Cambelt roulette

[Magpie215]

So the Mk1 Galaxy has test till Nov 18 and may have another test or 2 life.

 

We're on 241k plus lose change.

 

Bodywork is RAF.

 

According to the underbonnet sticker the cambelt became due on calendar rather than milage in January.

 

I'm non fussed if it lunches itself as I fancy a change and I'm not prepared to spend money on bits...I could diy as I'm capable but also I'm incredibly unmotivated to sink much time into bangers obviously with the usual caveat of safety critical items.

 

Wish me luck

[MikeR]

Its not the cost of the kit , its the cost of fitting and what you disturb that might go fubare because you went near it , if it just does the cams i would chance it , if its doing cams ,pumps , steering , a/c , its had a hard life

[Magpie215]

Its not the cost of the kit , its the cost of fitting and what you disturb that might go fubare because you went near it , if it just does the cams i would chance it , if its doing cams ,pumps , steering , a/c , its had a hard life

That's my thoughts too there's high possibility of creating a shed load of other work too once you go in all spanners blazing.

[HMC]

My Peugeot 106 1.1 I think has a cambelt, and as it's my sole 4 wheeled transport I may get it done soon. It's not the cost if it goes bang (throw it way, innit) it would more be the inconvenience of an FTP possibly with kids on board etc.

 

Do I feel lucky? As Clint would say if he owned this 106. Actually I presume he owns a Prius if he is still with us.

[UltraWomble]

Ive just had the Picassos done as zero paperwork.

C8 was done 40K miles ago and 6 years back so is probably getting due again ( though Cit recommended service is actually 100K/10 years) .

[DSdriver]

My parents had the cam belt done on their Toyota because it was recommended. Two weeks later the brand new cam belt broke and lunched the engine. Toyota refunded the price of the cam belt.

[MikeR]

reminds me , my son had a Clio , did miles and miles , such as 30k on a oil change , cam belt went way over time and mileage  , a bonk up the rear finished it , again I think it was a cam only cambelt 

[Sigmund Fraud]

I only play cambelt roulette on non-interference engines, otherwise they get replaced as soon as a car comes into my ownership.

 

My Peugeot 106 1.1 I think has a cambelt

 

It does, and it's very easy to change. If you want to do a proper job, replace the water pump at the same time.

[rantingYoof]

SnrYoof's Omega is on 125k with no paperwork.

 

For a Poxhall V6 it's due cambelt number 3 on a mileage basis. It's due cambelt number 4 on an age basis.

 

Wooo.

[Magpie215]

SnrYoof's Omega is on 125k with no paperwork.

 

For a Poxhall V6 it's due cambelt number 3 on a mileage basis. It's due cambelt number 4 on an age basis.

 

Wooo.

Wow that's playing with fire lol

[jon.k]

My xud engine went caput a week after a new cambelt and waterpump  - can't prove what exactly happened but I do wish I hadn't bothered. The hdi I had briefly before that I played roulette with as it was 30k overdue, but I didn't really enjoy that on long journeys either!

[alf892]

If it's a decent motor with a bit of life left and it is a job you can do yourself I can't see why you chance it going.

 

I do any cheap jobs on my daily because I don't want the bother of buying another.

[Split_Pin]

Agreed, my old Megane got a new belt and waterpumo because I thought it was a decent car, 18 months later Im still not wrong!

[tooSavvy]

.... I never* go further than I can walk home

 

Nif 4TW

 

TS

[Vince70]

Fit a 2 litre pinto in it that way it will be non interference preferably one with a knocking camshaft for that added 70s/80s vibe.

 

But I know what you mean as I’m playing cam belt roulette on the Ronda 400 but it’s only about 15 years overdue as it’s still on the original.

[cort16]

I never used to bother with cam belts when i ran old snotters. I’d just hope for the best I wasn’t going to drop a few hundred on something the arse end might fall out the next week. The same reason I still find it hard to put more than 20 quids worth of fuel in . I’d Just save the money for the next car when the old one goes pop.

[Magpie215]

I’m playing cam belt roulette on the Ronda 400 but it’s only about 15 years overdue as it’s still on the original.

Massive maintenance cost savings...big risk big reward.....sometimes

[FakeConcern]

Mrs Concern had a Mk1 Clio cambelt go before the next due change. We replaced it with a Moodus that I swapped my XM for. The belt promptly snapped! (we got it fixed for more than the value of said Moodus but she now loves it!).

Moral, if it's likely that the cambelt will snap, it will.

