Cambelt Tensioner
08 July 2003, 04:58 PM
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Picked the car up from the garage today and they have diagnosed the scary noise as the cambelt tensioner (at least it's not PS 
). In a way I am relieved that it's nothing too serious - I know the cambelt tensioner costs about £200+VAT as I had it replaced last year (March) as they noticed it was leaking (no noise) when they did the 45k service.
But that's what's bugging me - if I had a new one fitted last March by the very same garage (main dealer), then why has it gone again so soon? And more importantly should I have to pay for another one??
Jay
). In a way I am relieved that it's nothing too serious - I know the cambelt tensioner costs about £200+VAT as I had it replaced last year (March) as they noticed it was leaking (no noise) when they did the 45k service. But that's what's bugging me - if I had a new one fitted last March by the very same garage (main dealer), then why has it gone again so soon? And more importantly should I have to pay for another one??
Jay
08 July 2003, 08:23 PM
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Hmmmm...and I had just been saying to David, I had rarely heard of early tensioner failures...but have heard of a lot of new style failures.
Didnt think the early one was that expensive either, but again, Ive never had to replace one.
New types def are expensive though.
Didnt think the early one was that expensive either, but again, Ive never had to replace one.
New types def are expensive though.
08 July 2003, 10:56 PM
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ustolemyname??stevieturbo,
When I had it replaced last year I asked why it was so expensive and Moray (from bbs.22b.com) told me:
I guess the later design started on or b4 MY97, or did they fit the wrong one? Is that even possible!
Jay
When I had it replaced last year I asked why it was so expensive and Moray (from bbs.22b.com) told me:
There are two different tensioners. The earlier cars ran a simpler design which does indeed cost about 98quid from uk subaru dealers. The later design unit is generally closer to 200quid.
Jay
09 July 2003, 04:33 PM
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If the cambelt was only fitted < 1yr ago I'd be asking if the part has a limited warranty. Even if your whole car isn't covered, the replacement parts should be.
If I had mine fixed and it failed 6mths later, I wouldn't be expecting another huge bill.
Stefan
If I had mine fixed and it failed 6mths later, I wouldn't be expecting another huge bill.
Stefan
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09 July 2003, 06:07 PM
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you were indeed stevie 
I posted a thread begining of last week as I wanted to know which I should put on my new engine..
Stevie reckons older one, some recommend newer..
Ill go for whats cheap I think
David
I posted a thread begining of last week as I wanted to know which I should put on my new engine..
Stevie reckons older one, some recommend newer..
Ill go for whats cheap I think
David
09 July 2003, 06:11 PM
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Jamie,
we all know that it was cleaning it that made it go again
your not kidding anyone mate...lol
Name and Shame........ you know what to do.
Andy
although Im buggered because mines going in for a minor service next week.
we all know that it was cleaning it that made it go again
your not kidding anyone mate...lol
Name and Shame........ you know what to do.
Andy
although Im buggered because mines going in for a minor service next week.
09 July 2003, 07:41 PM
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I'm well confooosed now! 
So my car (UK MY97) would have originally had the early type tensioner (£100ish), the dealer noticed that it was leaking when the car was serviced and must have replaced it with the later type (as it was £200ish). This type is more expensive and more succeptable to failure, hence why it has probably failed just over a year later? Have I got that right?!
Can anyone confirm what MY they started using the later tensioner, and if it was >MY97 why the dealer would have decided to fit it to my car (apart from it being twice the price)?
Jay
So my car (UK MY97) would have originally had the early type tensioner (£100ish), the dealer noticed that it was leaking when the car was serviced and must have replaced it with the later type (as it was £200ish). This type is more expensive and more succeptable to failure, hence why it has probably failed just over a year later? Have I got that right?!
Can anyone confirm what MY they started using the later tensioner, and if it was >MY97 why the dealer would have decided to fit it to my car (apart from it being twice the price
)?Jay
09 July 2003, 10:15 PM
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Cheap or not David, I think I know what tensioner you will use.
More expensive and newer isnt always better.
I think my thoughts on the tensioners have been well proven this last couple of days.
More expensive and newer isnt always better.
I think my thoughts on the tensioners have been well proven this last couple of days.
