-Auto-uk on ebay. Box was the older red and black style like I had from Andrew Page but does have the label and holospot on and was sealed. I also found a copyright 2013 on it . Guess I'll go with this one. (NOTE: mister-auto-uk is not actually in the UK but in France or Belgium and the 48 hr delivery is more like 5 days but prices can be good)

So it took 4 attempts to buy a decent Gates timing belt. It really shouldn't be that difficult and I can't see why Gates don't print the date of manufacture on the belt in a user-readable form. Dayco do datestamp their belts though I rate their belts and Contitech below Gates.