Timing belt at 30,000 miles

jk0

I have a 2006 diesel Citroen C5 which has only done 30,000 miles. When I took it for service last year I was told it would need a new belt at ten years even with my low mileage.

This sounds rather over cautious to me. What do you guys think?

Marktheshark

I would say take the advice or start saving, it is on borrowed time now.

Silver-Surfer_2

jk0 wrote: »

I have a 2006 diesel Citroen C5 which has only done 30,000 miles. When I took it for service last year I was told it would need a new belt at ten years even with my low mileage.

This sounds rather over cautious to me. What do you guys think?

Cam belt are the same as service intervals. X amount of miles or X years. Whatever comes first.

By all means take your chance on a ten year old rubber band lasting. Unless it's a non interference engine it's not worth the risk.

straighttalker

Belts can degrade over time as well as usage. The rubber can get brittle and start developing cracks.

Pay for a cam belt change now or gamble that you don't need a new engine every time you start the car.

*j*

Timing belt renewal intervals tend to be on miles or years, whichever comes first.

The consequences of their failure is expensive. The manufactures make a conservative schedule, and they will almost certainly last quite a bit longer, but if you want to test them to destruction, it's your choice!

londonTiger

just get it done. I didnt like having to spend £350 on a new cambelt when it seemed perfectly fine. But it was a huge relief off my back after getting it done. My indie mechanic cut me some slack and charged me just £280 for it as well. Since I got loads of other work done.

When a cambelt fails it's a dead stop. Not even a roadside recovery mechanic can sort it it's a garage job and required engine rebuild to fix (if at all fixable).

Cheap reassurance to have. Having the car blow up randomly could easily cost you more than a cambelt in lost earnings.

bigadaj

Ten years sounds like the upper end of expectations, I've seen many engines having this recommended at seven years or less.

Even then if it does go the manufacturer won't take responsibility.

Silver-Surfer_2

londonTiger wrote: »

just get it done. I didnt like having to spend £350 on a new cambelt when it seemed perfectly fine. But it was a huge relief off my back after getting it done. My indie mechanic cut me some slack and charged me just £280 for it as well. Since I got loads of other work done.

When a cambelt fails it's a dead stop. Not even a roadside recovery mechanic can sort it it's a garage job and required engine rebuild to fix (if at all fixable).

Cheap reassurance to have. Having the car blow up randomly could easily cost you more than a cambelt in lost earnings.

No you waited two years, but it's good to see you're learning.

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/4759411

bigjl

Time to get it done or risk having a ruined engine

Though if you are going to get rid soon and think the cars value is sub £500 then drive it till it snaps

I would avoid such a low mileage diesel personally but some buyers will pay a premium if the car has been maintained properly.

If you have owned it for several years, know it inside out and it has been reliable then get it done, if you try to sell it with it due many buyers will knock of the price of a cambelt replacement.

Norman_Castle

How long do you expect to keep the car? Its 10 years old now and unlikely to make it past 20 so will not need a third belt change. If you're keeping the car its worth getting done now. If it costs £300 and you keep the car for 3 years thats £100 per year and no reduction in the sale price due to an overdue cambelt.

I had a 16 year old, 85,000 mile Citroen diesel still on its original belt. It didn't break but I was always aware it might.

Muscle750

If it breaks the engine will cost more to repair than the cars worth, at the very least it will bend the valves if your on the motorway etc it will more than likely write the the engine off with piston damage etc,Plus you will need the tensioners rollers etc and possibly a water pump if the cam belt drives it, because in 3 months time and the pump gives up you will need to do it all again