[weezernz]

Hi all,

My first proper post here, and a newbie question regarding the cambelt on my '98 156 V6. I have just bought it, and been told a number of different things about whether or not the cambelt needs doing.

The car had the full cambelt job done at 110,000km's (A bit late from what I understand?), and has now done 160,000km's. I've been told by a local mechanic that it is due now, and that he could do it for me for NZ$3000 (Very expensive, I've found cheaper options to use if I were to get it done). Another has said that it'll be fine for another 20,000km's. I've searched the interwebs and there doesn't seem to be much consensus on this.

Any thoughts?

I'm tempted to get it done for my own peace of mind as much as anything, but don't want to spend the money if it's not really needed. You can't be too safe I guess.

Thanks,
Daniel

 

[badgers_nadgers]

Haven't done the maths on where you're at, but official time is 72k miles or five years, whichever comes first. General advice is 4 years or 60/48k miles (there is debate on the mileage, 48k is too soon, but fits in nicely with the servicing for those that feel 60k is too long). The kicker is that a cambelt change only is not enough, so all idlers, pulleys and the tensioner need to be done with each change. If they've never been changed, you need to get it done ASAP, if they were, then the maths and how cautious you are comes into play.

 

[badgers_nadgers]

Just done some simple maths and you should be approaching your fourth cambelt by now on time, however, if the last one was done a couple of years ago and all the ancilliiaries were done, you'll be fine. See how complicated it gets?! It's all about the the last change on mileage and time, plus how thorough the job was multiplied by how much of a risk taker you are.

 

[weezernz]

Crikey, complicated indeed.

So I guess I need to check when it was last done (Something I'm not sure of off the top of my head). It's not due yet in terms of mileage (It's done 50,000km/31,000mi since the last change) but could well be in terms of time. And I'm pretty sure it was the full monty job with tensioners etc.

I'm pretty sure the mechanic that told me it needed doing for $3k was just looking for business.

Thanks for your help.