Timing Belt How much??

trishamcm

Hi

My MG Zr is going into the garage to have the head gasket fixed. The fella in the garage seems like a top guy he quoted me €350 for the lot. He rang me to confirm my appointment to bring the car in but told me that while they have the engine out sorting it they will have to change the timing belt.

So my question is will they have to and can anyone tell me how much it will cost? The way I figure it is he has the work mostly done while doing the head gasket.

shooter88

trishamcm wrote: »

Hi

My MG Zr is going into the garage to have the head gasket fixed. The fella in the garage seems like a top guy he quoted me €350 for the lot. He rang me to confirm my appointment to bring the car in but told me that while they have the engine out sorting it they will have to change the timing belt.

So my question is will they have to and can anyone tell me how much it will cost? The way I figure it is he has the work mostly done while doing the head gasket.

It's worth while getting it done now seen as it will have to be taken off anyway a belt shouldn't be much more than 50-90e

Stheno

Does it need to have the water pump replaced at the same time as the belt?

Stheno

Stheno wrote: »

Does it need to have the water pump replaced at the same time as the belt?

Yep, leaks through water pumps are a common root cause of HG failure on K4 engined cars

In someone's wisdom some versions of the pump cater for the lost coolant to be channeled off and evaporated rather than dripping to prevent alarming owners :rolleyes:

OP, is the chap doing the work certain he has diagnosed the root cause correctly? Many K4s fail again soon after they were "fixed" due to root cause not being sorted

trishamcm

Thanks Guys

I will ask him about the things ypu have said....I know nothing about cars its good to have someone that does.

L-M

Remember he shouldn't be charging any extra money for doing the belt as it would have to come off and go back on anyway.

Just the price of the belt really.

trishamcm

The belt was only dont last june will it be needed again so soon.

Stheno

trishamcm wrote: »

The belt was only dont last june will it be needed again so soon.

Not usually to be honest, did he say he'd change it as he'll be taking the engine apart anyway, or as it needs to be done?

L-M

trishamcm wrote: »

The belt was only dont last june will it be needed again so soon.

As I learnt not so long ago its best practice that if a head comes off for the belt to be replaced.

Madness not to, could be coolant contaminated etc

Nissan doctor

A couple of things I notice, 1 there is no reason for him to have the engine out to change the head gasket and 2 there is no way on earth that you will be getting a proper permanent repair of your head gasket for €350. The proper list of required parts plus pressure test/skim etc would come to near that never mind labour for stripping, cleaning, prepping, flushing oil and coolant systems etc.

With regards to the timing belt, yes, it should be changed as timing belts, no matter how new, should not be reused. There should be no extra labour for fitting a new belt though as it has to be removed anyway.

Stheno

Limerick man wrote: »

As I learnt not so long ago its best practice that if a head comes off for the belt to be replaced.

Apologies I didn't realise this, and didn't have it done when the HG on my Punto failed a few years ago

Nissan doctor wrote: »

A couple of things I notice, 1 there is no reason for him to have the engine out to change the head gasket and 2 there is no way on earth that you will be getting a proper permanent repair of your head gasket for €350. The proper list of required parts plus pressure test/skim etc would come to near that never mind labour for stripping, cleaning, prepping etc.

With regards to the timing belt, yes, it should be changed as timing belts, no matter how new, should not be reused. There should be no extra labour for fitting a new belt though as it has to be removed anyway.

Is that due to the make of car? I got the HG on my Punto done for €400 five years ago and it lasted a good few years until I sent it to car heaven when I upgraded as I wasn't bothered selling.

It does seem too cheap, unless the gasket has broken down and its been caught early with no emulsification or overheating. Many won't skim a k4 unless its needed.

Stheno

RoverJames wrote: »

It does seem too cheap, unless the gasket has broken down and its been caught early with no emulsification or overheating. Many won't skim a k4 unless its needed.

I think that was the case with my Punto, it overheated, but was fine driving home on the motorway and straight into the garage, and was fairly straightforward.

Thanks for the post

JohnBoy26

Stheno wrote: »

Apologies I didn't realise this, and didn't have it done when the HG on my Punto failed a few years ago



Is that due to the make of car? I got the HG on my Punto done for €400 five years ago and it lasted a good few years until I sent it to car heaven when I upgraded as I wasn't bothered selling.

Them rovers need an uprated mls head gasket and an improved lower oil rail to insure that the dreaded hg failure doesnt reoccur in the not too distant future.

Nissan doctor

Stheno wrote: »

Apologies I didn't realise this, and didn't have it done when the HG on my Punto failed a few years ago



Is that due to the make of car? I got the HG on my Punto done for €400 five years ago and it lasted a good few years until I sent it to car heaven when I upgraded as I wasn't bothered selling.

You could manage a Punto for that price alright as the parts are very cheap for them and the engine is as simple as they come, so labour is low

But if a professional garage is doing a repair on the Rover in question, its never just a case of remove the head, fit a new gasket and bold the head back down again.

The parts required would be, full head set(complete gasket set), new head bolts, timing belt kit and water pump. A replacement thermostat is also good practice on any car which has had cooling problems and an oil and filter change is required too.
When the head is off the 'ladder' on the K series needs to be checked for any warping, the block checked for warping and, as they use an open deck block, the cylinders measured for 'walk', the head has to measured for warping and skimmed if needed with pressure testing being good practice.

So the above is why, in my opinion, a full and professional repair on a K series engine could not be done for €350 unless the mechanic is working for free.

Esel

trishamcm wrote: »

The fella in the garage seems like a top guy he quoted me €350 for the lot.

JohnBoy26 wrote: »

Them rovers need an uprated mls head gasket and an improved lower oil rail to insure that the dreaded hg failure doesnt reoccur in the not too distant future.

Nissan doctor wrote: »

The parts required would be, full head set(complete gasket set), new head bolts, timing belt kit and water pump

Yeah, the new bolts are essential, as are the MLS gasket and improved oil rail. €350 sounds waaaay too low a quote, even if he was excluding the timing belt kit and water pump.

MLS gasket isn't essential to be fair, many prefer to use it no doubt.

JohnBoy26

RoverJames wrote: »

MLS gasket isn't essential to be fair, many prefer to use it no doubt.

It is essential, if you want a long lasting job :-)

Many of the factory fit standard yokes never failed so I'd disagree that the MLS is essential for a lasting job, for everyone who swears by the MLS you'll find someone who doesn't

Rover forums are full of such debates.

Nissan doctor

MLS's are a good idea when dealing with the general public as they give extra protection to the 'never open the bonnet and check the coolant types'.

The standard gaskets can be fine for enthusiasts who are aware of the potential issues with the K series and keep a close eye on the cooling system.

Feebs10

Hi. Do any of you know what it would cost to fix the wheel barings on a golf?