Technical Labour Costs Cam Belt

[Borntown]

It's that time to do the dreaded deed.
FIAT Pand 1.2 Active (2012 reg.) 65K miles, is coming up for a timing belt replacement so am shopping around for a garage to do the job. My usual garage claims that it takes 4 hours to do the work, but on further investigation I realise they've not done one on a Fiat Panda and theyre just quoting "worst case" price. I've looked at several YT videos and none of them seem to take more that 2 hours.
Can anyone give me a ball park? Oh yea, one bright spark claimed he would have to change the engine oil and filter to carry out the job!! Is this true? Watching the videos, none of the parts requiring replacement (Belt, tensioner and water pump) are anywhere near the engine oil!!

 

[cooperman]

Would imagine about £300 would be a ball park price

 

[Borntown]

Would imagine about £300 would be a ball park price

Just as I thought. Any thoughts on the "need to change the oil" claim I got from one mechanic?

 

[cooperman]

Just as I thought. Any thoughts on the "need to change the oil" claim I got from one mechanic?

Never heard of that, but whenever I’ve had my cam belt changed it’s been done while it’s having a service, I’m on the 4 timing belt now!

 

[koalar]

Depends how they do it

What they are changing

The sensible way and mark everything up and just remove the cover and engine mount, about 1/2 hour rushing

The fiat way with the cam cover off and locking tools about an hour rushing

Takes extra if the water pump is also being changed, mostly in cleaning prep

About 2 1/2 would sound about right to me

You do need to go somewhere that experienced in doing these, although it's easy, its even easier to mess and often is

From 2014

1.2 oil and cambelt!! | FIAT Panda (Mk3)

I need to change the oil and cambelt in my panda, its now on 98k with no cambelt change, have been quoted £140 is this good?

www.fiatforum.com

How times have changed

 

[Borntown]

Depends how they do it

What they are changing

The sensible way and mark everything up and just remove the cover and engine mount, about 1/2 hour rushing

The fiat way with the cam cover off and locking tools about an hour rushing

Takes extra if the water pump is also being changed, mostly in cleaning prep

About 2 1/2 would sound about right to me

You do need to go somewhere that experienced in doing these, although it's easy, its even easier to mess and often is

From 2014

1.2 oil and cambelt!! | FIAT Panda (Mk3)

I need to change the oil and cambelt in my panda, its now on 98k with no cambelt change, have been quoted £140 is this good?

www.fiatforum.com

How times have changed

2½ hours seems much more sensible. As I mentioned, I think the quotations I got were from mechanics that haven't done a Panda Timing Belt before and are just quoting worst case scenario.
Thanks.

 

[SPORTPACK50]

If you're anywhere near Norwich, try Italicar. I used them them and they were excellent. Have done loads of Panda timing belt and water pump changes.

 

[Borntown]

If you're anywhere near Norwich, try Italicar. I used them them and they were excellent. Have done loads of Panda timing belt and water pump changes.

Hi, you're not the first that's mentioned this establishment. Will give them a call in the morning to get a quote.

Cheers.

 

[koalar]

Here

This is from a manufacturer of the belt kits, includes the water pump and is on the safe side

"The experts at ContiTech have provided a step-by-step explanation of how to change the belt correctly in a Fiat 500. The manufacturer recommends checking the timing belt every 60,000km or every two years and, where appropriate, changing the belt every 120,000km or after five years – or, in the case of vehicles driven under harsh operating conditions, after 120,000km or four years. The labour time for changing the timing belt is just over two and a half hours."

Someone that does these daily know quite a few short cuts

 

[SPORTPACK50]

Parts price......

Timing Belt & Water Pump Kit

This is a brand new, genuine Fiat Timing Belt and Water pump kit to fit certain variations of the following: Fiat Grande Punto 1.4 8v Fiat Punto evo 1.4 8v Fiat 500 1.2 8v Fiat Idea 1.4 8v Fiat Doblo 1.4 8v Fiat Panda 1.2 8v Fiat Panda 1.4 8v Please contact us with your chassis number to...

www.partsworld-uk.com

 

[koalar]

If you're anywhere near Norwich, try Italicar. I used them them and they were excellent. Have done loads of Panda timing belt and water pump changes.

Couldn't remember who it the name company

Under £150 including parts if I remember correctly

 

[SPORTPACK50]

Couldn't remember who it the name company

Under £150 including parts if I remember correctly

Almost!! Sept 2022 £154.45 consisting of Parts £79.48 Labour £75. This was on a 100HP.

 

[jrkitching]

FIAT Panda 1.2 Active (2012 reg.) 65K miles, is coming up for a timing belt replacement so am shopping around for a garage to do the job

So one of the later 69HP engines with VVT.

