Not another cam belt thread

[Sapper520]

I’m waiting at moment in my local Fiat Dealership whilst my van gets a completely unnecessary minor service. However, due to low mileage and the 4 previous visits for engine warning lights, I’m going with the Fiat recommendation of a minor service…….just to make sure they have no call for rejecting any claim should problems continue with the Fiat side.

£204.

 

[L' Hobo]

Okay, I just knew this was coming so check this site: Broken Link Removed

Even with this link, the cheapest is £163.98. Good 5yr antifreeze £25.00 (approx). VAT £80. = £268.98
That leaves £241.02 for the mechanic to complete a 5hr job which sounds not unreasonable but I would never go for the cheapest components.

'You pays your money and takes your choice' but just to mention, my (56000mls) Fiat 2007 X250 has never had a waterpump change, just good belt/tensioner changes and regular yearly services which I do myself.

IF your happy, I'm happy!

 

[L' Hobo]

I’m waiting at moment in my local Fiat Dealership whilst my van gets a completely unnecessary minor service. However, due to low mileage and the 4 previous visits for engine warning lights, I’m going with the Fiat recommendation of a minor service…….just to make sure they have no call for rejecting any claim should problems continue with the Fiat side.

£204.

Why not ask them when they think the waterpump should be changed?

 

[Sapper520]

Why not ask them when they think the waterpump should be changed?

My legs buckled when he told me how much this service cost, not sure my heart could take that much stress.

I’ll ask when I pay my bill…..

Yes, I should have checked the price of this service but I thought they told me on the phone £150ish….but probably my mistake.

I just got a free coffee though.

 

[L' Hobo]

My legs buckled when he told me how much this service cost, not sure my heart could take that much stress.

I’ll ask when I pay my bill…..

Yes, I should have checked the price of this service but I thought they told me on the phone £150ish….but probably my mistake.

I just got a free coffee though.

Catering may have been the other part of the cost (£150 to £204) , but at that price, you should get something better than just coffee! Probably lunch is provided?

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[Flairy]

Mario owns the company MW Fahrzeugtechnik his motorhome is a Bavaria tag axle the staff all speak English as my German is very poor .Udo is workshop manager ,and even from home has never failed to help me. Hope this helps.

 

[Sapper520]

Apparently, my van (140bhp 2020 model) does not have a water pump replacement listed at cambelt time. Recommended every five years for the belt.

Current prices…..Minor Service £204. Major Service £404. Cambelt replacement (doesn’t include the service) £690.

 

[Lenny HB]

Why not ask them when they think the waterpump should be changed?

Probably because they are prone to failure and if driven by the cambelt if they seize it wrecks the engine. Had that happen on a car and it was nowhere near due for a cambelt, lucky for me it was a company car.

 

[SpeedyDux]

Over the years I must have spent thousands on cambelt changes for various vehicles at 4 or 5 year intervals. It always seemed like a big swiz. There was always a risk that the fitter would cause damage to something else. In one case the alternator died as I drove home, another time the bottom pulley fell off, another time the brake fluid reservoir was cracked and leaking. Would the service manager accept responsibility? Guess. Always unsure if the water pump and tensioners had been replaced although charged for.

I would happily pay a bit higher purchase price for the van if the engine had a proper timing chain instead.

 

[L' Hobo]

Over the years I must have spent thousands on cambelt changes for various vehicles at 4 or 5 year intervals. It always seemed like a big swiz. There was always a risk that the fitter would cause damage to something else. In one case the alternator died as I drove home, another time the bottom pulley fell off, another time the brake fluid reservoir was cracked and leaking. Would the service manager accept responsibility? Guess. Always unsure if the water pump and tensioners had been replaced although charged for.

I would happily pay a bit higher purchase price for the van if the engine had a proper timing chain instead.

I'm led to believe the 3ltr Fiat has a timing chain, the 2.3 has a belt.

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[L' Hobo]

Apparently, my van (140bhp 2020 model) does not have a water pump replacement listed at cambelt time. Recommended every five years for the belt.

Current prices…..Minor Service £204. Major Service £404. Cambelt replacement (doesn’t include the service) £690.

As I mentioned earlier, Fiat believes that the waterpump will last the 'life of the engine' and should not be interfered with unless leaking or some other OBVIOUS problem so it comes as no surprise that it is NOT included at cambelt replacement intervals.
The time when one changed the waterpump at the same time as the belt on a modern Fiat Ducato, has, luckily, long gone!

Thanks for asking.

 

[eurajohn]

Not sure what you are stating. The standard procedure is to replace the water pump at the same time as the cam belt as they are both behind the cover. No need to strip down the engine. Fiat ducato X250 130bhp 2010
ps this is now it's 3rd water pump,, original,, changed at 5 years and now changed again.

