Technical Checking CamBelt

[Mr Clock Radio]

Can anyone tell me the easiest way to check the cambelt for tension and condition?
ie Which cover, the minumum that has to come off etc...


Cheers

 

[atom0007]

Top cover: relatively easy
Bottom cover: much more effort

The other option is wheel arch liner plus crank cover removal.

may be other ways

 

[flisko]

you cant know if timing belt is in good condition even if it looks good without cracks in it, or can you?

 

[core]

"you cant know if timing belt is in good condition even if it looks good without cracks in it, or can you?"

Nope.

You can only check for obvious signs of damage as well as wear and tear.

 

[atom0007]

First pass: look at the outside of the belt near the crankshaft sprocket, you can see this without removing anything. If it is tired looking (glazed, cracked, etc) then you might consider changing it.

Bear in mind that you won't be able to accurately check the tension, even with full access to the belt. All you will be able to do is the 90 degree twist approximate test. According to Haynes, there is a custom fiat tool for checking the belt tension, but it's not worth buying in my opinion. I suspect it's unlikely that the tension is wildly out.

 

[hijimhere]

Worry about your cambelt can be justified - what is your engine, have you any sticker under the bonnet on the landing panel for cambelt change which sometimes has a date and mileage. Have you any history, service record book could have a note of the cambelt change. What are the replacement intervals (found usually by google search) The change interval is often expressed in time AND mileage on the basis of whatever is soonest. A belt that should be replaced every 3 years or 36000 on a car that is only covered 20000 in three years should STILL BE REPLACED. There is rarely any requirements to CHECK a cambelt. A belt that looks good is barely any plauseable reason to trust it that it won't break = welcome to the world of serious repairs reaching even more serious sums of money. Now what was that question. Never chance it if in doubt replace it - a lot cheaper than major engine repairs.

 

[flisko]

maybe op got 1.2 8v

 

[Ziggy122]

8v id not bother lol
16v is more of a concern

Ziggy

 

[Mr Clock Radio]

Actually I just wanted to check the tension of the belt and tensioner?

Top cover plus two sensors? - And two bolts on the plastic cover? Is that it? It's a 16v.

And yes - I'm hearing you hijimhere.

I can't help thinking that a rubber belt that is so vital and yet so possibly destructive is a bit of a design flaw.


https://www.fiatforum.com/members/hijimhere/

 

[Mr Clock Radio]

I can't see the belt. Only a belt to the alternator.

 

[Brendan W]

Have you removed the cover ?
As said earlier the first way to check 16V timing belts is to check the service record. if you don't have hard evidence that it was done to schedule get it done. Quite a few 16V owners have had a nasty surprise by neglecting this.
Visual inspection is inconclusive. Most things were fine right up until they weren't.

 

[Mr Clock Radio]

Well I have this problem where after a bit of driving (say an hour) it misses or preignites until I back off the accelerator and bring ip up to revs slowly. And when I'm driving with the window down, I can hear a weird sort of muffled clapping coming from the right hand side of the car - I can hear it reflecting off walls/ median barriers etc...I thought maybe if the belt is loose, when it gets hot it may stretch a bit and effect the timing - or whatever that fly wheel with magnets does - it tells the ecu the position of the crank shaft or something?

 

[flisko]

stop driving before it snaps, then you will have to replace valves or whole head

 

[Mr Clock Radio]

It's only done 73000km?

 

[flisko]

remove top timing belt cover and inspect, its only few bolts

 

[Mr Clock Radio]

Is the cambelt for the Punto is the same regardless of engine size, and whether its 8v or 16v? Does anyone know if its the same cambelt that fits a 1.2 litre uno?

 

[bluejohn125]

Not the same between 8V and 16V... 16V is the same as for Bravas / Bravos with that 1.2 engine, maybe even the Stilo 1.2 and similar 1.4?

Changing the belt on those engines needs special (or adapted) locking tools, worth getting done properly and it's cheap enough to change the water pump at the same time.

If you're trying to track down a noise it's worth figuring out how to remove the covers and get familiar with that area of the car.

 

[Mr Clock Radio]

Not the same between 8V and 16V... 16V is the same as for Bravas / Bravos with that 1.2 engine, maybe even the Stilo 1.2 and similar 1.4?

Changing the belt on those engines needs special (or adapted) locking tools, worth getting done properly and it's cheap enough to change the water pump at the same time.

If you're trying to track down a noise it's worth figuring out how to remove the covers and get familiar with that area of the car.

Thanks.


These look OK.


http://www.zup.com.pl/uk/zup/blokady/fiat/907--060--00_fiat.php

 

[flisko]

if you mark top and bottom pulley, prior to removing old belt you dont need locking tools, unless belt snaps

 

[atom0007]

Why do you need locking tools when the belt snaps?