[DoBo]

Hi All

Only recently found the site and forums - great read

I have 2.0jtdm 170 Lusso 2010 plate, which I totally love.
Drive to London every Tuesday from Liverpool, then back again Thursday, bit of driving into London from West London and the odd trip over the weekend. All in all around 500 miles per week, using around 3/4 of a tank of fuel.

I was averaging around 45-46mpg easily before the timing belt was done by West4 Autos in Chiswick (recommended by BMW/Audi/Merc drivers from work). Car has done 74k (I bought with 62k)

Since the timing belt was done, the MPG as fallen through the floor getting around 32-35mpg if I am lucky and using almost a full tank a week.

Just wondering if anyone has any advice?
I have read loads on this forum about DPF issues, and wondering if it this? - didn't even know that the car had one fitted, and have never seen any regen warnings/signs etc...

Thanks in advance :thumbs:

 

[jacekowski]

Is the car down on power as well?
I've seen this on other cars where belt being fitted incorrectly caused high fuel consumption and also caused engine to not produce as much power as it was supposed to - but it was still not off by enough to cause any damage instantly.
I would start by checking if all the timing marks are aligning correctly.

 

[DoBo]

Thanks Jacekowski - is that something that you can check easily? I am not very mechanically minded!
Down on power slightly, but not that noticeable, as I tend do just do Motorway miles. I have noticed that Turbo use has been higher than usual when cruising though - which I had noticed before the fuel consumption....

 

[joeymannero]

advanced or retarded timing will change where the power band is and can affect economy..

I would check the timing marks,

i'm not sure on the alfa diesel lump but normally there is a degree of adjusment on both in and out camshaft sprocket wheels as well.

basically there is plenty to go wrong with a belt change if someone doesn't have the right tools.

the fact it was a BMW,MERC,AUDI place suggests to me they may not have had the correct camlock tools and TDC gauge and may have used a timing gun and some chalk marks old school style.

this is a guess unless you know exactly how many degrees before TDC the engine runs at idle

bottom line it feels different after the belt change,pop it back and ask them to check the timing again and ask if they have the specific camlocks and TDC gauge, the reply will give you a good idea of where you are with this!.

im gonna guess its off..but only by a bit.

 

[Bruce100]

Had same problem on my 156 twinny a few years back, all belts done all new pulleys pump variator done by trusted specialist, drove home and car was not as lively as before and using more fuel.
Took it back and watched them fit cam locks and check timing, it was spot on.
a few weeks later I replaced the maf and unbelievably the car was back to its old lairy self.
Garage didn't charge me luckily and I thought probrably best not to mention maf.

 

[Bruce100]

I spoke to my mechanic ref belt change on the Jtdm and he said its a very easy job compared to the twinspark.
I was quoted with pump £280, very reasonable.

 

[Cuore_Sportivo_155]

no camlocks or gauge required to change jtd belt.

 

[jacekowski]

You still have to make sure that everything is timed in correctly, it can be done with timing marks (but those are not guaranteed to be 100% correct and there are known cases of people getting it wrong) or better, with cam locks where you have to try really hard to get it wrong.

 

[joeymannero]

no camlocks or gauge required to change jtd belt.

really..?

don't doubt you, its just news to me and good news, have just bought a 1.9 jtdm GT so thats another thing that will be easier to do! and no purchase of tools required.

OP i'm going to agree with earlier poster and say Maf..I would check all sensor connections are ok as just the that can be enough sometimes., and a good place to start.

 

[DoBo]

Thanks All.

I didn't know what a MAF was, so googles it and was reverted to a thread on this site on cleaning it, so will give that a go as I reckon I can do that. Belt looks to be sitting correctly so hopefully cleaning the MAF will resolve it - if not, then it will go back t the garage this week.

 

[Cuore_Sportivo_155]

how did you check the timing belt?