Cambelt change at 5 years

[wp1234]

Mine is due next May at 5 yrs and I will be changing the water pump at the same time. Yes it’s bloody expensive at a Fiat Pro garage £700 ish but if it goes t*ts up after a few miles down the road at least i hope I have some come back.

 

[Clive Beeza]

I was also told my 2017 Bailey, which is on the Peugeot boxer is a 10 year change interval.

do not totally rely on what you have been "told"
just check for yourself the vehicle manufacturers recommended change intervals

 

[RowleyBirkinQC]

normally from date of registration
as that is the beginning of use

Don’t the belts ‘age’ when inactive?

 

[Clive Beeza]

Don’t the belts ‘age’ when inactive?

correct, but the engine has been run very little
before it is registered for the first time,
thereafter every 5years or mileage as manufacturers scheduled change

 

[SteveandSueJ]

Every mechanic i know has differing opinions but Mileage really should not be relied on an indicator as the belt/tensioners deteriorate over time. In fact you could argue a low mileage is worse as the rubber hardens when not used... also tensioners usually weaken causing the belt split so as everyone has said, change it at 5 years if manufacturer says so and change it all, Inc water pump... not worth the risk not doing it...

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[Speve]

I changed ours a Four year anniversary as have always towed a car and trailer so took it to be heavy work and don’t want the hassle of a breakdown towing

 

[EMS]

My late father in law had a peugot car that did not exceed the mileage for the cam belt change, as at that time no date was included for the time to change the belt.
So as he worked for the company he had confidence in their cars, but lo and behold the belt broke ruining the engine he complained to the management to no effect. They subsequently added a time to change the belts.
Why can we not go back to chains!!!!!

 

[Johnthebike50]

That's the other thing. I was told I needed to change the tensioner and the water pump too.

The water pump and tensioner are easy to renew whilst the cam belt is off, so for the small extra cost it's best to do them together rather than fork out twice.
My engineering pal who builds engines says snapped cambelts pay his mortgage with the work it brings him!

 

[the1andonly]

Mine is due next May at 5 yrs and I will be changing the water pump at the same time. Yes it’s bloody expensive at a Fiat Pro garage £700 ish but if it goes t*ts up after a few miles down the road at least i hope I have some come back.

Today Ive been quoted £30 shy of £1000 for the cambelt (no waterpump) at Fiat Professional Northampton.































































































































































































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I've

 

[dayo]

Had cambelt changed at 5 years on recommendation of Fiat Main Dealer (truck) in July. On October 8th and 1300 miles later the new (genuine Fiat) cambelt failed in Rochefort southern France. We had an, up to 10,000 Euros quote from the Renault dealer we were taken to via a translator at Fiat Italy.
We told AA Europe breakdown we wanted it taken back to the UK garage as this is Warranty. They begrudgingly agreed in the end and it took them 9 weeks to get it home (the day before Christmas Eve). We tried a private quote to fetch it home in a week…£3500.
The cambelt was changed under warranty.
Was it worth changing something that was working perfectly well….your decision!!

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[Peregrinator]

I think the reason water pump gets changed is the strip down to change cambelt you are able to.

That's right, easy to change so why not.

 

[Scubagas]

At my service today, I was advised that I should have the cambelt changed next year at 5 years. The reason given was that the cambelt is made of a material that can develop flat spots when left unused, like tyres. Implication, unspoken, that this could cause failure. My mileage is 5k per year and I make sure it’s run for a decent distance at least once a month.
Funster thoughts please

Hi
After being a caravanner for years, I only got my first MoHo last year. However, I've been a service manager in main dealer motor industry for 30 years. yes it is expensive as quite labour intensive, but belt failure causes catastrophic engine damage.The belt does perish with time, nothing to do with standing idle. Also, if the belt drives the water pump, get that changed at the same time. Most respectable garages will recommend that anyway.
Ask for a deal. Most franchise dealers, like mine have what is called a 'fixed price' on jobs like these. they are often cheaper than back street garages and the guarantee is usually Europe wide. Don't be afraid to barter. It is considered good work and I would be happy to have my workshop full of cambelt changes.
Hope this helps?

 

[jezport]

I can't be bothered to go out and look under the bonnet but does anyone know if the X244 (03) 2.8 JTD (Ducato) is belt or chain.. It's something I should do when I service it over winter as I don't know it's history despite the fact it's onl;y done 24K, she's 15 years old....
Judging by the tyres that were on it were well past their sell by date, I doubt the previous owners were the "regular maintenance" type.

Belt

 

[jezport]

That's right, easy to change so why not.

