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Timing belt question

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  • 19-02-2013 3:03pm
    #1
    naughtysmurf
    Registered Users Posts: 3,242 ✭✭✭


    What's best practice here, low milage 30000km's but six year old, change belt or wait until it's due km's wise, just wondering?

    Some manufacturers / main dealers would say 50k or five years whichever comes first but wondering if that's just a ruse to get low milage cars in for work that's not actually needed


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    #2
    renofan
    Closed Accounts Posts: 866 ✭✭✭renofan


    naughtysmurf wrote: »
    What's best practice here, low milage 30000km's but six year old, change belt or wait until it's due km's wise, just wondering?

    Some manufacturers / main dealers would say 50k or five years whichever comes first but wondering if that's just a ruse to get low milage cars in for work that's not actually needed

    Whats the car?!!


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    #3
    naughtysmurf
    Registered Users Posts: 3,242 ✭✭✭naughtysmurf


    renofan wrote: »
    Whats the car?!!

    Well, it was in relation to the wifes car, 05 megane, it was a couple of years ago, didn't have 50k on the clock at the time but dealer said 50k or five years whichever came first, was in for another issue at the time but was due a service so got both done anyway

    Indy I know says 'waffle' go by km's not age, just wondering generally

    Why does car matter?


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    #4
    renofan
    Closed Accounts Posts: 866 ✭✭✭renofan


    naughtysmurf wrote: »
    Well, it was in relation to the wifes car, 05 megane, it was a couple of years ago, didn't have 50k on the clock at the time but dealer said 50k or five years whichever came first, was in for another issue at the time but was due a service so got both done anyway

    Indy I know says 'waffle' go by km's not age, just wondering generally

    Why does car matter?

    Because manufactures recommend intervals that usually differ from each other. My wife's Focus is recommended every 100k kms or 8 years. My Laguna is 70k miles or 5 years etc.

    I'd be inclined to disagree with your mechanic. An older car with low mileage indicates a lot of short journeys which is not the best for a timing belt so in that case I'd be changing it after a set number of years and not waiting for the mileage to clock up.


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    #5
    joujoujou
    Registered Users Posts: 13,510 ✭✭✭✭joujoujou
    Unregistered Users


    50 000 km or 5 years - that's because timing belt's compounds (especially rubber) gets older even if no miles have been driven. ;)

    OP - better safe than sorry, change it.


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    #6
    naughtysmurf
    Registered Users Posts: 3,242 ✭✭✭naughtysmurf


    joujoujou wrote: »
    better safe than sorry, change it.

    Did that at the time, always just wondered whether dealer was pulling a fast one or not


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    #7
    Jimdagym
    Registered Users Posts: 3,843 ✭✭✭Jimdagym


    I'd be looking for a new indy tbh.


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    #8
    JohnBoy26
    Registered Users Posts: 8,532 ✭✭✭JohnBoy26


    naughtysmurf wrote: »

    Well, it was in relation to the wifes car, 05 megane, it was a couple of years ago, didn't have 50k on the clock at the time but dealer said 50k or five years whichever came first, was in for another issue at the time but was due a service so got both done anyway

    Indy I know says 'waffle' go by km's not age, just wondering generally

    Why does car matter?
    Your indy is talking waffle himself.
    A belt should be changed according to manufactures specifications. The reason why knowing the type of car matters is because each manufacturer specifies different mileage/time to replace the belt.


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    #9
    biko
    Registered Users Posts: 81,223 ✭✭✭✭biko


    For instance Alfa Romeo changed their timing belt intervals from 72K to 36K (or 3 years, whichever's first) because belts were snapping and damaging the cars.
    I think Megane is 75K but you better check the owner's manual. It's the only way to be sure.

    Mileage and years both play a role.


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    #10
    Nissan doctor
    Closed Accounts Posts: 8,223 ✭✭✭Nissan doctor


    naughtysmurf wrote: »
    Well, it was in relation to the wifes car, 05 megane, it was a couple of years ago, didn't have 50k on the clock at the time but dealer said 50k or five years whichever came first, was in for another issue at the time but was due a service so got both done anyway

    Indy I know says 'waffle' go by km's not age, just wondering generally

    Why does car matter?


    Your Indy guy clearly has no knowledge or training on the subject.

    Timing belt rubber degrades over time, as with all rubber so this is why the age of the belt is every bit as important as how much mileage it has on it.

    Car is important as every manufacturer has different scheduals for belt changes due to engine design, belt construction etc.

    And knowing the type of car also allows specific advice to be give, such as on your megane the water pumps are extremely prone to leaking, and coolant getting the belt will reduce its life.


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    #11
    naughtysmurf
    Registered Users Posts: 3,242 ✭✭✭naughtysmurf


    That's all good info lads but when does "an indy I know" all of a sudden become "my indy" :)

    My indy doesn't do Saturdays unfortunately (must make enough during the week) so I was in with another to get a diagnosis on something else, which he seems to have diagnosed correctly, so just asked him the question while chatting because I wasn't 100% sure that the main dealer gave me the correct advice at the time but it seems he did, so that's fair enough


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