Ok, so I did ask before about getting the timing chain changed at 70K miles. Although the general consensus was "NO!", I decided to go ahead anyway coming up on 71K miles...

Having seen the chain that came off, I must say that yes it did indeed need replacing (I've seen bigger bicycle chains) and the car is running quieter than before.

My car is regularly serviced (by a Fiat/Alfa specialist), given the correct oil and gets everything and anything it needs. I don't believe in putting it through MoT to find out what it desperately needs (Northern Ireland MoT is done by an Agency completely separate from your local mechanic so you either pass or fail). Nothing is skimped on. I want my kids to be safe in my car and I need my car to keep going as other expenses (i.e. childminding expenses) dictate that new car is not currently an option...

I had my MJ timing chain replaced at around 104k miles. It was very noisy and was well worth doing, but my mechanic would not wish to do another! Look under the bonnet of an Astra with the same engine and there's loads of space to do this sort of job - in the Panda it was horrible, but usefully highlighted the knackered water pump that needed to be done.

It is clear that these timing chains do stretch and slap around a bit. Tweaking the tensioner involves almost as much work as changing the whole thing.

Indeed it's a lot of work... Take apart and reassemble...

I believe that barring bad luck the chain should last the lifetime of the engine however I am of the opinion that twice yearly oil changes especially in TD cars will ward off a lot of engine related woes as the temperatures due to the turbo degrade the oil relatively quickly & its one of the cheapest bits of maintenance you can do too.

joe1962 said:

I believe that barring bad luck the chain should last the lifetime of the engine .

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I've read several reports of HIGH mileage 1.3's (DOBLO 170k /250K miles)

where the camchain has "stretched" beyond the scope of the tensioner, and the flailing chain has worn ( filed) away the internals of the engine .. filling the oil with swarf = result= scrap engine.

I know diesels are great - but for long-term durablilty you cannot beat the 1.2 8 valve fire engines.. even if the Cambelt breaks .. you just spend 20 mins ( and a Tenner) fitting another,

Simples..!!
Charlie

i would agree with you on this one, replace chains every 70k, i have seen far too many snap/or come off, at least one bonus is if its a low mileage car then it should only be replaced on mileage rather than time like a belt, so you could never need replace it should you do less than 70k, oil change every 6000 miles with fully synthetic oil will help too.

bump

Well, since this thread's been bumped...

varesecrazy said:

... but for long-term durablilty you cannot beat the 1.2 8 valve fire engines..

Click to expand...

IMO probably the best single piece of advice on this forum to anyone contemplating a Panda or 500 as a long term keeper.