Technical Punto Active Sport 1.2 8v Cam Belt Change - worth it?

[WillPS]

Passed my test last month and got my hands on a Punto! Loving it so far.

Had Halfords Autocentre do a full service on it since I'd purchased privately. A couple of things needed sorting (an indicator bulb showing clear, some gasket or other - nothing much). The big thing they wanted to do was a cam belt change, which they priced at just under £200. The price doesn't actually strike me as that bad, but the question is, is it actually necessary?

Halfords were keen to stress the "serious damage" it could do to the engine. Done a lot of reading through here and elsewhere - and it appears that the engine I have is "safe" in as much as if the cam belt goes, the damage will be limited to the cam belt needing to be changed; is that correct?

If that's the case, is it simply a case of changing it to prevent it from being a problem at an inconvenient time? How fragile are these things in reality? The car is 9 years old and has 74500 on the clock.

Thanks and I'd really appreciate any advice.

 

[Brendan W]

Welcome to Fiatland:wave:
The 8v motor is safe. If it lets go the problem is going to be the cost of recovery etc. That could easily eat £200. Depending on how handy you are with the spanners it could be done for a fifth of that sum. They are not fragile and at 74k should have been done already. I'd check your history and search here for how to do it yourself. That's what we're here for.

 

[fingers99]

:yeahthat:

The tensioner should be changed at the same time, and putting a new water pump in makes sense.

 

[WillPS]

Ah cool - I do have roadside recovery with my insurance; parents insisted I get the 'national recovery' package which includes recovery to and from anywhere in the UK. Would it be irresponsible of me to think 'ah well, that should be enough'?

I'm not sure about spanners and that. I do like a bit of DIY but I wouldn't say I'm the best; is it the sort of thing I could do from the car park outside my flat?

 

[Brendan W]

I wouldn't call it irresponsible to rely on breakdown cover, shortsighted would be closer to the word I would use. Breakdown sounds great, they sell you a fuzzy feeling but in reality it's a lot of hassle, inconvenience and hidden expense that isn't covered - fine print and so on. Investing in youself and your capabilities can dramatically reduce the chance of breakdown ever happening. Building up your skills is a process for the long term and over your driving career will reap big rewards in satisfaction and avoidance of breakdowns which lots of folk accept as inevitable - they aren't.
A timing belt change is not the ideal starting point to start learning but some here have done it with the guidance and assistance of the forum. I would invest in a Haynes manual, there is a link to one in the stickies at the top and start reading. Weekly checks are a good way to start familiarising yourself with the knobs and bobs and take it from there. At 9 years the belt and tensioner could well be tired, assuming they haven't already been replaced. Even if they are original it's unlikely they will suddenly stop without some warning noises. You can remove the top half of the cover for a quick look.
It could be done in a car park but you would need proper support - axle stands and ideally a knowledgeable mate ( not the talker type ) to come and lend a hand and tolerant neighbours.
Search around here for others experience and guides for the job - it's quite simple and almost impossible to screw up. Read a lot, prepare, measure twice to cut once as they say and get ready for the big grin after you do something even if it's the washer fluid or topping up the gearbox.

 

[s and b]

Ah cool - I do have roadside recovery with my insurance; parents insisted I get the 'national recovery' package which includes recovery to and from anywhere in the UK. Would it be irresponsible of me to think 'ah well, that should be enough'?

I'm not sure about spanners and that. I do like a bit of DIY but I wouldn't say I'm the best; is it the sort of thing I could do from the car park outside my flat?

no mate
not realistically
go to an independant garage
get belt, idler and water pump done its due on mileage now anyway
£25 belt kit,£25 pump then add local labour rate per hour
halfords are too dear in my opinion at this price

 

[Ziggy122]

im near 74k @ 11 years old
Still going strong

*waits for ziggy's - my belt snapped thread *

Ziggy

 

[oldhammer]

(is it simply a case of changing it to prevent it from being a problem at an inconvenient time?)

:yeahthat:

 

[a1ant]

Hi,

As the guys have already said, its a non interference engine so no damage will be done if the belt goes.

With things like this though, I usually look at whos going to be driving it and where and for what purpose.

For example, if your wife and kids are going to be using the car, I would say replace it regardless. You dont want them sitting at the side of a motorway or A road because you were trying to save a few quid.

If its just your run about to and from work/ local driving etc, then I personally would risk it until I feel like changing it.

If its your essential transport tool or you do lots of motorway trips etc, then again personally id change it.

As Ziggy says, sometimes they do last far past their stated service life, but equally, it can become a game of roulette!

Obviously best advice is change it as per recommended service schedule.

Alan

 

[WillPS]

Thanks very much for all the advice. Muchly appreciated.

In terms of doing it myself - I'm not sure I know of anybody with a drive nor do I have any mates who know anything about cars. There is a single parking bay in my car park which is much wider than all the others though; I could bagsy it and do the work there without annoying anybody I'm sure.

It is primarily going to be me driving solo, shuttling between Nottingham and Sheffield via Mansfield (normally avoiding the M1). What I might do is invest in one of these Haynes manuals, have a look and basically wait until it's either financially convenient to have it done -or- I go away on holiday at the end of August -or- I've had a good look over this manual and decide to have a go myself.

Really appreciate all the advice.

 

[Ziggy122]

Thanks very much for all the advice. Muchly appreciated.

In terms of doing it myself - I'm not sure I know of anybody with a drive nor do I have any mates who know anything about cars. There is a single parking bay in my car park which is much wider than all the others though; I could bagsy it and do the work there without annoying anybody I'm sure.

It is primarily going to be me driving solo, shuttling between Nottingham and Sheffield via Mansfield (normally avoiding the M1). What I might do is invest in one of these Haynes manuals, have a look and basically wait until it's either financially convenient to have it done -or- I go away on holiday at the end of August -or- I've had a good look over this manual and decide to have a go myself.

Really appreciate all the advice.

look out for me either
A Wizzing past you
B picking up my snapped cambelt from the side of the road :devil:

Ziggy

 

[flisko]

these belts are gud, i discovered i got a cut alternator belt at 22.2.2014 and who knows how longs its been like this and its still holding strong, driving every day

 

[Ziggy122]

unless you get problems - i wouldnt worry about replacing till you are needing to remove the belt for some reason

If the belt snaps, you'll loose charge and limp home or till battery is dead

Ziggy

 

[dave]

these belts are gud, i discovered i got a cut alternator belt at 22.2.2014 and who knows how longs its been like this and its still holding strong, driving every day

if that snaps they often get caught up in cam belt and take that out too.

 

[fingers99]

Anyone with a 16v -- this doesn't apply -- you have an interference engine!

 

[flisko]

if that snaps they often get caught up in cam belt and take that out too.

there is plastic protection around cam belt to prevent that

 

[Ziggy122]

When the belt lets go, it has alot of force and snap about it
That force can do damage to other components

 

[fingers99]

there is plastic protection around cam belt to prevent that

Not all the way round, though. Biggest danger is the alternator belt being dragged in -- that'll either cause the cam belt to snap or jump a few cogs.

 

[oldhammer]

there is plastic protection around cam belt to prevent that

Hi.
Its not just cam belts that let go.

Cam belts have vastly improved in quality/strength over the years...
But bearing's wear.. it in most cases is the tensioner that is the weakest link not the belt.

I have a collection of tensioners that have failed I've saved off customers cars over the years
I will take some pics ..one day and post them up on the forum.

 

[Brendan W]

Second that. Some cars now the weakest links are out on the five or six pulleys on the aux belt particularly automatic tensioners and alternator freewheels.