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Technical When to change the Cam belt?

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Technical When to change the Cam belt?

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wavecom

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Hello everyone, I have used my Fiat 500 around 70,000km, and I check the handbook, it suggest us around 60,000km should change the CAM belt, and I want to know anyone have change the CAM belt on their Fiat 500? Can I change it at 100,000km and not case any big problem?
Thx
 
Hello, I have the same version. From what i see on the handbook it says check the belt at 60,000 km and if its ok keep it going until 90 or even 120,000 km. So have a look and see how it is it depends i guess.
 
Most Easterly Pandas said:
Belt manufactures revised the change to 36000 miles or 36 months after premature failures in the same engine in other Fiat models FYI ;)
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Call me cynical, but Fiat benefit from advertising that their cars can go x miles before they need x maintenance and belt manufacturers make more money by getting people to change belts more often.

Not saying you might not be 100% right, but just a little cynical that's all ;) I'd love to hear from our resident 1.4 expert Mr Noiles and see how his cam belts have done :)
 
wavecom said:
Hello everyone, I have used my Fiat 500 around 70,000km, and I check the handbook, it suggest us around 60,000km should change the CAM belt, and I want to know anyone have change the CAM belt on their Fiat 500? Can I change it at 100,000km and not case any big problem?
Thx
Click to expand...

Since your 1.4 16V engine is an interference engine the recommended cambelt change interval is 4 years regardless of mileage IF it has been used under severe conditions or if it has been used primarily around the city (with prolonged idling). This differs from the recommended change at 72K miles under 'normal' circumstances or every 5 years whichever comes first.

My OH's Alfa 147 cambelt snapped prematurely and the car ended up in the scrappie.

If I had the 1.2 I would 'wait' but if you bought your 1.4 secondhand I would error on the 'safe' side. Cambelt change on a 500 is relatively cheap.
 
loveshandbags said:
If I had the 1.2 I would 'wait' but if you bought your 1.4 secondhand I would error on the 'safe' side. Cambelt change on a 500 is relatively cheap.
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Yup. On a 1.2 you could take the view that you will just wait till it snaps and replace it when it goes. Timing belts do tend to last a while so I'm going to leave mine till the mileage/time is up and then probably leave it till the next service after that. I'm all for overservicing a car, but there's no real need to change the belts early on a non-interference engine :)
 
306maxi said:
Yup. On a 1.2 you could take the view that you will just wait till it snaps and replace it when it goes. Timing belts do tend to last a while so I'm going to leave mine till the mileage/time is up and then probably leave it till the next service after that. I'm all for overservicing a car, but there's no real need to change the belts early on a non-interference engine :)
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Maxi & Loveshandbags, i need educating as i do not know what a interference engine is. As i have a 1.4 can you please explain in simple terms what this is. Thanks
 
metro said:
Maxi & Loveshandbags, i need educating as i do not know what a interference engine is. As i have a 1.4 can you please explain in simple terms what this is. Thanks
Click to expand...
Non-interference engine means that if the cambelt snaps then the valves and pistons can't meet. Interference engine means that if it breaks they can meet and much smashing of top ends can occur.

Basically in a non-interference engine the valves and pistons never occupy the space that the other occupies. So the valve then full opens it doesn't occupy the space that the piston would at top dead centre :)
 
Scorg said:
I've been quoted £350 for cambelt, pullies and aux cables to be done when I checked. Might include waterpump also.
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Where out of interest?

The same job, without the water pump, cost me £165, inc parts, on a Stilo with the same engine. It was in July 2009 mind, but thats a big price difference.
 
Thanks all for reply, so is I need to change the Cambelt, pullies, aux cable and water pump? or just change the Cambelt and wait for next 50,000km to change all of them once?

Thanks
 
So from the above post, am I right in assuming the 1.2 8v is a non-interference engine, which if the cam belt breaks will not damage the engine?
 
Err on the side of caution, get the pump done at the same time.

If you get the pump changed later you will need to get the belt replaced.

If the pump fails wave bye bye to the contents of your bank balance :eek:

I got my 1.4 T120 Bravo's cambelt, and pump changed at a Fiat man dealer for £300 earlier this year - I was happy with that :)

Trev
 
Most Easterly Pandas said:
Where out of interest?

The same job, without the water pump, cost me £165, inc parts, on a Stilo with the same engine. It was in July 2009 mind, but thats a big price difference.
Click to expand...

I'll check mine out. Mine is now 2 years old and 50,000 km. I can see how the belt may be a bit worn out, but i think changing the belt and water pump if it looks ok a bit premature on a 2 year old car?

My biggest concern is how rubbish my spark plugs are after only 20,000 km! What kind of cheap NGK's did they put on my car?
 
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