My friend has a 2003 Ducato motorhome and his TB has failed. Garage are replacing belt and then going to try starting engine as they say there is unlikely to be much damage to this robust engine.
Frankly I think they are in cuckoo land!
Any thoughts

Thanks

John

Hi
As the 2.8 is an interference engine I would be stunned if the belt broke & no damage to the valve gear occurred.
If they are replacing the belt it is important to also replace the two bearing pulleys at the same time.
A few years ago someone on here had it happen & was caused by one of the auxiliary belts breaking & being dragged into the timing cover which then jumped a few teeth resulting in damaged valves but only superficial damage to the pistons.
He was able to have the head/valves etc redone with & new belt etc & was back on the road - cost ??
Cheers

It is worth having the mounting bolts/studs changed. On my old 2.5TDI the cam belt pulleys etc were all changed, but 3000 miles later the stud which holds the tensioner bracket broke. This broke the bracket and hence pistons hit valves. My garage repaired it all, even though that stud is not part of the cam belt change kit.
And the breakdown occurred at Clermont-Ferrand in mid-France. Thank goodness for ADAC breakdown cover - excellent.

FreeSpirit said:

Hi
As the 2.8 is an interference engine I would be stunned if the belt broke & no damage to the valve gear occurred.
If they are replacing the belt it is important to also replace the two bearing pulleys at the same time.

Click to expand...

+1 just did mine yesterday, the original idler/tensioner bearing has a two part inner bearing race I found the outer bearing race was very worn, couldn't see a brand on it. I used a gates kit and it came with INA bearing with a single inner bearing race seems to be much better design.

Gates have a technical bulletin about the bearings I can't post the link but if you google this you wil find it: TB026_SOFIMDiesel.pdf

The old OEM timing belt was stretched a full tooth also at 50kkm, I wonder is the load caused by the high pressure pump higher than the load caused by the mechanical pump it was originallty specced form. There doesn't seem to be a stronger belt like the Dayco HT belts available.

The tensioner and engine mount studs both had no threadlock and screwed out when trying to remove the nuts no wonder people have problems with them.

bounty hunter said:

My friend has a 2003 Ducato motorhome and his TB has failed. Garage are replacing belt and then going to try starting engine as they say there is unlikely to be much damage to this robust engine.
Frankly I think they are in cuckoo land!
Any thoughts

Thanks

John

Click to expand...

Hi,
it'll be interesting to see,

how old was the belt kit..??,

Charlie

Tensioner apparently broke and as it is an A class motorhome garage is taking engine out.
Will update when more info available. Timing belt changed. 4 years ago
John

Head & piston knackered and replacement engine required.
Anybody got one?
John

I don't know about the old 2.8 but I know all of fiat's engine come with "valve safe" in the event of a timing belt failure the rocker arms will snap so no damage is done to the main part of the engine, I've done it a few times just re timed the engine and away it went

The 2.3, 2.5, 2.8 and 3.0 are iveco engines the valves usually bend. OP have you seen the damage id be surprised if a piston was damaged that badly. As you say it sounds like the garage were in cuckoo land to begin with and its much easier for them to put in a complete engine at your cost so I'd take their opinion with a pinch of salt.

bounty hunter said:

Tensioner apparently broke and as it is an A class motorhome garage is taking engine out.
Will update when more info available. Timing belt changed. 4 years ago
John

Click to expand...

Not sure that the "Tensioner Broke" is the correct info as the Tensioner is only actually used when fitting a new belt with the initial 2 crankshaft turnovers by hand to set the correct tension on the belt.
After that the tensioner pulley is fixed when the retaining bolts are tightened & the belt tensioner itself has no function during normal engine running.
If the belt was changed did they also replace the two pulleys at the same time, maybe the tensioner pulley bearing itself or the other pulley bearing failed?
Cheers

So the tensioner just jumped of on my 2.8 Jtd (1998). Bolts broken. I can see the belt and the tension wheel sticking out, motor spins with no resistance at all when cranking. The valves are broken, thats for sure, but what is your guess about the pistons? Do you think its enough to replace the top or is it better to put in a complete engine? I can get both for about the same price, but the laybour replacing the top is way less. The new top alternative is Aiugustin Group (Axel Augustin) own in house brand, the motor is a complete used one (about 200.000 km).