|
MODERN CARS SUCKjettadeluxe
@GUEST
|
May 11, 2007 12:03:49 GMT
|
So i've decided to pay someone to do it,so next tuesday i'm going to be 140 quid lighter . Heaven forbid you own an A8 then. The cambelt on my 4.2 Quattro is just shy of £2000 to change, if you go main dealer route... Lucky I know someone who's a mech neck at Audi, who did it on his drive for me. Still £600 on mates rates, the parts kit is £400 alone cost price, and the book time is something like 18 hours!
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
May 11, 2007 12:08:16 GMT
|
Yeah, old cars are never like that!
Oh hold on. Clutch change on a Citroen DS anyone?! I think three days is the recommended time...
|
|
1986 Citroen 2CV Dolly Other things. Check out my Blog for the latest! www.hubnut.org
|
|
|
|
May 11, 2007 13:22:50 GMT
|
Actually it's clutches that p155 me off the most! The mk2 Cavalier was deliberately designed so you could change the clutch in under two hours; If my '97 Mondeo needs a clutch next year, it'll probably be cheaper to just scrap the car and get another one!
|
|
My fleet: Suzuki GSX-R600Y SRAD with bald, melted tyres A borrowed Mondeo
|
|
|
|
May 11, 2007 13:33:42 GMT
|
I don't know if this is true or not but I did hear that the huge service intervals of up to 20,000 miles are a con by the car companies because of our fleet/rep car scene over here. The logic goes that a fleet manager will see a car with a 20,000 mile service interval as saving him money, so he'll buy it. Of course, he'll flog it on when it's 3 years old, by which time the engine will be knacked due to not enough oil changes...
Graham
|
|
|
|
|
|
May 11, 2007 14:30:44 GMT
|
Trouble is that as Retro-Riders we're sort of halfway between classic car buffs and reps with new cars every 2 years. We'll quite happily go out and buy a Montego Si which would have your flat-capped MG enthusiast choking on his smooth ale, what with EFi and electric mirrors and plastic bumpers that don't need t-cuting every sunday to stay shiny.
In twenty years time therefore, what will we drive? An incredibly old Montego, or a BMW Mini that is now a 'retro ride' but is packed full of electronics, sensors, emission control valves and gubbins like that....
|
|
Never trust a man Who names himself Trevor. Or one day you might find He's not a real drug dealer.
|
|
|
|
May 11, 2007 15:45:37 GMT
|
Trouble is that as Retro-Riders we're sort of halfway between classic car buffs and reps with new cars every 2 years. We'll quite happily go out and buy a Montego Si which would have your flat-capped MG enthusiast choking on his smooth ale, what with EFi and electric mirrors and plastic bumpers that don't need t-cuting every sunday to stay shiny. In twenty years time therefore, what will we drive? An incredibly old Montego, or a BMW Mini that is now a 'retro ride' but is packed full of electronics, sensors, emission control valves and gubbins like that.... I've thought about this before. I'd drive one of the MG Z range or some of the Vauxhall VXR range.
|
|
[/color][/b] [/CENTER]
|
|
|
|
May 11, 2007 15:57:48 GMT
|
I don't know if this is true or not but I did hear that the huge service intervals of up to 20,000 miles are a con by the car companies because of our fleet/rep car scene over here. I've heard that too, from several sources including a chap who worked on the design of the Freelander and X-Type. It's tricky - I know modern oils and manufacturing processes are far removed from the time when my mk1 Escort was manufactured; But I still don't like the thought of leaving the same oil in for 20k miles. Good old GM though - Vectra DTis are renowned for their huge thirst for 10W40, so Mrs JS's undergoes a "constant replenishment" process, negating the need for oil changes. I think. ;D
|
|
My fleet: Suzuki GSX-R600Y SRAD with bald, melted tyres A borrowed Mondeo
|
|
|
|
May 11, 2007 16:15:07 GMT
|
My 406 2.1 TD 406 Estate just went in as it shredded its injector pump belt. If anyone knows the 406 and the 2.1 lump, its a pain the ass. Engine is snug ieven in such a big car and the only way to change the belts is to unbolt and jack up half the engine out the top to get to the belts. On doing this they find that the tensioner for that belt is kanckered which in turn shredded the belt. Then they find that hte crankcase pulley is also shagged. In the end they change all the belts and the tensioner and crank pulley. Multi V belt kit = 96.70 crank Pulley = 128.00 Both only available from peugeot not surprisingly. Luckily the service manager likes my capri so saved the day by only charging me 1 hours labour instead of 7! Still, aint cheap and its still got to go back for the drop link, steering bushes and cv gaiter yet. damn French curse word......but my does that engine run smooth now
|
|
|
|
|
|
May 11, 2007 16:44:29 GMT
|
I reckon the extra-long service intervals are to make cars die. They are pretty much reliable, don't rot, how else can you do it? I reckon this explains cambelts also. Put something in an engine which can make it go bang!
