pick up my ne scooby on fri from london... the car has done 29000miles and the belt is 5 years old. although its not done the milage i am worried about the age of the belt/tensioners as i have to travel 200+ miles back to where i live. do u think the belt will be ok because of the milage.... paranoia is setting in.....

 

The belt should be ok i have just changed mine only done 30000 miles in 14 yrs and the belt and tensioners were like new.

 

you didn't change your cam belt for 14years?

 

at five years you should be having the belt changed, it shouldn't be too expensive due to the low mileage and possibly being able to renew just the belt and not the idler pulleys or tensioner, unfortunately you will not know until it is inspected, ps don't get ripped off as the cambelt on its own is around £50.00 and idler pulley kit is around £100 if needed

 

It states either miles or year, ie 60k OR 5 years, whichever is first, so you change it at that interval.
Rubber has a wonderful habbit of cracking when it becomes aged, this causes the belts to fail (or some damage you may not see on the underside of the belt), so as your engine is intrusive, its recommended you replace it.

Tony