Technical timing belt

[padone]

hi have been quoted £160 to change my timing belt and water pump on my 1.9 jtd punto if i pay cash by my local fiat specialised, have owned the car for about 2 years now and done about 20,000 miles and from the paper work i got with the car i can't see when it was last done, is there anyway to check the condition of the belt? and do you guys think that it is a reasonable price? thanks

 

[Ziggy122]

There is no real way to check a belt while its on the car as the backside of the belt is only a patial indication of age and wear

It needs to be off to fully examine in - in which place, you might just as well get a new one on

As for water pump - ensure they use fresh coolant as well

Ziggy

 

[padone]

thanks, was going to change the coolant today actually but waiting till the end of the month till i get paid for a timing belt change, do you think i should just wait for changing the coolant then? and if it a okay price? do most of the thing myself thanks to the website, but really don't want to try anything like this just incase i **** everything up :\

 

[PuntoHowTo]

The belt on a 1.9 is a bitch to change because there is little space under a punto bonnet with a water pump as well I would have though £160 is pretty reasonable the water pump and belt kit is likely to cost £75-100 and there is a couple of hrs labour involved

 

[dave]

160 is a bargain, bite their hand off

 

[oldhammer]

hi have been quoted £160 to change my timing belt and water pump on my 1.9 jtd punto if i pay cash by my local fiat specialised, have owned the car for about 2 years now and done about 20,000 miles and from the paper work i got with the car i can't see when it was last done, is there anyway to check the condition of the belt? and do you guys think that it is a reasonable price? thanks

Hello.
Re: (is there anyway to check the condition of the belt?)

A: No.
a timing belt might look brandnew or in goodshape but it means nothing

Timing belts have improved over the years in quality but ive found tensioners can let go first making it look like its the belt thats failed.

so changing it for peace of mind if no history is best bet,

 

[jazz452]

Bargain ! undo engine mounts and have to jack the engine up abit for easy access.

 

[T14086]

agreed, £160 is a silly price so just get it done, 1.9 engine normally fails when water pumps collapse.

 

[Ziggy122]

If they do the water pump and dont do the coolant - its no biggie
Coolant changes aint to bad - its bleeding the air out that can be, but is the 1.9 an overhead tank instead?

ziggy