The water pump is not behind the same cover as the cam belt!
The high pressure fuel pump has to be removed to change the water pump, often a problem when it becomes stuck in place.
A large amount of the work involved is done from underneath.
So, cam belt kit around £160, oil £60 at a minimum an oil filter £12, antifreeze (of correct specification) £25. those prices assume a decent quality spare is used.
You're lucky to find a company willing to work for around £25 per hour!!

 

[Roger20]

Well, for all the nay sayers etc. I have just returned from having my cam belt replaced.
Complete kit including water pump.
Replaced anti freeze and bled system.
Carried out service and inspection including oil change.
Reset the service interval for me.
Total price:- £410 including VAT

Not a bad week as she passed MOT with zero advisories 2 days ago @ £39.50.

So anyone in the Nottingham area I can supply his details.

Happy days and ready for the off again next Wednesday.

This could be a reasonable price for a service, coolant change and cambelt renewal. Assuming parts at about £180 (see below kit £85, filter £10, oil £60, antifreeze £25) this would leave about £50/hour for 4.5 hours labour.

My local Italian car parts specialist is ggb (www.ggb.me.uk) who trade as www.shop4parts.co.uk. Just bought 6 litres of Selenia WR Forward 0W-30 for £71.41 and an OE genuine FCA filter for £9.32. Oil might be a bit overpriced but it is genuine OE spec.

I asked about cambelt kits and although they do not show Ducato parts on their website they have an account with Fiat and can supply anything. Common consumables like cambelts, brakes, filters they keep in stock. The photo shows a Dayco at £85.30 and the genuine OE FCA kit at £140.75. I have visited twice now and the guys there (Michael and Sean) have been very helpful. I would have complete confidence in buying genuine parts from them - they buy direct from Italy.

 

[Marauder]

+1

 

[deleted79651]

2 arms + 2 legs

I used my organ donor card instead of my phonecard to make a call from a public phone. Cost me an arm and a leg ...

Steve

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[eurajohn]

This could be a reasonable price for a service, coolant change and cambelt renewal. Assuming parts at about £180 (see below kit £85, filter £10, oil £60, antifreeze £25) this would leave about £50/hour for 4.5 hours labour.

My local Italian car parts specialist is ggb (www.ggb.me.uk) who trade as www.shop4parts.co.uk. Just bought 6 litres of Selenia WR Forward 0W-30 for £71.41 and an OE genuine FCA filter for £9.32. Oil might be a bit overpriced but it is genuine OE spec.

I asked about cambelt kits and although they do not show Ducato parts on their website they have an account with Fiat and can supply anything. Common consumables like cambelts, brakes, filters they keep in stock. The photo shows a Dayco at £85.30 and the genuine OE FCA kit at £140.75. I have visited twice now and the guys there (Michael and Sean) have been very helpful. I would have complete confidence in buying genuine parts from them - they buy direct from Italy.

Kit does not include water pump and I don't care who you are you will not complete a cambelt with water pump replacement in 4.5 hours.

 

[Lenny HB]

Kit does not include water pump and I don't care who you are you will not complete a cambelt with water pump replacement in 4.5 hours.

Especially on an A Class

 

[2657]

I have seen cheap prices for various parts on eBay etc but would not expect to take them to a garage for them to fit.
I look at it as the difference between wholesale and retail prices.

 

[bertiebasset]

Kit does not include water pump and I don't care who you are you will not complete a cambelt with water pump replacement in 4.5 hours.

Deciding whether to take my mechanic to court as we dropped off the motorhome at just after 9am and collected at 1pm so, by your say so he could not have carried out this work especially as he categorically stated he would change the water pump.

 

[Roger20]

Kit does not include water pump and I don't care who you are you will not complete a cambelt with water pump replacement in 4.5 hours.

Point taken. I didnt notice that he said it was included. With all the other work claimed to be done perhaps it now sounds too good to be true?

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[Lenny HB]

I have seen cheap prices for various parts on eBay etc but would not expect to take them to a garage for them to fit.
I look at it as the difference between wholesale and retail prices.

Also a lot of fake parts sold on eBay.

 

[bertiebasset]

Great scott. I put a thread up on this forum about a good job at a reasonable price, and suddenly all the EXPERTS come out to call ME a liar as my mechanic just could NOT have done this work and suddenly the parts are from ebay ???? and I now have an "A" class motorhome ?????
Jim please close this thread.

