That's my cambelt gone....

[Ecurie Ecosse]

Morning guys

I was just sitting at a junction at the end of my road and the car just cut out. The AA have been and it turns out the cambelt has gone.

It is a 2003 car with 51k miles and a full Alfa history. I was about to get the cambelt changed in 2 weeks time at the next service

Do you think I will be successful in claiming from Alfa UK? Is the V6 interval in the UK still 6 years and 72k miles?

[V6Alfisti]

This has happened to another GTA recently and I thought it was 72k miles and 5 years.

If within this time/mileage span, then Alfa covered 90% of the cost, leaving a bill to pay of £300.

[Ecurie Ecosse]

Well, fingers crossed - it is an April 2003 car.

[73GTVJim]

Fingers crossed for you EE.

[the slipperman]

Bad luck. Hope it goes well.

[Ecurie Ecosse]

Thanks for the support guys. I will keep you posted.

[Mr_Caine]

Heavy, the interval is 5 years or 72k miles. You might be lucky and get a contribution especially since you got a full Alfa history. It is generally recommended to replace at 4 years / 60k miles.

[Pascs]

The GTA does appear to be a bit more demanding on the timing belt than the standard V6's.

Best of luck with your claim

[mudhut]

Really sorry to hear this

Hope that's a lesson learned for the rest of us.

[PaulR]

Good luck with the claim - don't take no for an answer.

Paul.

[Ecurie Ecosse]

Well - that's it on the back of the tow truck now, will find out the impending doom next week.

Now - to put on a brave face!

[Dougie166]

God Luck - Should be Ok for a 90% claim as within the 5 years and a full Alfa history - A bit of hassle but will actually work out cheaper for yourself with lots of new bits fitted

Do a search on threads to see your best course of action.

[Caldo Bollente]

Not good, hopefully the fact that it was just idling kept any damage to a minimum.

Decision made for me, thought about next service but at 4 1/2 years going to order the bits in next week and get her booked in.

Good luck.

[OperationAlfa]

Originally Posted by Ecurie Ecosse

Well - that's it on the back of the tow truck now, will find out the impending doom next week.

Now - to put on a brave face!

All the best with that buddy. Sorry to hear though.

[bazza]

When I bought my GTA at 4 years old and 47k miles, I said that for piece of mind I wanted to have the cambelt done as a condition of sale.

The reply of the staff at Mangoletsi was that there was no point in this. They assured me that, were the cambelt to go before 72k/6 years they would ensure that ALL costs were covered by Alfa UK as long as the service schedule had been followed.

If Mangoletsi can make this promise, then any dealer should be able to (although I know some dealers seem to do better than others). See how it goes to start with, but in your position I would not accept anything other than them paying in full - if they try to suggest such a thing.

Incidentally I did get them to change the belts anyway, but that's irrelevant to your situation.

[Green Serpent]

sorry to hear this mate. seem's to be a spate of these now that GTA's are reaching this age.

mileage also seems to be a factor - around 50k mile mark.

[chrisd_b]

On my twinny I did get a letter from the dealer advising 36K belt change....

I am sure it was a directive from ARUK to inform everyone of this information....

But it doesn't help if you bought the car from a third party though



Chris

[Geordie Cabbie]

Originally Posted by chrisd_b

On my twinny I did get a letter from the dealer advising 36K belt change....

Chris

V6 was always staying @ 5yrs or 72k miles,whichever sooner

D

[Squadrone Rosso]

Ouch. Sorry to hear. Hope you get it sorted soon

[stuartalfa]

EE very sad news mate, it's always heart breaking when this happens, good luck with Alfa.
Stu

[Ecurie Ecosse]

Many thanks guys, will find out on Tuesday and will update you when I hear news.

Rather than feeling angry just now at the breakdown, I'm feeling a bit sad that my companion has been unceremoniously taken away on a truck.

[Fraser]

Shoite - bad luck EE. I hope ARUK come up with the goods.

[TeamAlfa]

Yes stand your ground you have a solid case and it sounds like you will come out okay and with a great engine to enjoy.

[ohwell]

Sorry to hear that fella. Thankfully you weren't pegging it along a motorway at the time.
Its nothing other than russian roulette with cambelts. It surprises me that Alfa stand by their 5yrs/72k. Must be good reason. Is it that in other countries, the larger market in fact, that cambelts dont snap early. Is it down to the varying temperatures we get in this country that cause the belts to perish? There must be something behind this.
I'm going to get my belts done at my service next month. 4 yrs and 36k but I just dont want to risk it.

[swanny]

Bad luck EE, hope all goes well with Alfa UK.