[DodgeRover]

SnrYoof's Omega is on 125k with no paperwork.

 

For a Poxhall V6 it's due cambelt number 3 on a mileage basis. It's due cambelt number 4 on an age basis.

 

Wooo.

They aren't difficult on the 2.5 v6 at least - you can make your own cam locking tool or use a lump of wood knocked into position, check timing when done and before starting the job mine was a tooth out on one cam to begin with....

 

I have a feeling the other halfs RX300 will be ready for another change soon, I did the waterpump last time at 160k so hopefully it should be straight forwards.

[Parky]

I'm a month overdue on the dailies cambelt and the fact that some of you lot are 15 years overdue makes me wonder if I shouldn't be losing too much sleep just yet!

[Magpie215]

Well it's not just my mk1 Gal that I'm playing this game on.

 

Our other Galaxy a 03 mk2 is even more of a mystery it's on 126k came with no history at all no underbonnet stickers to give any belt history.

 

We've had it a year and done no servicing on it at all.

 

It's just gone through mot needing only rear disc and pads sound so £100 all in for the test and parts.

[dieselassist]

any interference engines engine daily I run over the years, I do a cam belt on; at minimum I buy the fibre belt, n put that on - checking for tension of the tensioners n idler wheels while the belt is off; if anything looks or sounds to sloppy, bearings or sprung tensioners wise, i'll sort them, looking for 'cheats' like can the idler wheels bearing be squezzed out, somehow n a new one sourced from the engineering co that sells bearing for a few quid n squezzed back in on the vice... I used to buy 'full T/B kits' for a couple of hundred years ago, just to be on the safe side, but I choose to ride my luck these days, as what you get in them kits are expensive for what they are...

 

...if im trying to sell a car 'unknown to me' for €1k +- one just acquired for the purposing of selling/remarketing after a clean up, I always ignore the tippex, stickers n scrawled stuff on the service history n at minimum buy n fit a new fibre belt; doing all the checks above... even folk who know as much about engines as a budgie knows about playing chess, they always ask about the cambelt; when it was done last etc, so its helps put their minds at rest n I know Im covered re; random engine lunching a week after them buying it, threats of court etc...

[beko1987]

Ive played it before and been ok, but have been quite lucky recently and had cars that have had it done.

 

Green ZX - engine hay was full of dymo labels with the history. Belt had one, oil filter had one, ruddy light bulbs had one. Never bothered changing it.

 

Xantia - full history was written in marker pen under the bonnet. Plus the thread on here where it was changed. Then the aux belt decided it didn't like the cambelt much and took it out so it got a new belt.

 

Blue gooner - full roulette, I won!

 

Current gooner - full kit fitted in 2016.

 

Ive always done Amy's because I can't imagine she will take it snapping and writing the engine off in quite the same humor as I would. Need to do the Zafira actually, although I did peek at the belt when doing the cam cover gasket and it looks fine... (yes I know it's not the condition that counts etc)

[Kiltox]

Blue gooner was a chain

[Des]

Why not make it interesting, go to a bookies and bang the price of a belt on the nag with the best odds, if you win, next stop main dealer and snort a fat line off your new underbonnet sticker, if you lose, you've saved the potential expense of idlers, tensioners and whatever other nasties are waiting.

[Magpie215]

chain driven engines FTW.

How about the old ford 2.8 v6 gear driven cams FTW

[Sigmund Fraud]

Also: chain driven engines FTW.

 

Not anymore... Nowadays. chains seem to last no longer than belts !

 

 

How about the old ford 2.8 v6 gear driven cams FTW

 

Unless you have an Essex engine with the reliable* fibre timing gear...

[Squirrel2]

Years ago a mate had a 1.6 Montego that developed a small oil leak from the front crank seal that he ignored. After a while the inevitable happened and the sodden rotting timing belt let go. Having no breakdown cover we towed it to his house and assessed the situation. We discovered, to his pleasure, the head was not wrecked, as it was ‘non-interference’. A new belt was procured and being the bodgers we were, it was fitted without even attempting to sort the leaking oil pump. That belt lasted nearly a year before it too let go. This time it was near MoT time and there was so much else wrong with the sorry heap, he bridged it.

 

Squirrel2

[beko1987]

Blue gooner was a chain

And a very good chain it was too! Best part of the whole engine I'd wager...

[Kiltox]

And a very good chain it was too! Best part of the whole engine I'd wager...

Rare for a 2.2 to be saying that as well