Technical When to change timing belt?

[Pandaman955]

Can someone help as I'm confused..

The owners manual specifies the timing belt should be changed at :
- 72000 miles (ie 6th service)
- every 5 years (irrespective of mileage)

My car was new Jan 2011 and has complete 65k miles

Should I change it now or leave until 72k miles

 

[dozer]

If I was you I'd be changing it soon along with the tensioner and water pump along with the aux belt.
IMO 72k is too higher mileage for a belt to do but you're also over the 5 years time wise.

 

[g8rpi]

Well, according to the schedule you should have changed it in January
Ideally you should change it now, 72k will be well over a year overdue. That said it will probably last to 72k but it's a gamble.

Robert G8RPI.

 

[DaveMcT]

Some 1200 8V engines are safe when the cam belt fails. I don't know if the 2011 is safe.

Options
If the engine is safe and you have AA membership just drive it.
If you don't want it parking itself on the M1 fast lane change the belt.
If the engine is not safe, change the belt and tensioner NOW. Do water pump while in there.

Renault recommend 72K for belt changes but if car mostly does short journeys or mostly own driving the belt should be changed at 40K. If the car has been standing for a long time change the belt.

Who cares(?) this is a fiat discussion. The belts are made by the same people so best to err on the safe side. BTW, fiat 16V engines should have new cam belts at 40K.

 

[MLW]

Or find a good independent, and £250 = new belt, water pump, fresh antifreeze, and pulley's..... and 6 years of peace in your life.

 

[varesecrazy]

Can someone help as I'm confused..

The owners manual specifies the timing belt should be changed at :
- 72000 miles (ie 6th service)
- every 5 years (irrespective of mileage)

My car was new Jan 2011 and has complete 65k miles

Should I change it now or leave until 72k miles

Hi,
it's now TIME..

as people have said - the petrol pandas are pretty lightly stressed,
however most failures are caused by seized bearings wearing away the belt until it fails..,
so always good practice to change the bearings in the run too

this will give you an idea on job complexity;
https://www.fiatforum.com/500-guides/420525-replacing-water-pump-timing-belt-1-2l-engine.html

it's on a Ford KA, same basic mechanicals,

so the job is now very common, any decent mechanic should be capable ,
so there is no need to go to a franchised dealer = @£100 an hour labour..

£40 an hour will do the job

maybe look for a local FIAT / Alfa indy who can service the car with the correct tools, ( electronics package)

Charlie - Oxford

 

[varesecrazy]

Some 1200 8V engines are safe when the cam belt fails. I don't know if the 2011 is safe.

Options
If the engine is safe and you have AA membership just drive it.
If you don't want it parking itself on the M1 fast lane change the belt.
If the engine is not safe, change the belt and tensioner NOW. Do water pump while in there.

Renault recommend 72K for belt changes but if car mostly does short journeys or mostly own driving the belt should be changed at 40K. If the car has been standing for a long time change the belt.

Who cares(?) this is a fiat discussion. The belts are made by the same people so best to err on the safe side. BTW, fiat 16V engines should have new cam belts at 40K.

I've been with the brand long enough to remember when the FIAT group HALVED the belt intervals from 72K to 36K , marea / 156 era - LOTS of t-sparks were letting go at 42 /45K.

cambelt change on a 5 pot marea was £1200..!! 15 years ago

the panda / 500 / KA 1.2 is a nice simple job,
so no need to tempt fate by going over the change criteria.

 

[Pandaman955]

Thanks everyone

I'll get it booked in with the village Indy.

 

[SB1500]

An interesting point to add...

Your car has moved for 72,000 miles of ground with the belt under strain. But for every second the engine runs the car is still running with the belt in motion, so don't always go by the mileage! Think of all that extra un-recorded work on the belt.

Definitely get the kit - I got mine very cheap (belt, tensioner and water pump) with a tube of sealant and some new antifreeze (leaks during water pump replacement) and I was able to do this up at my uncles with no experience, a jack, and socket set!

Best of luck, don't let any mechanic tell you it's a hard job on a Panda - because that's a lie! It's a good thing you're learning about this now. Many wait for it to be too late.

 

[DaveMcT]

The 1746cc engine used in various Fiats including the Abarth Punto Mk2 is basically the Alfa TS engine but with only one spark per cylinder. Apart from valve and cylinder head damage, this engine can also damage its crank bearing shells if/when pistons hit valves. Cam belt life is 40,000 or 4 years. No ifs or buts and it can be a right **** to change.

The time issue sounds silly especially if the car has only done 20K miles over 4 years. But the belt will age though standing doing nothing because when the engine stops, stresses are not evenly distributed. Also low speeds are probably the most stressful. Every valve opening hits the belt and accelerating the engine also stresses the belt. It's a constant stress at low speeds with gear shifts and stop start driving. At high speed the shocks all merge so the loads even out and there's no stop start.

I believe the 1200 8 valve is a safe engine the belt can fail but mechanical parts don't hit. But as said earlier I could well be wrong with later engines.