Cam Belt on Used Car Just bought

cofito

Hi, just after some quick advice...

I just picked up a car from a Used car garage, they had put it through an MOT and fixed a few things, but on completing the paperwork the sales guy said that he could not find any details of the cam belt having being replaced in all the service history that he had on the car. The car has done 71,000 miles.

It comes with a 3 month warranty but he stated the cam belt is not covered.

When I started the car it did not start straight away when turning the key, took around 2 seconds from turning the key to start. I did think this was odd to begin with as never known that before to happen.

I also felt 3 or 4 times a very small loss of power like a dip, hardly noticeable, but did notice it.

Now googling it says that these two things could be signs of cam belt wear.

I guess my question is where do I stand as in my eyes without thinking it is the cam belt I was going to go back about the start up and the power drop out anyway, but if it is the cam belt it seems odd that he mentioned it but also is it legally correct that he has no responsibility to fix it?

I am calling the AA this morning to see what they say but wondered if anyone had any advice?

VFR

Never heard that those symptoms have anything to do with cam-belts.

cofito

Thanks for the reply

I am only going but the sites i have googled mention

You start to find regular problems in starting the car:
and a misfire of the engine or loss of power

two things that may be the cam belt

If it isnt then it would be something for them to look at anyway when I go back

VFR wrote: »

Never heard that those symptoms have anything to do with cam-belts.[/QUOTE

k3lvc

Hindsight - if there was doubt about the cambelt you should have arranged for this to be done as part of the sale - no warranty is likely to cover breakage with no proof that the work had been done to schedule

Norman_Castle

the sales guy said that he could not find any details of the cam belt having being replaced in all the service history that he had on the car. The car has done 71,000 miles.

So its possibly due. Asking about this before agreeing to buy the car would have been sensible. The garage selling the car has told you there is no evidence of it being done and its failure is not covered by the warranty so its your responsibility to change it as and when needed.

AdrianC

Cambelts either work or they don't.

How old is the car, what is the manufacturer's recommended mileage interval?
If it's close to (or past) the change interval on either time or mileage, book it in to be changed, along with water pump, tensioners, aux belt, whatever else is wise while you're in there on that particular engine.

And, no, he has no responsibility. You bought the car in the full awareness there was no proof the belt had been changed.

cofito

agree hindsight is one thing but there wasnt anything to flag any issue with the cambelt I only mention it as it was specifically mentioned as I was picking the car up so not before... if he had not mentioned it then I would not even have thought anything about it and would just be going back anyway as there seems to be something not quite right.

k3lvc wrote: »

Hindsight - if there was doubt about the cambelt you should have arranged for this to be done as part of the sale - no warranty is likely to cover breakage with no proof that the work had been done to schedule

cofito

seems it possibly is, i guess in my eyes these symptoms wont have started as i drove it off the lot, so they were there before hand, they may not have inspected the cam belt but regardless of whether it is a cam belt of not then if there is something wrong then i will go back...

i guess i was after validation that it might be the cam belt before I go only as they mentioned it, which might suggest they had their suspicions

Norman_Castle wrote: »

So its possibly due. Asking about this before agreeing to buy the car would have been sensible. The garage selling the car has told you there is no evidence of it being done and its failure is not covered by the warranty so its your responsibility to change it as and when needed.

cofito

2005 it is within the recommended mileage for change

agree and disagree on the full awareness as bought and picked up at different times and mentioned specifically at pick up, anyway thanks for advice ill go back as anything not working correctly would be something for them to look at

AdrianC wrote: »

Cambelts either work or they don't.

How old is the car, what is the manufacturer's recommended mileage interval?
If it's close to (or past) the change interval on either time or mileage, book it in to be changed, along with water pump, tensioners, aux belt, whatever else is wise while you're in there on that particular engine.

And, no, he has no responsibility. You bought the car in the full awareness there was no proof the belt had been changed.

AdrianC

cofito wrote: »

2005 it is within the recommended mileage for change

But - at 14yo - way outside on time. Get it changed.

Norman_Castle

cofito wrote: »

seems it possibly is, i guess in my eyes these symptoms wont have started as i drove it off the lot, so they were there before hand, they may not have inspected the cam belt but regardless of whether it is a cam belt of not then if there is something wrong then i will go back...

Misfires and poor running are often fuel or ignition faults. If there is a problem take it back. Assume the belt hasn't been done and find out when it is due. This will either be due to age or mileage.