How to tell when cmabelt needs doing

thecremeegg · 24 Dec 2006 at 22:44

hi

are there any audible or visible signs when the belt needs doing or is it literally just after the 50k or whatever?

cheers

tom

Firestar_3x · 24 Dec 2006 at 22:46

Nah, the only warning you get when it needs changing is when someone is handing you a bill for £500 - 1k for an engine swap

Diff makers have diff intervals.

Matt82 · 24 Dec 2006 at 22:50

and if youre unsure of your cars history..... just do it anyway

RiPz · 24 Dec 2006 at 23:00

thecremeegg2 said:
hi

are there any audible or visible signs when the belt needs doing or is it literally just after the 50k or whatever?

cheers

tom

to quote nike.. just do it...

better safe than sorry.

Clarkey · 24 Dec 2006 at 23:02

Firestar_3x said:
Nah, the only warning you get when it needs changing is when someone is handing you a bill for £500 - 1k for an engine swap

Diff makers have diff intervals.

1k? Thats just labour then...

Firestar_3x · 24 Dec 2006 at 23:10

No, depends on the car........

He hasn't stated.

SgtTupac · 24 Dec 2006 at 23:12

If the belt is cracking it needs changing.. now

Can get a rough idea by looking at the belt tbh. But id go off milage. If youve been told its been done but no proof.. do it anyways

Gaijin · 25 Dec 2006 at 15:17

No warning signs, just total failure one day and a hefty bill.

Find out the interval and do it earlier

CaneyJ · 25 Dec 2006 at 20:08

Ahhhh the joys of the FIAT F.I.R.E non-interference engine, no tappet contact on cambelt failure and an easy £16 replacement including tensioner, beat that for a 1997 car with a spanner set

Firestar_3x · 25 Dec 2006 at 20:15

CaneyJ said:
Ahhhh the joys of the FIAT F.I.R.E non-interference engine, no tappet contact on cambelt failure and an easy £16 replacement including tensioner, beat that for a 1997 car with a spanner set

Easy, my engine is also non interference and since its RWD the cambelt is right at the front, easy to get too, so thats 1989 cars right up to 2004 - 2005

Avalon · 25 Dec 2006 at 23:57

If it's cracked you're waaaay past the point where you need to change it. Remember that even a belt that's only done a few miles will still break down over time and as such may hit it's time interval before the odo get's anywhere near the due point. When we did the other half's the belt was visually fine, no paperwork to prove it was ever done ad that was at 98k on a 70 interval iirc, we did the water pump (that actually needed doing!) but as it was in bit's it's worth doing any other belts and pulley's, for the cost it's not worth not doing them.

2Thumbs · 26 Dec 2006 at 00:05

I had the belt on my car changed a week after I picked it up, If a car doesn't have the history to back up a recent belt change, I'd recommend anyone to get it done (and I do), I'd rather spend £150-£200 now rather than scrap the car/spend thousands later on.

[TW]Fox · 26 Dec 2006 at 00:10

CaneyJ said:
Ahhhh the joys of the FIAT F.I.R.E non-interference engine, no tappet contact on cambelt failure and an easy £16 replacement including tensioner, beat that for a 1997 car with a spanner set

BMW E39, 1996-2004, no silly cambelt at all

panthro · 26 Dec 2006 at 00:12

CaneyJ said:
Ahhhh the joys of the FIAT F.I.R.E non-interference engine, no tappet contact on cambelt failure and an easy £16 replacement including tensioner, beat that for a 1997 car with a spanner set

If manufacturers dont use chains, then they should at least make non interference engines.

Firestar_3x · 26 Dec 2006 at 00:13

panthro said:
If manufacturers dont use chains, then they should at least make non interference engines.

= less power thats the problem.

oldbag · 26 Dec 2006 at 00:13

Doesn't it usually say in the manual when to change it? If it's not mentioned on the previous history, then get it done. Either £50-100 for the job, or 2k for a new engine.