Now here's an interesting thing: It appears that Alfa Romeo & Fiat have been suffering this year with an inordinate number of cam belts snapping on diesel engines. Fiat/AR currently recommend the belt to be changed at 72,000 miles. That is under review & will become 36,000 miles in the next few weeks. Bet they don't mail you all (as for a recall) though .
It appears that many Fiat/AR diesel cars this year have had a sudden water pump seizure which has instantly snapped the cam belt (trawl through recent Alfaowner.com threads). However, with the Fiat/AR diesel engines the rocker shaft is designed to break if the cam belt snaps. So - unlike a petrol engine - the diesel valves should not hit the pistons - or so they say. Be aware.
It strikes me as rather peculiar as surely it would be far cheaper for AR/Fiat to change the errant water pump at the 36,000 mile service (takes 15 mins) rather than leave a known dodgy pump on the car but charge YOU & ME for a very expensive cam belt change (over 3 hours!).
Mike
It appears that many Fiat/AR diesel cars this year have had a sudden water pump seizure which has instantly snapped the cam belt (trawl through recent Alfaowner.com threads). However, with the Fiat/AR diesel engines the rocker shaft is designed to break if the cam belt snaps. So - unlike a petrol engine - the diesel valves should not hit the pistons - or so they say. Be aware.
It strikes me as rather peculiar as surely it would be far cheaper for AR/Fiat to change the errant water pump at the 36,000 mile service (takes 15 mins) rather than leave a known dodgy pump on the car but charge YOU & ME for a very expensive cam belt change (over 3 hours!).
Mike
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