 

[eurajohn]

Great scott. I put a thread up on this forum about a good job at a reasonable price, and suddenly all the EXPERTS come out to call ME a liar as my mechanic just could NOT have done this work and suddenly the parts are from ebay ???? and I now have an "A" class motorhome ?????
Jim please close this thread.

I never called or intended to suggest that you were a liar!
Many people talk about things or tasks they have no actual knowledge or experience of, if you, or any other of the contributors have actually physically carried out the task in question they will be aware of the amount of work and time taken to achieve a replacement of the mentioned items.

 

[Paul and Val]

I have to say that Bertie appears to be being beaten up and given a hard time for no good reason. Last week my mechanic here in France changed a cam belt etc on a FIAT 130bhp (I presume it is the same engine, just a little older?). I have just bumped into him and he said that it took him 3.5 hours. I forgot to ask him about the water pump.

As long as Bertie got a receipt he will be covered with a guarantee. Most garages use reasonable quality parts. Parts supplied by any main dealer should be ok but will not be higher quality that a good parts supplier like Quintin Hazel etc and in some cases (my Jaguar for instance) the after market parts are actually MUCh higher quality that the OM.

Well done to Bertie for getting a good job at a good price.

 

[deleted79651]

I have to say that Bertie appears to be being beaten up and given a hard time for no good reason. Last week my mechanic here in France changed a cam belt etc on a FIAT 130bhp (I presume it is the same engine, just a little older?). I have just bumped into him and he said that it took him 3.5 hours. I forgot to ask him about the water pump.

As long as Bertie got a receipt he will be covered with a guarantee. Most garages use reasonable quality parts. Parts supplied by any main dealer should be ok but will not be higher quality that a good parts supplier like Quintin Hazel etc and in some cases (my Jaguar for instance) the after market parts are actually MUCh higher quality that the OM.

Well done to Bertie for getting a good job at a good price.

The statement about aftermarket parts being higher quality than the OEM version warrants some clarification. Dad worked for a Drop Forging Company in the Black Country that supplied components to vehicle producers. I remember him saying that brake pedals rejected by a certain Swedish vehicle producer were reworked and resold to an English vehicle producer, which perhaps explains why Britain lost its pre-eminence ... Tbf, this predates Quality Control processes and related practices!

Steve

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[DerryW]

As mentioned in my earlier post #25 I based my assumptions on what I paid (£885 + vat) for what appears to be the same work as the OP. See attached pdf of invoice.

I thought I paid a fair price for a good job. Fiat Professional quoted me over £1700

 

[Lagotto]

I've never been one to trust garages and do my own maintenance. I recently changed my Cambelt/water pump/aux belts (Aux belts as its stripped down and advised) on my 2016 Ducato 130, low mileage but hit the 5 year mark. Have done Cambelts before but not a Ducato so took some pointers from others including eurajohn. Apart from the obvious parts ( I went with Dayco) I also needed the recommended water/antifreeze replacement (more expense). It took a considerable time to remove all of the parts necessary to gain access to the timing cover, draining coolant etc. The job was lengthy, fiddly, though not that big a deal. I didn't time the job, however, I certainly took far longer than some of the figures quoted. Admittedly time was not a factor, I could spend as long as I needed and checked, double checked at every stage. The work was completed using jacks and stands, no hydraulic lift, but next time will be quicker. The best part is I know the quality of the parts, the quality of the work, the settings/torqued bolts etc. and when she burst into life at the end, a little satisfaction. Im not surprised at some of the large figures quoted for the job, its a lot of work.

 

[bertiebasset]

As mentioned in my earlier post #25 I based my assumptions on what I paid (£885 + vat) for what appears to be the same work as the OP. See attached pdf of invoice.

I thought I paid a fair price for a good job. Fiat Professional quoted me over £1700

I was giving this thread a miss but have just seen your invoice.
Did you honestly pay £242 for a water pump ??
If so please do not open this link https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/30381330...d=link&campid=5338547443&toolid=20001&mkevt=1

nor this one https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/30381330...d=link&campid=5338547443&toolid=20001&mkevt=1

 

[Paul and Val]

Off course the Ford engine fitted in Chausson, Challenger and some Benimar motorhomes, comes with 170bhp, far more torque even than the FIAT 180bhp version, and has a chain which never needs changing as well as having longer service intervals..........................................

 

[Rapides]

I've just had a major service on an A class at a Fiat professional garage for the sum of £524.00 inc VAT. Next year no scheduled service is required but the cam belt will need changing at a cost of approx £1100.00

Snap, just had a £500 service and been quoted £1100 for cambelt and water pump on a 2017 Ducato. This was at Motorsave in Manchester, Fiat Professional shop. Time to look for an independent, maybe.

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