Hi all driving home last night smell of burning rubber then engine died, looks like cam belt or tensioner failed, damn thing is it was replaced 3 years ago and om=nly done 18k since, anyway cheer me up, will it have knackered the engine?


ps its a 56 plate 1.9 multiwagon

It's very likely that there will be valve and piston damage.

Only the 1.2 Stilo engine is non-interference.
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Two things (after the event):

1. Always best to change the tensioner pulleys every time the belt is changed
2. Wouldn't mind betting that wasn't an OEM timing belt.

If it was, I'd be beating a path to FIAT for an investigation/goodwill payment...

The Multijet will be pretty unhappy at cambelt failure I'd imagine. I don't think even the 1.2 Stilo is safe if the cambelt fails, because its a 16v unit.

It was just the 1.2 8v in the (2003 onwards) Panda and Mk2/2B Punto's that are safe - even that became 'unsafe' when it was modified & VVT was added (ie on the 500, current Panda & I think the Grande Punto, Evo & 2012 Punto).

Yellow Peril said:

2. Wouldn't mind betting that wasn't an OEM timing belt.

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Why do you ask that? Just interested to hear your opinion. Are non OEM belts and tensioners not very good? I currently have an SKF belt and tensioners in my JTD. Is it safer to always use OEM belt kits?

Thanks
Phil

philipb82 said:

Is it safer to always use OEM belt kits?

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In my humble opinion, yes. For at least two reasons:

1. This is such a critical component (major engine damage follows failure) that I wouldn't want to risk any chance of less than OEM quality

2. All FIAT spares carry a two-year warranty.

Just my five penn'orth...

As above, a friend had a named belt go at 15,000 I think it was made by Goodyear and from a motor factors, wrecked the engine he scraped the car.

As with many parts, Fiat don't make their own timing belts. They contract outside companies such as Dayco, Continental etc to make them. The belts supplied to Fiat will be the same belts that Dayco, Continental etc sell with their own logos and packaging except they will be marked with Fiat logos and packed in Fiat boxes.
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I have used aftermarket belts for years on a variety of cars (including Lotus Esprit). Premature failure would be more likely related to fitting issue or another component failure.(eg water pump, tensioner, oil seal)

Davren said:

As with many parts, Fiat don't make their own timing belts. They contract outside companies such as Dayco, Continental etc to make them. The belts supplied to Fiat will be the same belts that Dayco, Continental etc sell with their own logos and packaging except they will be marked with Fiat logos and packed in Fiat boxes.
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Yes I must totally agree with this not all after market parts are duff. There are a lot of non branded parts out there that are trusted - brembo for brakes, SKL for bearings, NGK for spark plugs, FRAM for filters..... And they all supply factories with their stuff. If your not in the know then absolutely go to the main dealer as the parts they will give you will be the same parts they fit at the factory but don't put off using non factory stuff as they are usually a lot cheaper..... And don't forget all these stories about things failing after 15,000 miles you need to consider has the part been fitted correctly?

Are you sure it's the timing belt?
strange if you managed to catch a smell... they usually fail fast if there is a problem.
Are you sure it's not an alternator belt ?

the waterpump had seized, it was replaced with the cam belt kit just over 3 year ago and only 18k miles, is this unusual?

Not sure about UK law but in NZ we have consumer guarantee act that over-rides a standard guarantee if a item does not meet anywhere near it's normal life. Eg an appliance such as a TV that should last 10 years and only lasts 3 then one has comeback even if it only had 2 year warranty.

A water pump should last much longer than 18k