Nor easy on th x290 so only change if high mileage. If it ain't broke leave it alone.

 

[Riverbankannie]

Hi
After being a caravanner for years, I only got my first MoHo last year. However, I've been a service manager in main dealer motor industry for 30 years. yes it is expensive as quite labour intensive, but belt failure causes catastrophic engine damage.The belt does perish with time, nothing to do with standing idle. Also, if the belt drives the water pump, get that changed at the same time. Most respectable garages will recommend that anyway.
Ask for a deal. Most franchise dealers, like mine have what is called a 'fixed price' on jobs like these. they are often cheaper than back street garages and the guarantee is usually Europe wide. Don't be afraid to barter. It is considered good work and I would be happy to have my workshop full of cambelt changes.
Hope this helps?

Thank you for your reply but after the initial replies (in 2019 !) I did have all changed at the 5 year point in 2020.

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[Coolcats]

At my service today, I was advised that I should have the cambelt changed next year at 5 years. The reason given was that the cambelt is made of a material that can develop flat spots when left unused, like tyres. Implication, unspoken, that this could cause failure. My mileage is 5k per year and I make sure it’s run for a decent distance at least once a month.
Funster thoughts please

Change it don’t risk it, not changing the cam belt will make you cry.

Changing it is a necessity it’s not a milage thing but a time one. One car I have has done about 300 miles in 4 years the cam belt is due this year and will change it a new engine is around £11k

 

[Coolcats]

Mine is due next May at 5 yrs and I will be changing the water pump at the same time. Yes it’s bloody expensive at a Fiat Pro garage £700 ish but if it goes t*ts up after a few miles down the road at least i hope I have some come back.

You will if the belt snapped having had it changed

 

[Phill D]

Change it don’t risk it, not changing the cam belt will make you cry.

Changing it is a necessity it’s not a milage thing but a time one. One car I have has done about 300 miles in 4 years the cam belt is due this year and will change it a new engine is around £11k

The advice you give which is good advice but only 3 years out of date

 

[Clive Beeza]

Nor easy on th x290 so only change if high mileage. If it ain't broke leave it alone.

Very Bad Advise

 

[Riverbankannie]

Change it don’t risk it, not changing the cam belt will make you cry.

Changing it is a necessity it’s not a milage thing but a time one. One car I have has done about 300 miles in 4 years the cam belt is due this year and will change it a new engine is around £11k

Thank you for your advice. It matches all posts I had back in 2019 when I asked the question. You will be pleased to know that I had it all changed in Nov 2020 at the 5 year point.

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[Coolcats]

The advice you give which is good advice but only 3 years out of date

Lol always late to the party

 

[Phill D]

Lol always late to the party

Better late than never

 

[Riverbankannie]

It all adds to the wealth of advice on the forum which other people find when google searching.

 

[seasideBill]

Thanks for a useful thread….had completely forgotten about cambelts and mine is 5 years old in March! Was already booked in for a MOT so have now extended that to include replacement belt.

 

[SteveandSueJ]

Seasidebill, belt, tensioners and waterpump..... Best to do all...

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[jezport]

Very Bad Advise

Both Fiat and a good independent garage advised

 

[seasideBill]

Seasidebill, belt, tensioners and waterpump..... Best to do all...

Yep, all that.

 

[Tony the Manc']

At my service today, I was advised that I should have the cambelt changed next year at 5 years. The reason given was that the cambelt is made of a material that can develop flat spots when left unused, like tyres. Implication, unspoken, that this could cause failure. My mileage is 5k per year and I make sure it’s run for a decent distance at least once a month.
Funster thoughts please

Apparently, the one on my 2016, 15k, Peugeot Boxer is metal. At the last service 2022, I asked about a cam belt change and was told in simple terms.....leave it alone!!!!!, don't even think about changing it!!!!

 

[Peregrinator]

Nor easy on th x290 so only change if high mileage. If it ain't broke leave it alone.

If your changing a Cam belt on a x290, then it is easy to change the pump too at the same time, then you only drop engine once, also saves on labour of doing it all over again, compared to the price of the motorhome, don't risk it, do it.

 

[Stealaway]

correct, but the engine has been run very little
before it is registered for the first time,
thereafter every 5years or mileage as manufacturers scheduled change

When I registered my 2019 van it was already over a year old - so should I change it after four years now?

Why can we not go back to chains!!!!!

My Eco tech Ford engine has a timing belt running in oil!!!
Its recommended to be changed at 150K miles - or ten years
I'ts at eight years and 27K miles - what to do?

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