Never, ever, give this job to any garage that does not know exactly what they are doing, does not have the correct locking tools, and does not have considerable prior experience of the belt change procedure on the 1.2 VVT FIRE. This is one job which offers numerous ways to go wrong and get into difficulties; this forum is littered with literally dozens of posts from folks who've experienced running issues after a belt change. Independent general purpose garages treating this like just another belt change are some of the worst offenders.

Unless you can find a trusted, recommended Fiat specialist, this is one of those very rare jobs where I'd actually suggest going to a franchised dealer.

 

[Borntown]

So one of the later 69HP engines with VVT.

Never, ever, give this job to any garage that does not know exactly what they are doing, does not have the correct locking tools, and does not have considerable prior experience of the belt change procedure on the 1.2 VVT FIRE. This is one job which offers numerous ways to go wrong and get into difficulties; this forum is littered with literally dozens of posts from folks who've experienced running issues after a belt change. Independent general purpose garages treating this like just another belt change are some of the worst offenders.

Unless you can find a trusted, recommended Fiat specialist, this is one of those very rare jobs where I'd actually suggest going to a franchised dealer.

Very insightful comment. Thanks, I will take heed. Already have the name of two establishments not too far away who I will be contacting this week.

 

[eddyweird]

Why do I always have conflicting emotions about doing my own belt this sumer?
A lot of people in and outside this group have said its one of the easiest belts to do on a car but reading this i'm not so confident.
In the hell and brimstone corner weighing in with I've seen too many F..K ups use a main dealer or a good independant is jrk.
And in the piece of p..s corner weighing in at can be done by a complete moron in half an hour is koalar.

Guys this is only a light heated observation but now I'm back sat on the fence about doing the job.

 

[The Panda Nut]

Very recent job done at local independent garage 2.5 hrs plus the kit at £98 so £260 + VAT. I would always use Fiat genuine parts on this as this had to have the tensioner replaced. Its still a little noisy with this Gates kit. My garage bought the locking tools for my cars they have done 5 belts now without mucking it up.

 

[irc]

I've certainly changed a belt on a 2004 Panda in under 45 minutes (these are the simplest engines to do, have fixed timing marks so it's almost impossible to screw it up without serious effort and if you do screw it up, nothing gets broken. And its easy to recover by just starting again).

Later versions definitely take longer if done "by the book", requiring special timing tools and CAREFUL reading of the instructions, re-reading them, and then following them exactly. This seems to be where "experts" get it wrong, leaving the timing out enough to throw an error.
However, if timing is correct before starting, they can still be done using the Tippex method. Even doing extra checks using the timing tools to confirm, its still only about an hour.

Draining, removing, cleaning, replacing the water pump, refilling coolant and bleeding air adds about an hour to the total.

 

[koalar]

I've certainly changed a belt on a 2004 Panda in under 45 minutes (these are the simplest engines to do, have fixed timing marks so it's almost impossible to screw it up without serious effort and if you do screw it up, nothing gets broken. And its easy to recover by just starting again).

Later versions definitely take longer if done "by the book", requiring special timing tools and CAREFUL reading of the instructions, re-reading them, and then following them exactly. This seems to be where "experts" get it wrong, leaving the timing out enough to throw an error.
However, if timing is correct before starting, they can still be done using the Tippex method. Even doing extra checks using the timing tools to confirm, its still only about an hour.

Draining, removing, cleaning, replacing the water pump, refilling coolant and bleeding air adds about an hour to the total.

Exactly

In my opinion, tipex is the way to go

Far less disturbed, far quicker, less mess, less parts

Going the lock tool route only makes sense if you are saying changing the head gasket

If I undo the valve cover I replace o rings and gasket

On my cars I don't bother changing the water pump, it's quick enough to fix later if needed, but they have been fine up to 200K, however if you are paying someone's labour it becomes much more of a gamble,

 

[eddyweird]

Not to steal Borntowns thread, my plan was tippex and lock the crank by a Koalar recommended £10 cam tool off amazon.
Only good thing about amazon?
Free return now koalar said the tool is not worth a w..k unless doing head work

 

[eddyweird]

Very recent job done at local independent garage 2.5 hrs plus the kit at £98 so £260 + VAT. I would always use Fiat genuine parts on this as this had to have the tensioner replaced. Its still a little noisy with this Gates kit. My garage bought the locking tools for my cars they have done 5 belts now without mucking it up.

Anyone had experience with Conti belts? someone in work recently done an aux belt twice on a merc and said the conti felt better quality than the gates.