Timing belt change on a low mileage car

honda boi

Picked up a 2006 Volvo S40 1.6 petrol with only 56k miles for €750.
There's no evidence of the timing belt being done so I'm guessing I should get it done since it's 14/15 years old. Looking online these engines don't seem to be known to snap but I'm guessing you just don't know. Anyone a rough idea on the cost on these engines? Waiting to hear from my own mechanic. Just want a ball park figure.
Want to change the oil and filters myself, but does a mechanic usually change the oil when a timing belt is done?

kil

It depends on your perspective - is the car a long term keeper or a bangrenomics car? If its a banger I would run the gauntlet and take a chance. To spend 400 on a car bought for 750 doesn't make much sense to me unless it's being kept long term.

greasepalm

Running on old rubber and as said if keeping car change all thats needed.

listermint

https://a.aliexpress.com/_m0qNEe5

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/383872276353

Plus belt and tensioner from supplier of your choosing.

honda boi

kil wrote: »

It depends on your perspective - is the car a long term keeper or a bangrenomics car? If its a banger I would run the gauntlet and take a chance. To spend 400 on a car bought for 750 doesn't make much sense to me unless it's being kept long term.

Ye it looks a very clean car so hopefully keep it for a good while. Should the tensioners and water pump be changed aswell? Would you have an idea what an indy garage would charge for this?

greasepalm wrote: »

Running on old rubber and as said if keeping car change all thats needed.

yep will do.

listermint wrote: »

https://a.aliexpress.com/_m0qNEe5

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/383872276353

Plus belt and tensioner from supplier of your choosing.

Done all kind of servicing on my cars and bikes for years but a motorbike accident means my body isn't as capable as it used to be at doing the work.
Ive always wanted to try a timing belt change tho. That ebay link to the haynes manual doesnt cover 1.6 petrol s40. I'd probably have to buy a focus 1.6 petrol haynes for the engine bits aswell.

greasepalm

Even on the focus we would change waterpump as if it leaked it would need to be stripped again and would be doing tensioners and guides and fresh coolant

listermint

greasepalm wrote: »

Even on the focus we would change waterpump as if it leaked it would need to be stripped again and would be doing tensioners and guides and fresh coolant

True. I'd be with you but at that mileage. The waterpump simply shouldn't need doing on that engine. Wait for the next belt.

honda boi

Only getting around to getting the timing belt done now.
Got a price from my mechanic and he's saying €350 for the belt ,tensioner and water pump with labour.
Does this sound about right the job?

CoBo55

honda boi wrote: »

Only getting around to getting the timing belt done now.
Got a price from my mechanic and he's saying €350 for the belt ,tensioner and water pump with labour.
Does this sound about right the job?

Not bad at all, but don't get carried away as you've spent €1100 on a 15 year old car, bar oil and filters I'd be keeping any further spending down to a minimum.

colm_mcm

honda boi wrote: »

Only getting around to getting the timing belt done now.
Got a price from my mechanic and he's saying €350 for the belt ,tensioner and water pump with labour.
Does this sound about right the job?

Sounds cheap to me.

deandean

A few years ago we got an 18 year old Megane petrol gratis from a family friend. It had only 32k miles!
I had the TB changed, and told the mechanic to put the old parts in the boot so I could have a look at them.
The original TB looked brand new! Not a crack or an ounce of wear on it.
It would probably have lasted years more.

wotzgoingon

colm_mcm wrote: »

Sounds cheap to me.

I got a 1.4 Focus a fair few years ago done for 280. Waterpump and belt no tensioner done though. He supplied the parts.

It's not that big of a job though as I used to think it was but it depends on the layout of the cars engine bay.

greasepalm

If the one item you dont change because you think its okay might be the downfall of the car.
Its a risk with a very long finger when oops happens.

honda boi

honda boi wrote: »

Only getting around to getting the timing belt done now.
Got a price from my mechanic and he's saying €350 for the belt ,tensioner and water pump with labour.
Does this sound about right the job?

