Cambelt belt

Tr1p · 2 May 2010 at 20:53

Cambelt

Hello folks,

I have got a 2001 Fiat Brava 1.6 100 SX, and reading thorugh the service history the car had it's cambelt changed in 2006 when the car had only covered 15K miles, but since then there is no indication the car has had the belt changed since then and it has now covered 101K miles. The car has had a service every year too.

I will admit there is a word on the last service that I can't make out what it says, best bet to ring the garage and ask what was changed?

Just wondering, is it cheaper to buy a cambelt kit from eBay and get a garage to fit it for me,

Or to just take the car to a garage and let them do all the work.

This is my first car and have no clue on the amount of labour it will take nor things so thought I would enquire here.

Finally, anyone know of a good garage around the York area? Have enquire at a Fiat dealership and he said it would cost £300 in total. Hoping to get it done for ~£200.

Thanks

Howard · 2 May 2010 at 21:18

£300 isn't a bad price if that includes the tensioners etc, the labour times vary from car to car depending on how much dismantling is involved in the job. But if that's a main dealer, you may save £50 by going to an independent garage; phone a couple for some prices. If there's no history of it being done since it was on 15k, definitely get it done. It's cheaper than buying a new engine

hohum · 2 May 2010 at 21:25

£300 at dealership isn't too bad if that's including the water pump - get OE quality parts, plus there's a bit more of a guarantee that the work will be done properly (correct tension/timing). Isn't something you change frequently, so I wouldn't be too alarmed at the cost personally considering how important that belt is. Just my opinion though.

Lum · 2 May 2010 at 22:06

What I want to know is why was the cambelt changed at 15K miles?

Howard · 2 May 2010 at 22:11

Lum said:
What I want to know is why was the cambelt changed at 15K miles?

5 years old?

BigglesPiP · 2 May 2010 at 22:16

Lum said:
What I want to know is why was the cambelt changed at 15K miles?

Age, as Howard said.

Definitely get it done, 100k - 15k = above the service schedule. It's a surprisingly quick job on that engine, there's room in the Barvo for the 5cyl lump. Anyone that's seen my engine bay at a meet will know what I'm on about, similar amount of space either side of the motor.

Tr1p · 2 May 2010 at 22:33

Lum said:
What I want to know is why was the cambelt changed at 15K miles?

As Howard said mate, the age. The car's only ever had 2 owners before me, the first had it until 2008 and did 40K miles, and the second had it until Feb this year.

However would the fact the car over the last year/year and half has mainly done motorway miles mean the belt won't have been worn as much? in the last 6 months it has covered 26K miles.

I will get some quotes done and get it done as a precaution anyway, as said cheaper than a new engine or car.

Howard · 2 May 2010 at 22:39

Doesn't matter what sort of use the car has had, the belt wears all the time the engine is running and perishes over time. Get it changed

Tr1p · 2 May 2010 at 22:47

Howard said:
Get it changed

Shall do!

BigglesPiP said:
It's a surprisingly quick job on that engine, there's room in the Barvo for the 5cyl lump.

How long we talking? A couple of hours? or more. Have seen I can get the kit on the bay with Belt, Tensioners and Idlers for £70. So if a couple of hours labour, this shouldn't be too bad.

BigglesPiP · 3 May 2010 at 09:25

Tr1p said:
Shall do!

How long we talking? A couple of hours? or more. Have seen I can get the kit on the bay with Belt, Tensioners and Idlers for £70. So if a couple of hours labour, this shouldn't be too bad.

An hour.

Took about that for my Twin Spark, but we took the camshaft out and changed the variator too, you don't have a variator. Your coil arrangement is quicker to remove and re-fit too.

Dogbreath · 3 May 2010 at 12:37

Tr1p said:
Shall do!

How long we talking? A couple of hours? or more. Have seen I can get the kit on the bay with Belt, Tensioners and Idlers for £70. So if a couple of hours labour, this shouldn't be too bad.

Not all timing belts kits are created equal! If you want to keep the car then look for a Gates or Dayco kit, or even better a Fiat OEM kit.

A garage may not want to warranty any work (or may even refuse to do it) if you have supplied your own timing belt kit.

LupoLover · 3 May 2010 at 13:10

£300 from dealer isnt a bad price. Tho audi do water pump belts and tensioners all for sub £400 now!

BigglesPiP · 3 May 2010 at 13:10

If you want to buy the parts yourself: http://www.shop4parts.co.uk/?name=store&op=Details&ProdID=1909&sku=5207

They are either Genuine parts (Ricambi Originali), or parts from the same supplier FIAT use, which is a good as genuine. Shop4parts often under-cut the parts I can get from FIAT at cost.

Tr1p · 3 May 2010 at 18:11

BigglesPiP said:
If you want to buy the parts yourself: http://www.shop4parts.co.uk/?name=st...=1909&sku=5207

They are either Genuine parts (Ricambi Originali), or parts from the same supplier FIAT use, which is a good as genuine. Shop4parts often under-cut the parts I can get from FIAT at cost.

Thanks for that mate. Saw a Dayco one on the bay for £66 which is the one I was going to get if I could buy the parts myself but this one seems a better buy.

Shall go to a few garages tomorrow to see if they are willing to fit the kit if I buy it myself.

Emailed another garage today though and they said it would be £295 inc labour/parts and they would change the water pump, belt, tensioner and idler for that so might do that too.

BigglesPiP · 3 May 2010 at 18:31

Tr1p said:
Emailed another garage today though and they said it would be £295 inc labour/parts and they would change the water pump, belt, tensioner and idler for that so might do that too.

Usually it is wise to change the water pump at the same time, but it's powered by the aux. belt on the 1.6.