Should I change the cam belt

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Should I change the cam belt

Postby Gee0 » Tue 03.02.2009, 19:13

I am about to have my baby serviced.

Oil filter
fuel filter
Ignition leds replaced
All the fluids, Oil,coolant, gearbox and brake, flushed and replaced.
I am also have the right driveshaft seal replaced as it is leaking.

It had a new Cam belt and water pump about 4 years ago and 14k miles.
The question is should I have the cam belt done and if so do I need to do the idler and tensioner?

I am not changing plugs as I did them 2 years ago and 2k miles.

Is there anything else I should have done while I am at it. (well not me the machanic :oops: )

Thanks
G
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Re: Should I change the cam belt

Postby tweetdriver63 » Tue 03.02.2009, 20:06

The timing belt is every 60K miles or 6 years, whichever comes first. I would think you'd be fine to skip it, unless they're going to be opening it up for some other reason. Are you having the other drive belts replaced? That would mean they have to free up the engine from that engine mount to get to them, so they would already be part way in, and you might just do ahead and do the timing belt just for convenience. Otherwise, I would wait a couple more years. There will probably be other maintenance etc you'll be doing then anyway that would be just as convenient to combine.
Chris
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Re: Should I change the cam belt

Postby RayD » Tue 03.02.2009, 20:26

I agree with Chris, none of the jobs you’re having done are related to the cam belt.

A good compromise, and to put your mind at rest, would be to ask the garage to take the cam belt cover off to examine the belt and check the tension. It might be best to explain it’s only done 14,000 miles and you're expecting it to be in perfect condition.

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Re: Should I change the cam belt

Postby Enright » Tue 03.02.2009, 21:31

Gee0 wrote:I am about to have my baby serviced.

Oil filter
fuel filter
Ignition leds replaced
All the fluids, Oil,coolant, gearbox and brake, flushed and replaced.
I am also have the right driveshaft seal replaced as it is leaking.

It had a new Cam belt and water pump about 4 years ago and 14k miles.
The question is should I have the cam belt done and if so do I need to do the idler and tensioner?

I am not changing plugs as I did them 2 years ago and 2k miles.

Is there anything else I should have done while I am at it. (well not me the machanic :oops: )

Thanks
G

All good advice from the others - I would go even further and question why you are replacing the leads? Are you getting misfiring or can you see them arcing in the dark?
If so, even though they are more expensive I would recommend trying new coil packs first. You might be able to borrow a couple just to verify that they are at fault. But if you're not getting misfiring or arcing, then I'd say if it aint broke, don't fix it.
Coolant is worth doing annually, but when was the last time the oil and filter were changed?
I think gearbox oil is only every 30K, but if you're having a driveshaft oil seal done then I guess you might as well.
Have you downloaded the service manual? I'm sure that it has the intervals in it.
Oh, and write down the mileage when you have it all done - something I always forget to do!
Striking fear into the hearts of duplicate posts everywhere...! :P

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Re: Should I change the cam belt

Postby Gee0 » Wed 04.02.2009, 01:30

Enright wrote:
All good advice from the others - I would go even further and question why you are replacing the leads? Are you getting misfiring or can you see them arcing in the dark?
If so, even though they are more expensive I would recommend trying new coil packs first. You might be able to borrow a couple just to verify that they are at fault. But if you're not getting misfiring or arcing, then I'd say if it aint broke, don't fix it.
Coolant is worth doing annually, but when was the last time the oil and filter were changed?
I think gearbox oil is only every 30K, but if you're having a driveshaft oil seal done then I guess you might as well.
Have you downloaded the service manual? I'm sure that it has the intervals in it.
Oh, and write down the mileage when you have it all done - something I always forget to do!


Changing leds because its running 3 magnacor and one other (it blew a spark plug out of the head last year and the mechanic dumped the damaged led :roll: ) It running fine NO missing or arcing in the dark (take her out in the dark? What is this foolishness) :lol:

Oil and plugs were changed summer before last so 18 months and less than 2K driven.
Yip thats what I thought about the gearbox oil.
and brakes are a little soft since the upgrade so I think a good flush is worth doing.

I will get him to inspect the belt, He did the timing for me last year and all looked fine.

so Im not missing anythink that I should be doing?

Thanks
G
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Re: Should I change the cam belt

Postby Doug » Wed 04.02.2009, 05:34

Should I change the cam belt?


No
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Re: Should I change the cam belt

Postby Gee0 » Wed 04.02.2009, 10:59

Thanks Doug

It took a while to read that LOOOONG posting, but message received and understood :-D

G
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Re: Should I change the cam belt

Postby niall » Thu 05.02.2009, 20:06

As a matter of interest, being local to you, who is doing the work ?
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Re: Should I change the cam belt

Postby HJ2 » Thu 05.02.2009, 22:15

Here's another question:

If i remove the cambeltcover and have a good look at the belt, and it looks as new, with no cracks, teeth crumling, just bloody perfect fine, BUT: i have no idea how long it's been there... Should i change?

(I've read stories of worn cambelts where half of the width was gone, but still goin strong...)

:roll: :poke:
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Re: Should I change the cam belt

Postby Exbury » Thu 05.02.2009, 22:53

Personally I would use the lack of evidence when buying the car to get a couple fo £100 off the car so putting towards a new belt. When i get the belt done I always get the garage to write this into the service book so even if I lose the bill, the date is stamped and can be ascertained with the garage.

For me, I would always change the belt if I was not sure, admittedly I risked it on the Lotus for one year of driving before i changed it. Guess it depends upon your level of risk and how you assessed the previous owner (did they maintain other things at a high level, e.g. good tyres, regularly serviced etc.). The cost to replace/fix a damaged engine is high and the peace of mind knowning that the job is done for another 5 years as well as the car potentitally being more sellable (if necessary) are all pluses for me.
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Re: Should I change the cam belt

Postby Gee0 » Fri 06.02.2009, 11:51

niall wrote:As a matter of interest, being local to you, who is doing the work ?



Its a guy who has just set up on his own, but has experiance at preping race cars and other motorsports.

He is reliable and happy to be given and use instructions on cars he has not worked on.(AND NOT TOO EXPENSIVE)

He has now done the following for me,

Elan
Front brake upgrade,
SS brake hoses all round,
Timing,

A190
Full Service,
All Filters,
All fluids, Oil, Coolant, brakes ect.

He is about to do a FULL service on the Elan as above.
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