How risky is it to delay cam belt change on a Fiat Ducato?

Sixty-nine Chevy

Sixty-nine Chevy

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Hi. I understand that the cam belt on a Fiat Ducato should be replaced every five years. This means that we should have had it done last June, but we didn't because a medical issue greatly limited the use of our campervan last year. As a result even now we have done less than 3,000 miles since last June. Ideally we would like to get the cam belt replaced this coming June when a normal service is also due. Does anyone know how risky it would be to have such a delay of one year? Are we asking for trouble? If an old cam belt does die, is it a catastrophic thing that goes with a bang? Or would we first see some kind of performance drop off? Thanks for any comments.
 
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As far as I'm aware it a catastrophic thing that goes with a bang.
There is no warning.
And if it does go bang you will need a new engine (or a very expensive repair)

Why not simply bring the June service forward to Feb/March and get it done ASAP.
(Next time, get a Mercedes, they have a chain rather than a belt and should be good for the life of the engine)
 
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It would be a catastrophic failure.
The valves would almost certainly hit the pistons.
Engine rebuild!
 
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Most belts will fail suddenly. It will do the engine no good whatsoever requiring a major rebuild. Bring forward your service to combine with getting the belt replaced.

Difficult to predict when a failure will occur so the manufacturers are probably cautious in recommendations for replacement based on time or running length.

Risk with a van that is little used is the belt is bent at the same place for a lengthy time. When you eventually start the engine that "bend" has to be straightened out, suddenly, at a fair speed. Has the resting bend induced any cracking? You won't know, as it can't easily be inspected without part stripping down the engine covers.
 
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We had one go on a Vauxhall Zafira, it’s very noisy. For once we were lucky and it was under warranty.

Some people might risk it, we wouldn’t. The nearest we get to gambling is the Premium bonds.
 
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^^^^ Same as they have said, early service rather than early death of the engine. You may be lucky, I've heard of people letting them go till 10 years old,but I've had one fail on VW, at 5 1/2 years old. " that'll be a new engine sir , thank you ". Not something I want to repeat.
Mike.
 
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Sixty-nine Chevy said:
Hi. I understand that the cam belt on a Fiat Ducato should be replaced every five years. This means that we should have had it done last June, but we didn't because a medical issue greatly limited the use of our campervan last year. As a result even now we have done less than 3,000 miles since last June. Ideally we would like to get the cam belt replaced this coming June when a normal service is also due. Does anyone know how risky it would be to have such a delay of one year? Are we asking for trouble? If an old cam belt does die, is it a catastrophic thing that goes with a bang? Or would we first see some kind of performance drop off? Thanks for any comments.
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It goes with a mighty bang and a fine array of fairy lights. How do I know? Well a couple of months short of its fifth anniversary I pulled up on a hard shoulder just south of Salamanca. Luckily despite the 2.8 being an interference engine it survived to be rebuilt. €5500 later, which included a new clutch, we picked it up and drove it home. I’m now planning on every 4 years!!!!

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Daughter had one fail on a car at 3 years on Monday a busy motorway (supposed to be changed every 5 years). luckily no one hurt and no other vehicle involved.

Car written off.
 
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As Harry Callahan said "You've got to ask yourself one question: 'Do I feel luck?' Well, do ya, punk?"
 
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I dread to think what a replacement Ducato engine would cost these days… I recently heard of somebody with a 9 speed autobox failure costing £11k 😢,

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carolyn said:
Probably. Can’t imagine it was more on a Vauxhall. We’ve had a lot of cars since people carrier days.

What was your point?
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That leaving a cam belt to 5 years as recommended appears, from your experience,. to be also risky.

I di not want to assume it was 3 years when making that comment if you had bought extra yyears' warranty.
 
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Bring the service forward from June to asap and get it done. It’ll give you great peace of mind when you do 👍🏻

IMG_4218.webp
 
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Thanks to all for the swift and clear comments. You are all very persuasive. Booked in to be changed next week!

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Are you sure it's a belt ?
Some Ducato have belt, some a chain.
If it's a belt, I'd bring the service and timing belt replacement forwards and do it soonest. Unless the vehicle is under warranty, I'd get the works done at a good local garage.

Belt snapping is catastrophic. At best the valves "riverdance" on the piston crowns. At worst, I've seen the pistons make (not so neat) ventilation holes in the engine block. So anywhere between an expensive engine rebuild or replacement.
 
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nicholsong said:
That leaving a cam belt to 5 years as recommended appears, from your experience,. to be also risky.

I di not want to assume it was 3 years when making that comment if you had bought extra yyears' warranty.
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That might have just been bad luck of course. No idea. It was nearly 20 years ago.
 
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