Yes, very reasonable but not suspiciously cheap.
You must have insurance sorted on it so if you reckon you want to knock a few years out of it worth going imo as at 56k miles it's likely a fresh and solid car.

You have to maintain every car to an extent, even after investing a few quid in this it's still very cheap motoring.

deandean

deandean wrote: »

A few years ago we got an 18 year old Megane petrol gratis from a family friend. It had only 32k miles!
I had the TB changed, and told the mechanic to put the old parts in the boot so I could have a look at them.
The original TB looked brand new! Not a crack or an ounce of wear on it.
It would probably have lasted years more.

Visual inspection of timing belt is waste of time unless it's a fresh belt and you suspect oil contamination of similar. Fair enough a glance will highlight one that looks crap but plenty perfect looking ones snap

CoBo55

Augeo wrote: »

Visual inspection of timing belt is waste of time unless it's a fresh belt and you suspect oil contamination of similar. Fair enough a glance will highlight one that looks crap but plenty perfect looking ones snap

They sure do.

Beltby

Those zetec engines need a cam and crank locking kit to do a belt if I remember rightly. Not ideal for a first timer belt change.

greasepalm

Are they not different engines in the volvo and ford.

Ford yes locking tools needed and a hefty torque on crankshaft bolt or crap happens

colm_mcm

I always assumed it was the TI-VCT as on the Mondeo or more posh Focuss?

colm_mcm

colm_mcm wrote: »

I always assumed it was the TI-VCT as on the Mondeo or more posh Focuss?

Both that & the 1.6 duratec 100bhp was fitted to the s40.

yamaha4life

I bought a car for €450 euro had a partial service history, the last timing belt change was 72k it had 166k on it when i got it. The belt cover on it only have two clips holding it on so took a perk in by god it was definitely ten years old! Was in dire need of a change, I ordered the belt pump and tensioner for €50 i did it myself so labour was nothing. Im still using the car 6 months later and probably will be in 6 months time so nice to not have to worry about maintenance.

I have done belt and that on the motor in your volvo if its the same as focus 1.6 i got the cam and crank locking tool for a tenner on ebay. The parts would be very cheap on micks garage even cheaper on mister auto. Simple enough change aswell but make sure to torque to spec crank bolt, it has no keyway on crank so its just "floating" on shaft irreversible engine damage if not tightened properly.

Personally if it only has 52k miles on it there loads of driving left in it probably sweet as a nut on the road id replace it for piece of mind.

greasepalm

No one thinks of rubber fatigue failure on low mileage cars.

Mjolnir

deandean wrote: »

A few years ago we got an 18 year old Megane petrol gratis from a family friend. It had only 32k miles!
I had the TB changed, and told the mechanic to put the old parts in the boot so I could have a look at them.
The original TB looked brand new! Not a crack or an ounce of wear on it.
It would probably have lasted years more.

Would you use an 18 year old condom? Exact same principle rubber degrades.

honda boi

Update.
Dropped the car off Wednesday and picked it up Thursday. Cost €370 for the belt kit, water pump and a new fan belt.
Drove it home and noticed something was leaking as the ground was a rainbow colour. Checked level of all fluids when I noticed this and all levels were good.
Brought it back and they fixed it, said a bolt had came loose. So was leaking small amounts of oil.

Car seems all good now. Hopefully gives me years of driving( if insurance allows!) .
Was told it was the lowest mileage they've written on a car for a timing belt change 56k

greasepalm

But is the peace of mind knowing it has been replaced and not just another notch on the broken belt/scrapped engine lists.

wotzgoingon

What bolt came loose?

honda boi

Ye peace of mind is priceless. Every time I drove it before the timing belt was always niggling in the back of my head.
I'm not 100% sure what bolt.
He mentioned about a bolt was used before to stop the engine turning. So not 100% what was wrong but it fixed now, so that's all that matters to me.