General Chat

If was me I'd have cambelt changed every 40,000 miles max and the tensioners. I've a Yaris, no cambelt but a chain so wait for it to start rattling which indicates needs sorting out. All cars used to have chains much more reliable. Corsa's and one of the Fiats have chains as well. If a cambelt breaks it can result in need for a new engine! My SiL got away cheap when it happened to him, only cost £800 for engine rebuild by firm he works for

For many years, prior to MOT, I used to take my car into a garage to get it ready and each time it used to cost me between 100.00 and 150.00 - but the car always passed. Then one year I topped up all the necessary fluids and replaced the wipers which I knew were going. I took it for MOT thinking that I would pay for anything that needed doing to get it through.....lo and behold it passed. The next year I did the same - in for MOT and waited to see what need doing - nothing......passed. The next year some tyres were replaced prior to MOT....and again a pass

I certainly don't advocate driving an unroadworthy car and have always made sure that lights, tyres, etc etc are in good working order but sometimes I do think we are being ripped off

OH Drives an Audi and had the cam belt done last year (before MOT) he drives a lot - I just asked him how often the cam belt gets changed - he didnt even look up - just said every 80,000 miles.

i can say that diesel cambelts need to be done every 75 000 miles and petrol ones need to be done around the 45 000 mile mark

or at least that is what i was told ...........

Garages/showrooms etc seem to think the only thing ladies are interested in is the colour of the car.

Some years ago we had a Volvo it was a special model - all the goodies - bought and serviced by them. Mirror broke in one of the electric mirrors - OH said when you take it to be fixed have a look at what they have between 6-12 mths old.

I found two - asked for details - then asked for rough figure for ours. Sales director sent out message without a full check no can do - I pointed that they knew more about the car than I did - argued - got no where. Three days later was convinced I was dealing with a male chavinist and coaxed OH to go to showroom. OH had test drive in a car - asked for a price on ours - certainly sir - I asked for Sales Director - not in. Unfortunately for me who would have liked another Volvo - on the way to Volvo garage OH turned into BMW showroom and liked what he drove. Sales Director of Volvo rang me following day and when I told him politely he could ring the BMW showroom and check OH had ordered new BM and that his attitude had cost him a nice sale and warned him that ladies were not stupid - did he grovel. Would OH change his mind - we could have a good deal!!!!!!!!! Often wondered if he changed his attitude - I did like those heated seats!

In my opinion the biggest ripoffs in cost of servicing etc are the franchises. Find yourself a local garage - you can depend on them and if you have an emergency they do all they can to help.

what has a Cam belt to do with an MOT?

MOT is all about car roadworthy-ness , nowt to do with the engine ( except emmissions)

It was in theory my Sierra, an old one but o.h. drove it so I could use the Fiesta. He had not checked it for ages, as he doesn't check either car now, hardly cleans them except for an occasional trip to the car wash. He works so many long hours from choice and not need of money, altho he thinks he has a need, that he doesn't find time to keep up with house, garden and cars. He expects me to clean them and that is something I can't do with my fm. I did splash out and get a home valet service the year before last, the day before we went on holiday in the Fiesta. It cost £35 and it was lovely to be in a nearly as new car for the trip. Can't afford it now tho :>((
I must remind him to check the belt on the Sierra we have now, my old neighbour happened to be getting rid of his old motor so we bought that cheaply when the other one died. Thinking about it I have a feeling we did have a replacement belt last service - car is only used locally.
Lizx

A cam belt life is around 30,000 miles. If your car has done that then it is strongly advisable to change it. As suggested previously do not get your MOT done at one of these places that also sell tyres, exhausts etc as they will try to sell you something you don't need and they use the blackmail line that it wouldn't pass the MOT. One such place tried to sell me a new exhaust about 2 years ago saying it would soon fail ........ 2 years later it's still fine !

Minnie has hit the nail right on the head..

Unless the garage does(or has been asked to do) the servicing on that particular car,there is no need to even go near the cam belt for a run-of- the-mill M.O.T.
Having said that its likely that the mech. has looked at the mileage, and passed comment that it MIGHT be due for a cambelt without knowing that it HAD been done the year previously......
Bob

I think Cariad did say that it was being serviced too.
Replacement times/mileages for cambelts vary greatly from car to car and in fairness to the garage it may be that because of the mileage they thought it was time for replacement - could be a genuine oversight on their part.
It is possible to check wear on the belt on certain cars.
The wear on a belt can depend very much on how the car is driven too.