[Coldothegreat]

Hi There. Apologies for what seems to be the usual topic of cam belts but I have just bought my first Alfa. It is on an 02 plate with 61k on the clock. It has full Alfa service history but the guy I bought it off didn't know if the cam belt has been changed.
On start up there is no noise apparant which on reading other posts seems to be an indicator.
Please could someone advise if I should bite the bullet and get a new one anyway to be on the safe side.

Regards
Colin.

 

[Joss]

Yes a full kit is required. 02 is 9 years ago so it should have had 3 by now on time alone. As you don't know if it has been done one mileage either then you'd be very silly not to. £300-400 should cover a kit and change.

 

[Coldothegreat]

Thanks for that, is it better to take it to a main dealer or can a local garage do it?

 

[WILSON_JTS]

I paid £550 for all three belts & tensioners, water pump and variator, new coolant, oil&filter (10w/60) and air filter back in april from an indy on a 2005 JTS.

My JTS doesn't like any oil that is not 10w/60, the place where I brought it from did an oil change and used 5W/40, in 3,000miles in needed 3litres of oil, I changed it for 10W/60 and it now doesn't need much. But check check and double check the fluids level at least once a week and you should be fine

 

[Joss]

TBH neither. I would take it to a indy specialist rather than a dealer or a local garage. The local garage will use tipex so the timing will be wrong and the dealer will charge you the top end of my price estimate although they will use the corect timing tools. If you look in your regional section you should be able to find advice on a local indy near you.

 

[Joss]

I paid £550 for all three belts & tensioners, water pump and variator, new coolant, oil&filter (10w/60) and air filter back in april from an indy on a 2005 JTS.

He probably won't need the variator, wp yet as they are on cars around the 100k mile mark:thumbs:

 

[Coldothegreat]

Thanks guys, much appreciated.

 

[rgwm]

If you are anywhere around the Blackburn / Burnley area I can recommend an ex-alfa mechanic who now runs his own mobile mechanic business who could do your belt change - I've known him for years and he's worked on my cares when I haven't had time, and done work for neighbours of mine....

Marcus: 07931 954393 - tell him Richard gave you the number.

 

[Guest]

He probably won't need the variator, wp yet as they are on cars around the 100k mile mark:thumbs:

I have to disagree. Get the cam variator done when you get the belts done. most of the same stuff has to come off to do the variator so its false economy to leave it until it starts making a noise. Changing the variator with the belts saves a lot of labour later on:thumbs:

 

[Dickymint_156]

I have to disagree. Get the cam variator done when you get the belts done. most of the same stuff has to come off to do the variator so its false economy to leave it until it starts making a noise. Changing the variator with the belts saves a lot of labour later on:thumbs:

I think it depends tbh on cash flow and if you are a gambling man in 3 years It will need doing again and it will be getting close to 100,000 miles by then....

would I gamble? no, i'd get it done but I recon its a 50/50 thing

 

[Guest]

I think it depends tbh on cash flow and if you are a gambling man in 3 years It will need doing again and it will be getting close to 100,000 miles by then....

would I gamble? no, i'd get it done but I recon its a 50/50 thing

It does depend on cash flow. If money is no object, leave the variator. If you need to keep to a budget then get it done with the belts. I speak from experience:thumbs:

 

[Dickymint_156]

It does depend on cash flow. If money is no object, leave the variator. If you need to keep to a budget then get it done with the belts. I speak from experience:thumbs:

fair play then, experience is usualy the best answer in my book .....

now I belive I read on here somware that you can repair them yourself or did I dream it?

 

[Guest]

fair play then, experience is usualy the best answer in my book .....

now I belive I read on here somware that you can repair them yourself or did I dream it?

there is a variator repair kit about I think but I dont know much about it. I'm sure someone on here has used one. I have even heard people say a simple oil change has stopped a noisy variator!
Best thing though is as I said before. if the belts are being changed then do the variator at the same time:thumbs:

 

[Rockhopper]

A noisy variator is just that, noisy! It won't kill the car or harm performance and will go on like that for many thousands of miles. Its up to you to decide if you want to change it or put up with the noise till the next belt change is due.

 

[robobass]

Yes a full kit is required. 02 is 9 years ago so it should have had 3 by now on time alone. As you don't know if it has been done one mileage either then you'd be very silly not to. £300-400 should cover a kit and change.

Wow! I wish I lived up there! The local indy specialist here quoted €1000, the dealer only €600, and my local guy €450, not including tax!

 

[Joss]

I have to disagree. Get the cam variator done when you get the belts done. most of the same stuff has to come off to do the variator so its false economy to leave it until it starts making a noise. Changing the variator with the belts saves a lot of labour later on:thumbs:

While I see your point the variators are known for failing roughly around the 100,000 mile mark with waterpumps usually doing 130,000 miles. Obviuosly there are acceptions to this rule. They should of course be checked but as belt change on a TS/JTS so frequent I would imagine that at 61,000 there are a lot of miles left in them both. If it was a diesel (ESPECIALLY THE 16V) then yes I would agree that the WP should be done every time. As has been said in earlier posts the variator will just beco,e noisy and effect power. Plus you get a fair few miles with them just rattling on start up before they rattle fully. Still it's teh OP choice on this one

P.S if he was at 80,000+ I would have agreed that he should get it done.