Was driving through the lanes and suddenly heard a slight grinding noise coming from the engine. I stopped immedately to have a look and found that one of the three bolts behind the top left pulley on the cambelt had come out and was stuck behind the pulley as it was going round, hence the grinding noise.

After removing the bolt, i've noticed the pulley to have changed shape slightly and no longer spins round in the correct way leaving the cambelt open for either snapping or coming off.

I got a mate to trailer me home rather than risk driving. I phoned the garage who came out to have a look and they said it needs a new pulley and belt.

I asked about the having the timing done as the belt was being changed, but they said that didn't need touching? Surely when the cambelt is changed the timing needs doing as well, or will it be ok?

The car is an Impreza Turbo MY00 if that helps.

 

I thought the cambelt and timing belt were one in the same are you sure you didn't see the alternator belt as the cambelt is behind the big plastic cover on the front of the engine?

 

Sorry my mistake, the belt between the radiator and the block. So is it just simply the case of removing the belt and the pulley and replacing them with new items and job done?

 

Sounds like the ancilliary belt, not the cambelt. In which case, just replace and tension, then off you go!! No need to worry about the timing slipping (this is why it isn't a "toothed" belt).