Technical Early Cam Belt Change ?

[FiatFleetFamily]

Hi

Now that I have accustomed myself with my new Multipla, after going through the invoices and history since it was new, and like on other forums, I have decided to get the cambelt / tensioners etc, water pump and aux belt and tensioners replaced. Currently the Multipla is not 5 years old till Jan 2013 and only has just gone over 23,000 miles since new. 1st owner who I have contacted only did stop/start driving and short runs, she never took it onto a motorway, why, I have no idea, but I have ammassed 270 miles this week on the motorway and god does it feel great.

Or am I being over cautious with this change ?

 

[Most Easterly Pandas]

Nope, your right, needs to be done ASAP, its had 'excessive' use, as the manual will say, so needs to be changed sooner.

 

[scoobyfm]

I've just bought a 53 plate Diesel Multi 115, the previous owner assured me the cambelt had been done at "....about 50k ish..." but he couldn't find the paperwork. When purchased at end of August the car 77K on it and i've just passed 79K so I've had the cambelt done just to be sure.

Cost me £180 at local garage for Cambelt Kit and Water pump replacement, not bad I thought unless someone wants to tell me otherwise?

My car also had an annoying squeek from the Auxiliary belt, replaced that and the squeek has gone

 

[boilermansab]

£180 all in for kit, pump and fitting??

 

[Most Easterly Pandas]

Sounds about right

 

[mingualez]

£180 I'm guessing your not down south or got mates rates. Best I could get without water pump was £260 INCL vat. the kit was included at £75. One quote was £320

 

[momoe]

Where abouts are you Mingualez? Someone might have a recommendation.

 

[boilermansab]

Agree..us southerners pay thru the nose!
But £180 seems cheap!
Cambelt kit is £75 at least, water pump £20...so that means £80 labour..probably take him 2 hours..which is cheap!
However worth changing aux belt and pulleys, tensioners etc and there is an idler pulley to change too which was £25 on its own..so bill soons adds up!

 

[FiatFleetFamily]

Nope, your right, needs to be done ASAP, its had 'excessive' use, as the manual will say, so needs to be changed sooner.

Well I have the Multipla booked in for this wednesday for the Cam Belt + Tensioners, Aux Belt + Tensioners & Water Pump to be changed. Garage owner has siad the lowest mileage Fiat car that he has done a cambelt on was a Panda Mjet that has 2300 miles on it.

 

[Most Easterly Pandas]

Garage owner has siad the lowest mileage Fiat car that he has done a cambelt on was a Panda Mjet that has 2300 miles on it.

Oh dear, that was one rip off he performed on the owner then, as the Panda MJ is chain not belt driven Timing

 

[mingualez]

Where abouts are you Mingualez? Someone might have a recommendation.

Hi Mate. Contact would be greatly appreciated!!!

I'm in Braintree Essex. The garage was very good and came recommended. They even took the aux belt of again when it seemed noisy due to pulley on autonator, despite it being like that before I took it in. But a lot of dosh to splash out. I hung on to my old 94 astra 17d estate until the multi in july. Other than odd seal weld and new water pump, obviously the consumables it was amasing. The multi I love but, there will be some hate thrown in from what I read lol

 

[FiatFleetFamily]

Had the job done. Cost £229.50 inc VAT.

Old cam belt was worn, probably due to the stop start driving on the last owner. Aux belt looked ok. Tensioner looked ok as well.

Anyway better safe than sorry for not doing it. At least not due for another 5 years.

 

[FiatFleetFamily]

Oh dear, that was one rip off he performed on the owner then, as the Panda MJ is chain not belt driven Timing

I raised this, but obviously the person I spoke to was not the owner, and hence no doubt the " mature apprentice " , will have a little ear bashing not knowing the difference between a chain driven cam and a belt driven cam. Considering his previous employment was a scaffolder 10 years ago. Been out of work since.

Tories back to work scheme's or you loose you free dosh, some people are not suited to mechanics. Best of luck to him.