Technical when to change the cam belt?
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Technical when to change the cam belt?
Hi ross, my opinion is, if you want to change the cambelt at 36k, why not! If you really think it's worth it, and don't mind forking out £500 every couple of years, go for it 
However, the experts like rog, motormech etc, who make their living by fixing/maintaining fiat coupe's, say 50K/5 years is more than enough. So that's what I go by.
However, the experts like rog, motormech etc, who make their living by fixing/maintaining fiat coupe's, say 50K/5 years is more than enough. So that's what I go by.
50K/ 5 years is indeed the Fiat guide line for the 16/20 valve enigne's.
Didn't red this entire thread, but just noticed the multiple idea's abouth intervals for the campbelt.
And do not forget to change the tensioner, that is the reason fiat shorten the interval, they will breakdown on that part.
Didn't red this entire thread, but just noticed the multiple idea's abouth intervals for the campbelt.
And do not forget to change the tensioner, that is the reason fiat shorten the interval, they will breakdown on that part.
The cam belt must be changed every 70000 miles or every 5 year which ever comes first.
My mechanic does it without takes the engine out of the car (JB Motors Leeds 0113 2523613). If you go to Fiat they will take the engine out and charge you around £1000+vat.
My mechanic does it without takes the engine out of the car (JB Motors Leeds 0113 2523613). If you go to Fiat they will take the engine out and charge you around £1000+vat.
cars.robertsaerospace.com
Member
I think you've got to think that lady luck is on your side if you go longer than 36K or 3 years. It's only £199 to have a new belt put on anyway.
I wouldn't change the pulley or tensioner until 72K unless it started getting noisy.
Mike.
I wouldn't change the pulley or tensioner until 72K unless it started getting noisy.
Mike.
cars.robertsaerospace.com
Member
hmallett said:
Yep, I do it for £399 - it's not just that it's harder to do, you need cam setting tools like on an Alfa Romeo twinspark.
Putting the 20v engine into the Coupe was one of the stupidest things I've ever seen.
I know they had to drop the Integrale engine that was in the 16v cars for emissions reasons, but would it have been so bad to have used the Alfa TS engine instead? It's based on the same 16v block anyway, so minimal re-engineering. I know they wanted to maintain a differential between Fiat and Alfa, but putting in that horrible 20v engine was a dumb idea.
Mike.
cars.robertsaerospace.com said:
Hope your overalls are flame proof!
People love their 20v and saying they shouldn't have it is nasty
cars.robertsaerospace.com
Member
Hellcat said:Hope your overalls are flame proof!
And I love my Maserati 222E engine (especially with the 290bhp upgrade), but it doesn't stop it having significant flaws that I wished they'd dealt with at the design stage, and it's a well developed engine...
If the Coupe had only ever had the Integrale engine and/or the TS engine, no-one would miss it not having the 20v.
Mike.
cars.robertsaerospace.com said:
Well you will aprove of my wheels then?
cars.robertsaerospace.com said:
its often a tensioner going that naffs the belt anyway, no one just changes the belt with out doing the rest :nono:
Oh dear - I would never even suggest getting a cambelt done without the pulley or tensioners done at the same time. I have heard many stories where people have had the cambelt done without them and when the tensioner has gone, its taken the cam belt with it. I am shocked that a garage would suggest otherwise!cars.robertsaerospace.com said:
cars.robertsaerospace.com
Member
sammiboo said:
Everyone's welcome to their opinion, and if someone wanted their tensioner changed as well, I'd do it. However, I still stand by my opinion that a tensioner will easily last for 72K. I see a lot of cars and isolated incidents can get a little blown out of proportion on the web. I've seen more cars that have run their bearings at 24K than I have failed tensioners before 72K.
personally i think its ok to keep a tensioner till the second belt change, as long as you dont over tighten the new belt on the first change.
when a tensioner fails a few thousand miles after a belt change its often because the new belt has been over tensioned, creating excess strain on the tensioner bearings, causing it to heat up and fail prematurely. then the bearings collapse leaving a very slack tensioner, allowing the belt to slip a few teeth or slip off all together. nice
if your engine makes a high pitched whining noise after a belt change its a good sign that the belt is too tight.
when a tensioner fails a few thousand miles after a belt change its often because the new belt has been over tensioned, creating excess strain on the tensioner bearings, causing it to heat up and fail prematurely. then the bearings collapse leaving a very slack tensioner, allowing the belt to slip a few teeth or slip off all together. nice
if your engine makes a high pitched whining noise after a belt change its a good sign that the belt is too tight.
I'd never even dream of leaving the aux belts for that amount of time. I wouldn't go to a specialists that think it's okay to either.
If I had a car like that I'd prefer to err on the side of caution. I don't think it's just because of the damage if it goes either, it's the faff of doing it - might as well do it while you've got everything to bits for one job than put it all back together and it need doing before the belt needs changed again IYKWIM?
I remember one of H's aux belts snapped on the way back from a coupe meet, and nearly took his engine with it. That did it for me! Would insist on them being changed. Fortunately all the recommended Coupe specialists on FCCUK do this anyway. Having them changed by Motormech in Brum
I personally think its bad not to advise the belts get done at the same time, for the little it costs for the parts. Its not just isolated incidents its common knowledge. Its also good practice to at least advise the aux belts get changed too.
From your advice i wouldnt want to take my car to you or suggest that people do. I know a few coupe specialists and they advise to get the aux done. Its common sense
From your advice i wouldnt want to take my car to you or suggest that people do. I know a few coupe specialists and they advise to get the aux done. Its common sense
and then?
