Technical Should I replace the cambelt???

[Tartdog]

Hi,
As in my other recent posts,have just purchased a 1989 F reg Fiat Uno 45 with only 19,000 miles on the clock,immaculate condition,should I change the cambelt as a precaution,secondly is the cambelt located in the picture as shown by white crosses? also is it an expensive job,cheers.Tartdog.

 

[randysbits]

Replace as a precaution if no mileage or more importantly date, can tell when it was last changed. Sounds like you have got yourself a peach of an Uno there, and yes, you are in the right area marked in the pic.
Get some prices from local motor factors for a Gates timing belt kit, and make sure you get a tensioner bearing with it, they retail for around £35 and are good for 5 years IIRC.
Work from a manual and you can't go wrong, just make sure the engine is not under compression when turning the engine to get it to (TDC) top dead centre, you should find that when you have it in the right position to remove the old belt and re-fit the new one, the engine is easy enough to turn to get it to line up with your timing marks.
Very straightforward job, and considering you have plenty of room between the body and engine, this makes removing the tensioner easy, unlike other models, this job should take no more than 15-20 mins from start to finish.
Belt can, and should be sometimes, re-tensioned after running up for 5 mins or so, just to check you are in the right ball park for no more than half an inch slack in the longest part of the belt's run (front), of forward and back movement.
More pics of the whole car please

 

[Tartdog]

Hi thanks for your reply,as easy as it seems to you experienced mechanics,I wouldnt have a clue how to do that job (lol) but I have taken your advice and will get a quote for it to be done,below are some piccys.Tartdog.
What is the tube maked in blue crosses in the bottom picture please?, I think I need to get on e bay and purchase a manual.Tartdog.

 

[Ucof]

That tube is the breather pipe that connects the nice warming engine to the airbox, which will affect the thermostat contained therein, allowing the engine to be a bit happier when starting in very cold weather. Just clean it out if it is full of gunk, but remember to pull out the metal spiral filter first, with a pair of long nose pliers.

You are however missing the tube between the air inlet and the airbox, as you have posted in another thread.

There are two Haynes manuals for the Uno - there's an Orange Workshop manual (everything in more depth) and there's the Red Service manual, which is about half as thick.

I'd be tempted not to change the cambelt to be honest - if it shows no sign of wear, and no missing teeth, then best leave it as it is. Thankfully, the FIRE engines are non-impact, in that the rods and valves never meet, so if the cambelt does snap, everything is pushed away from the turning engine, so that the valves don't get bent. No damage will happen to that engine if your cambelt does snap.

Don't worry, I don't have a clue how to change my cambelt either.

 

[Tartdog]

Hi,many thanks for your reply,I was under the impression if a cam belt goes so does half the engine,is that not the case in this Uno 45? If that's correct then as you say I will leave well alone,she obviously has not done the mileage to warrant a change but she is an old girl!!! looking around for the orange Haynes manual I believe this is the one you mean?
http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/HAYNES-FIAT-U...0320814466?pt=Non_Fiction&hash=item588ce31582

Cheers,Tartdog.

 

[randysbits]

I'd be tempted not to change the cambelt to be honest - if it shows no sign of wear, and no missing teeth, then best leave it as it is. Thankfully, the FIRE engines are non-impact, in that the rods and valves never meet, so if the cambelt does snap, everything is pushed away from the turning engine, so that the valves don't get bent. No damage will happen to that engine if your cambelt does snap.

Don't worry, I don't have a clue how to change my cambelt either.

:doh:
Not the best advise i have seen in a while, all well and good the engine "breaking clean" but, when is this exactly going to happen ???? :doh:
Convenient when at home, not when your on the move, motorway, countryside, pushing your luck could end up in tears and unnecessary cost and hassle, and for what ? the sake of skimping a measly £35 ?

 

[Ucof]

Then why not change the cambelt every week just to be on the safe side?

This is clearly a very well looked after/ stored well/ rarely used car, and as such, I doubt that the cambelt will have any signs of damage or wear. As I said; "if it shows no sign of wear, and no missing teeth, then best leave it as it is."

You could always buy another car as a precautionary measure, to make sure the Uno doesn't get used, and thus doesn't ever go wrong?

 

[tattyoldvan]

Or you could just get a spare engine with more miles, fit new belt at your leisure and put in when you get chance, and keep your lovely low mileage lump just that. can change engine over in about same time it takes to do cambelt!

Or just get a new belt, having recently had one go after an mot. i say recently, that must have been before september! why am i so lazy.

just remembered only have 3 months mot left on l3 uno, and last time i drove it was back from test.

 

[lewey]

Or you could just get a spare engine with more miles, fit new belt at your leisure and put in when you get chance, and keep your lovely low mileage lump just that. can change engine over in about same time it takes to do cambelt!

I know you are joking a bit, but I could do an 8v cambelt in 20 mins including boiling the kettle for a brew before hand. I've swapped a few Panda engines, but would still allow a weekend for it.

 

[cha40]

Then why not change the cambelt every week just to be on the safe side?

This is clearly a very well looked after/ stored well/ rarely used car, and as such, I doubt that the cambelt will have any signs of damage or wear. As I said; "if it shows no sign of wear, and no missing teeth, then best leave it as it is."

You could always buy another car as a precautionary measure, to make sure the Uno doesn't get used, and thus doesn't ever go wrong?

Hard to believe that anyone can give out that sort of ADVICE,,,,,

Tartdog,, Change the cambelt.
Ucof,, Sharping your pencil.

Charlie

 

[Tartdog]

Ok guys,
Going to take your advice and get the local garage to change the belt,cheers.Tartdog

 

[tattyoldvan]

I know you are joking a bit, but I could do an 8v cambelt in 20 mins including boiling the kettle for a brew before hand. I've swapped a few Panda engines, but would still allow a weekend for it.

it really depends on cars condition, things like exhaust downpipe can make it a bit of a pain in the arse if buggered, however there is naff all wiring to worry about, mounts are easy. no need to remove rad or gbox. great thing is you dont even need an engine crane.

might be little tighter in a panda, never had to jank one out yet from one,

 

[lewey]

no need to remove rad or gbox. great thing is you dont even need an engine crane.

might be little tighter in a panda, never had to jank one out yet from one,

I forgot I wasn't in the Panda section to be honest. Gearbox/shaft/suspension has to come out in them to get engine.

 

[rawill]

Maybe UCOF's advise on leaving the cambelt could have pointed to normal Fiat servicing intervals.

Haynes say 36000miles or 3 years which ever comes first. That is for the Lampredi engine, I imagine the Fire engine would be similar.

So what would I do, because it is old and so easy to check I would remove the cover, inspect, maybe get some advise from a garage, And maybe replace.

One of my cars has 200000km on it, and the cambelt looks perfect. Just bought it, so maybe someone replaced it, but I doubt it, it was owned by a student who did no maintenance.

To be sure you are safe there is only 1 way, replace it.
Must do my daily driver, it has 240km on it, and the belt has not been changed since I got it at 160000km.

/R

 

[David Bliss]

I used to change the cam belt on my Uno every 25 000 miles. It took half and hour, it doesn't require disassembling half the car to get at everything (unlike the Seicento or, even worse, the Panda which you definitely need a free day to do it! ). The main agents normally supplied a kit (belt +cam-adjusting bearing), I never needed to put a bearing in 125 000 miles.
They tell you that the engines miss if a belt breaks, but I know of one that did hit, causing a lot of damage. The last one I did the belt cost a fiver, but it was a few years ago.