I once drove a Pug 206 that was getting on for its first 22,000 mile service. Granted, it was a mercilessly thrashed courtesy car but it felt ready for the scrapheap!
|
|
1986 Citroen 2CV Dolly Other things. Check out my Blog for the latest! www.hubnut.org
|
|
|
|
May 11, 2007 16:48:28 GMT
|
I stand to be corrected but I don't think you actually need to use the tensioning tester. Basically it supports the belt at two points and applies a load to the middle to make sure that the tension is set within specified limits. Similar to the mechanical tensioners used on renault diesel engines. As far as I understand it you can just tension the belt as you would normally without a problem. I have never actually done a HDi belt myself (loads of XUD ones though) but I know a few people who have and I don't know of any failures as a result of tensioning it without the correct equipment. Most reckon they are a bit easier as the pumps don't need timing. The service interval for these belts is 96,000 so you can put it off for another 30,000-40,000 mile if you want
|
|
|
|
|
|
MODERN CARS SUCKrustingdeathtrap
@GUEST
|
May 11, 2007 17:35:42 GMT
|
You can buy a belt tensioning gauge for about 30 quid, doesnt need to be a digital one, or like phoenix says, just tension it with out one. As long as you don't go silly tight or stupid loose you wont have any problems. As for the vernier type cam pulleys, all modern diesels have these now, they're actuall a good thing, they mean you can set the timing to the exact degree getting cleanest emissions and best economy and power. No more 'half a tooth out' guesswork. To do the pug i think you lock the camshaft with a pin the same as the old xud engine, then slacken off the bolts on the vernier and fit and tension the belt. That way as the belt moves the cam stays in place. It actually make the hole process a lot easier and more acurate. Thats not a bad price you've been quoted. Was that at a garage or mobile mechanic?
|
|
|
|
|
MODERN CARS SUCKrustingdeathtrap
@GUEST
|
May 11, 2007 17:40:39 GMT
|
My 406 2.1 TD 406 Estate just went in as it shredded its injector pump belt. If anyone knows the 406 and the 2.1 lump, its a pain the ass. Engine is snug ieven in such a big car and the only way to change the belts is to unbolt and jack up half the engine out the top to get to the belts. On doing this they find that the tensioner for that belt is kanckered which in turn shredded the belt. Then they find that hte crankcase pulley is also shagged. In the end they change all the belts and the tensioner and crank pulley. Multi V belt kit = 96.70 crank Pulley = 128.00 Both only available from peugeot not surprisingly. Luckily the service manager likes my capri so saved the day by only charging me 1 hours labour instead of 7! Still, aint cheap and its still got to go back for the drop link, steering bushes and cv gaiter yet. damn French curse word......but my does that engine run smooth now That 2.1 lump is a horrible piece of an engine. I once had to rebuild a 3 year old citroen xm which had snapped its oil pump chain. I still get flashbacks to this day
|
|
|
|
|
|
May 11, 2007 19:06:27 GMT
|
I've replaced literally hundreds of cam belts in my 19 years in the motor trade, including several HDi engines and have never once used a tension tool/guage of any sort. I've never had one fail either. Hope that doesn't sound bigheaded, I'm just saying that you don't always need special equipment.
|
|
|
|
fpk
Part of things
Posts: 154
|
|
May 11, 2007 19:22:53 GMT
|
ok, modern cars scare me due to their complex nature but, change is constant and deffinate, so less moaning and lets solve the problems we come across.I think people get scared of new things (i do), going from an aircooled bug to a diesel was a whole new world of pain but I looked around absorbed infromation and got my head around them. if we learn to embrace new technologys and use them to OUR advantage we can still have tinkering fun and people will make parts for the diy mechanic we just need to give them a market to do it. So don't panic just have a spare car(or two) if one breaks to allow for problem solving and jobs a good'un! I seem to recall that in the early years of vw , valve guides wore out making cylinder heads scrap untill some clever spark decided to solve the problem, and look at the after market parts you can get now.
|
|
|
|
|
|
May 11, 2007 20:27:17 GMT
|
Exactly, phoenix... you didn't think the taxi mechanics bought a 1800 quid thingy to tell them the belt's tight? If it will turn 90 deg in the middle of its longest run, its right. The whole special tool thing is just the haynes comic leading you up the garden path as usual. The vernier bolts on the pump pulley are for setting the pump timing, but as long as its only a belt change, leave them alone!
|
|
To get a standard A40 this low, you'd have to dig a hole to put it in
|
|
|
MODERN CARS SUCKrustingdeathtrap
@GUEST
|
May 11, 2007 20:31:20 GMT
|
The vernier bolts on the pump pulley are for setting the pump timing, but as long as its only a belt change, leave them alone! No pump timing on an HDI, its common rail.
|
|
|
|
|
|
May 11, 2007 20:36:31 GMT
|
after 3 pages, I forgot what engine we were talking about lol. A belt's a belt though.
|
|
To get a standard A40 this low, you'd have to dig a hole to put it in
|
|
Dez
Club Retro Rides Member
And I won't sit down. And I won't shut up. And most of all I will not grow up.
Posts: 11,714
Club RR Member Number: 34
|
MODERN CARS SUCKDez
@dez
Club Retro Rides Member 34
|
May 11, 2007 21:01:18 GMT
|
yeah, bloody modern cars, with my merc i have to pass the emissions test along with the MOT test, it has to have seatbelts fitted to pass that too! and then theres the obsurd rule that you actually have to pay a tax to drive it on the road!! think ile sell it then I'm all pre-72 again
|
|
|
|
|
|
May 12, 2007 15:49:38 GMT
|
Well its booked in now and i don't really want to let the guy down now after he gave me a good price.Why are modern haynes manuals curse word.I know when they came out the original idea was to save you money by showing you how to do it yourself but now they just put you off doing it by baffling you with modern toss.I've got two manuals for my mini one is an old un froma car boot the other i got recently brand new and some of the jobs in the new one tell you to take it to a mechanic,the old one tells you how to do it .Oh well if i keep the car long enough for the next belt change i promise to do it myself and not wine about it,at least by then it wont be worth much ;D
|
|
|
|