Technical When is the timing belt due for replacement on a 1.2 engine?

[Panda2013]

Hello,

My Panda (manufactured April 2012) has got 48,300km on it but since it has been 6 years on the road it needs to undergo the 90,000km/6 years service.

On the user guide that came with it, the timing is to be performed on the next service (120,000km/8 years); However, a Panda's currently issued user guide instructs to replace it on the 90,000km/6 years service.

I service my car every 30,000km/2 years. On the one hand, I wish to avoid the additional expense, mainly because I plan to sell it in the next year or year and a half. Having the belt replaced along with a water pump amounts to 10% of the car's total worth. On the other hand, my engine has no protection like its previous iterations so having my belt snap is going to be more than just an inconvenience.

Anyhow, can someone settle the misunderstanding? Should I follow the new service plan or the one suggested to me at the time of purchase? Perhaps I am missing something and there is no misunderstanding..?

Thanks.

 

[oyumurtaci]

I'm in the same boat, our second Panda is a 1.2 from 2012 with only 35k kilometers on it and wondering if some preventative maintenance is in order or if I can defer the expense to a later date. Visually, the belt looks fine, but the age of the rubber is what's worrying me.

 

[jimboy]

Not just the mileage, belts deteriorate with age. At six years I'd personally change.

 

[murphyv310]

Hi.
I did mine at 4.5 years for piece of mind, I'd also say to the OP that two years is too long for a service, just my personal opinion though.

 

[varesecrazy]

Hi.
I did mine at 4.5 years for piece of mind, I'd also say to the OP that two years is too long for a service, just my personal opinion though.

An oil change.. is not a service

So its quite possible they mean it has a PROPER service every 2 years

 

[murphyv310]

An oil change.. is not a service

So its quite possible they mean it has a PROPER service every 2 years

An oil change is "part" of a service though, are you saying then that brakes are not examined for two years then?

The reason for two year services is to cater for the fleet market, its purely a sales gimmick. The fleet market look to have the lowest cost for vehicles and this includes servicing, in the main they would keep a car for three or four years and to have annual services this costs money. Mileage can be higher on fleet vehicles so they run to and often over the mileage specified rather than the time, even the mileages for servicing is too high these days. The private motorist though may not cover the mileage and quite frankly two years without any form of maintenance or checks is too long, cars should be serviced at least annually. Look at it this way. A new car is bought and it is used in conditions that are perhaps not the best, suspensions being pounded, rough farm roads, short trips all compound the issue that two years is too long, you may only cover 9000 miles in that two years as well so the oil will be worn out, brakes and discs could be worn if used on bad roads etc etc, a two year service is not for all. Personally when looking for a car I look at its history and see how often its been serviced, one that has rigidly been done every two years and low mileage is one I'd not entertain...... I've been bitten once by a dog of a thing serviced like that and never again.

 

[stuartm1962]

Hi.
I did mine at 4.5 years for piece of mind, I'd also say to the OP that two years is too long for a service, just my personal opinion though.

I would change it after 5 years, regardless of mileage, purely due to deterioration of the rubber. Cheaper than an engine rebuild.

 

[varesecrazy]

Also.. if vehicle is used infrequently.. the bearing can go notchy..

Common in campers

 

[Eklipze3k]

If it looks like this, change it

 

[murphyv310]

If it looks like this, change it

Surprised it hadn't snapped looking like that....... running on a wing and prayer I would say.

 

[varesecrazy]

One minor benefit of the tensioner running on the smooth face..

It will ..Polish.. Away all text in time..

Not a bad thing for appraisal purposes.

 

[murphyv310]

One minor benefit of the tensioner running on the smooth face..

It will ..Polish.. Away all text in time..

Not a bad thing for appraisal purposes.

Absolutely, totally agree.

 

[PandaMTB]

I’m on 41k on a September 2013 registered car, I have to possibly drive 300 miles this weekend, almost all motorway. Not sure if i should look to at least just swap the belt? I should have a look at it but not sure if it’s easy to get access to? Only have this afternoon really!

 

[murphyv310]

You could but often belts go due to tensioner and water pump failure. If there is no whines from these items I'd say you should be fine.

 

[varesecrazy]

I’m on 41k on a September 2013 registered car, I have to possibly drive 300 miles this weekend, almost all motorway. Not sure if i should look to at least just swap the belt? I should have a look at it but not sure if it’s easy to get access to? Only have this afternoon really!

Hi..

random question..

Unless it had 40,500 on the clock by dec 13

And has been parked on a beach since..

I would have zero concerns.

 

[PandaMTB]

Funnily enough, I do live in a sand castle!

Cheers for the advice, I will enjoy a 2 day weekend of mountain biking!

 

[neil freeman]

Apologies if this has already been covered - I've tried searching the forum - but does this thread confirm that the new Panda, unlike the previous model, will wreck the engine if the belt snaps? I ran my last Panda for 9 years without bothering to change the belt as I was told the valves were non-interference and the car would just glide to a halt if the belt broke.

 

[murphyv310]

Hi.
The later engines in the 2012+ Panda is an interference type, If the belt breaks you'll get valve to piston contact. No idea of how bad the damage would be but you'd at least need new valves and hydraulic tappets. On some engines this can punch holes in pistons and damage the camshaft.

 

[varesecrazy]

Yes 69 bhp.. is an INTERFERENCE engine.

 

[neil freeman]

Thanks for that. I'll change as per schedule then.