Cam Belt 1.8i 16v

[rogermunns]

I'm wondering whether I ought to get the cambelt changed.

 

The car is a 1998 1.8i 16V with 114000miles on the clock.

 

I am the second owner. The first owner was fastidious about servicing and the cambelt was changed at 58000miles. I have maintained the car (no garage servicing) for 2.5 years and the car has never been revved hard or abused. It runs perfectly.

 

I live in France where car servicing is very expensive, so the quote for €540 to change the cambelt was not a surprise. This does include changing the water pump.

 

There are no faults with the car - no water leaks, no noises, nothing.

 

Over here the car is probably worth about €1500, (although we were only offered €500 against a new Citroen).

 

We intend to sell (and get another Xantia) in about 6 months.

 

What are the risks in not getting the cambelt changed? I guess we will add another 6000miles in that time (total then 120000miles).

[blueboy]

I'm wondering whether I ought to get the cambelt changed.

 

The car is a 1998 1.8i 16V with 114000miles on the clock.

 

I am the second owner. The first owner was fastidious about servicing and the cambelt was changed at 58000miles. I have maintained the car (no garage servicing) for 2.5 years and the car has never been revved hard or abused. It runs perfectly.

 

I live in France where car servicing is very expensive, so the quote for €540 to change the cambelt was not a surprise. This does include changing the water pump.

 

There are no faults with the car - no water leaks, no noises, nothing.

 

Over here the car is probably worth about €1500, (although we were only offered €500 against a new Citroen).

 

We intend to sell (and get another Xantia) in about 6 months.

 

What are the risks in not getting the cambelt changed? I guess we will add another 6000miles in that time (total then 120000miles).

 

 

The reccommended interval is every 80,000 under normal conditions and every 48,000 under'adverse' conditions. (Figures from Autodata manual dated 2004)

 

garage time for changing the belt is 2.7 hours without the water pump.

 

This engine is vunerable to piston/ valve damage if the timing belt fails. Whether or not you go ahead only you can decide.

I had a bx belt fail and it broke the camshaft. Total bill was £400 and a week off the road. Hope this helps.

 

Roger

[Ronin]

Look at it another way:

Haynes manual = 20 euro's

Extra tools and bits= 40 euro's

Cambelt = 80 euro's

Your time fitting it =3.5 hrs @ 0 euro's

Sense of achievement when it's done properly along with knowledge and confidence = Priceless

 

Or

 

Try DIY and find you can't do it, tow it to the the garage anyway = Nothing to loose trying and you have done most of the work for them.

 

Or

The alternative ££££'s when it breaks = car that was worth 1500 euro's is now worthless!

[rogermunns]

Thanks for the advice.

 

I've messed about with cars - everything imaginable - for 40 years.

 

No more. While garages here are expensive, they do proper jobs.

 

But after that - I'll leave it - it'll be well under the 80000 recommended since it was last done.

 

BTW -- Copperease stopped the infernal sqeaking on the front brakes (applied sparingly between caliper and pad backing plate).