Abarth Cambelt change - to DIY or not??

My Abarth has done 68k now (only had it 2 weeks - had a shade over 67k) and a quick inspection gave no clues as to it having had a new belt at any point so I think I'd better get it done.

So the big question is can you do it yourself without the special tools to undo the cam wheels and without the jigs to hold the cams in the right position?

I understand that doing it as per the manual will ensure correct valve timing but if you get an independant garage (and possibly some main dealers) to do it, I would be surprised if they didn't just slacken off the moving tensioner, slip of the old belt and put the new one on, check the timing by turning it over by hand a couple of times.........."that'll be £xxx please sir"

I'm more than confident in my ability to change the belt (probably more confident than I am in many 'mechanics' abilities tbh), I'm just not sure how crucial having the special Fiat tools is. If they are essential does anyone know if it's possible to hire or borrow a set?

Any help on this greatly appreciated.

M

Re: Abarth Cambelt change - to DIY or not??

Whats the space like around the 2.4? Marked up you should be able to do it without the special tools.

Re: Abarth Cambelt change - to DIY or not??

Access looks pretty good - I've seen and done much worse!!

I'm really just worried about whether the manual procedure is really necessary to get correct valve timing. I'm sure it's much easier if you can lock the cams in position and if I do try it without the jigs I'm certain there'll be a good deal of swearing involved before it's all back together!!

Re: Abarth Cambelt change - to DIY or not??

I've never actually done a belt without using the special tools - you need to make sure that TDC is always correct as even a few degrees out will cause rough running.

Also having the cam pulleys slackend/loose from the camshafts aids fitting the belt much easier and tensioning the tensioner will require a special tool -

It is possible Im sure but get it even a little bit out etc and pain will be your new best friend probably.

Re: Abarth Cambelt change - to DIY or not??

Sorry to bring up an old thread, but... same question.

Can the belt be removed with the engine in place (I've read about the horrors of various other 5-cyl models like the Coupe)?

Is there a massive nut on the crank pulley to undo (I still have the 41mm socket from doing my Alfa Romeo 164 V6's cambelt!)

I will be getting my Stilo tomorrow
27,000km, coming up to three years old. Wonder how long I should leave it before changing the belt? Safe for another three years?

Also - is there a balancer shaft belt? Well, is there a balancer shaft?!

Thanks,
-Alex

Hi

Going to tackle the abarth cambelt this weekend myself, Got the camlocks and the full kit, belt, tensioners, waterpump, aux belts. Just a question about the belt tension, does it have to be set with a tool as i have read somewhere as i don't have this bit of kit, can it be done without it or has it an automatic tensioner.

Dave

dave55 said:

Hi

Going to tackle the abarth cambelt this weekend myself, Got the camlocks and the full kit, belt, tensioners, waterpump, aux belts. Just a question about the belt tension, does it have to be set with a tool as i have read somewhere as i don't have this bit of kit, can it be done without it or has it an automatic tensioner.

Dave

Click to expand...

Oooh... good question. I always assumed that it was an automatic tensioner using a spring.

Good luck with it when you give it a go!

It's a normal eccentric bolt hole setup for the tensioner. Adjust it with a screwdriver or lever. Do you not have a manual? It's a cracking penalty if you get it wrong

Yes
Got my trusty elearn manual on my laptop and have been studying it.

So just to clarify the screwdriver adjustment on the belt tension is already there fitted to the eccentric pulley ? I just thought that was a special tool that slipped under the pulley.
Other than that everything seems straight forward

Thanks Dave

That's right. Do you not have a new tensioner to look at in your hand ready to fit? Sometimes there are slight variations on the designs of the new pulley as to how the tension is applied. Some Fiat engines do have special tools for making the tension of the belt supposedly simpler

Remember to look for the arrows on the belt and fit it the correct way around. Put some timing marks of your own on the cam sprockets and crank pulley sprocket just as a double check before you take the old belt off. Once it's all assembled, rotate the engine at least twice so you are sure nothing is colliding and recheck the marks again afterwards

Well people me and my mate (with all the tools)

Completed the new cambelt change on my beloved Abarth

Not without its problems which i have to say were not on the forum, these being.
1) The new cambelt tensioner and the new idler wheel do not come out by just undoing them because the bolts/studs are to long so you have to remove the full top engine mount bracket and then tilt off the engine to get them off (a bit tricky)

2) The bolts out of cam caps were to short for the camlock tool. (lucky i had a milling machine handy to adjust. as you won't have any longer M7 fine thread bolts handy.

3) The aircon belt was to small from shop4parts a bit annoying having to take the old one off as no adjuster to find it would not fit. (Have heard its got to be a genuine Fiat belt to fit) :bang:

4) But other than that a success :slayer: sleeping well beacuase i can see some back street dealers just spinning the tensioner and idler wheel and saying they are ok and not replacing them. So good for the next 50,000 miles if i can afford to run it .

Hope this helps, not as scary as it seems.

Dave

Hi again

Been tossing and turning all night with this thought going through my head,

Have i put the cambelt on the right way round.
Can anybody confirm which direction the abarth engine turns and which way the cambelt should run ??? as my old belt had no marks on it at all.

Not used the car yet so would rather be safe then sorry.

Thanks

Have you given the engine two complete turns and rechecked the timing with no horrible noises? You know you're more safe then.

Tensioner is always on the slack side of the belt so the belt should run clockwise in the drawings above

If you're still uncertain then look a the crank pulley when you start it up

On other cars you can just put it in a forward gear and pull the car towards you to see the direction of things but no good on autos.

If you're still unsure which way you've actually put the belt on you can often just remove the top screws and pull back the cambelt cover at the top and peek in enough to see the arrow marks without having to dismantle anything