09 July 2003, 11:52 PM
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AndyF, AFAIK it hasn't failed - more like it's 'on the way out'. I've been driving about with it like this for a couple of months 
as I initially thought it was piston slap
.
I've just listened to the files on John's thread and it sounds just like that, but not quite as pronounced. It's there from cold and gets louder as it warms up until a certain point, then it vanishes (say after 10 miles or so). Also it's only audible between 1-2k rpm IIRC.
No damage caused and car still runs fine, I just take it easy until the noise has gone.
I'm still as to why the dealer fitted a £194+vat tensioner to my MY97 last year without consulting me?? [img]images/smilies/mad.gif[/img]
Jamie
as I initially thought it was piston slap.
I've just listened to the files on John's thread and it sounds just like that, but not quite as pronounced. It's there from cold and gets louder as it warms up until a certain point, then it vanishes (say after 10 miles or so). Also it's only audible between 1-2k rpm IIRC.
No damage caused and car still runs fine, I just take it easy until the noise has gone.
I'm still
as to why the dealer fitted a £194+vat tensioner to my MY97 last year without consulting me?? [img]images/smilies/mad.gif[/img]Jamie
19 July 2003, 09:28 PM
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Any parts fitted by a dealer being of the genuine variety will be covered by a 12 month warranty...
if your dealer was at all worried that there was a problem on the first change they should have informed you!!!
I would ask them why they fitted a later model one... i know they pay for the parts, but was it the correct part!!!
if subaru have deleted or superseeded the old part, then fair enough but if they havent, you need to contact subaru direct and ask them.. they will be able to tell from vin no,s etc..
still beets me why with all this resourse available on this board,, we dont have a defi nitive model histor ang guide from vehicle 1 to date...
mind you if you want to know what back box to fit you can get pages of replys,,,,,,
ironicaly though
surely someone out there must do patern parts for the scoob...
although judging from the threads people wont fit em!!
just look at the threads took xx to xx dealer paid xx for xx
and then they moan about the price...
to quote an well used phrase if you have to ask the price ........you cant afford it.
to give you an example my wifes car needed a cambelt change
main dealer 117 inc parts an vat...
scooby 350 inc parts ex vat
whats the difference... just the name....
i could go on but!!!!
hope its ok now
mart
if your dealer was at all worried that there was a problem on the first change they should have informed you!!!
I would ask them why they fitted a later model one... i know they pay for the parts, but was it the correct part!!!
if subaru have deleted or superseeded the old part, then fair enough but if they havent, you need to contact subaru direct and ask them.. they will be able to tell from vin no,s etc..
still beets me why with all this resourse available on this board,, we dont have a defi nitive model histor ang guide from vehicle 1 to date...
mind you if you want to know what back box to fit you can get pages of replys,,,,,,
ironicaly though
surely someone out there must do patern parts for the scoob...
although judging from the threads people wont fit em!!
just look at the threads took xx to xx dealer paid xx for xx
and then they moan about the price...
to quote an well used phrase if you have to ask the price ........you cant afford it.
to give you an example my wifes car needed a cambelt change
main dealer 117 inc parts an vat...
scooby 350 inc parts ex vat
whats the difference... just the name....
i could go on but!!!!
hope its ok now
mart
20 July 2003, 06:25 PM
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As for a definative history guide. With almost any car, that would be a very very difficult task.
Subarus also have such a wide varied model range within the impreza name, that such a list would be huge.
You ever go to a main dealer ( subaru are actually very good in this respect. Other manufacturers are not ), and ask for parts, and give the chasis number, and still get the wrong parts??? If they cant get it right, it would be pretty much impossible to compile a database for anyone else.
Subarus also have such a wide varied model range within the impreza name, that such a list would be huge.
You ever go to a main dealer ( subaru are actually very good in this respect. Other manufacturers are not ), and ask for parts, and give the chasis number, and still get the wrong parts??? If they cant get it right, it would be pretty much impossible to compile a database for anyone else.
20 July 2003, 06:46 PM
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Car is being dropped off tomorrow to have this done, turns out that the later tensioner could have been originally fitted to a MY97. I'm still a bit miffed that it only lasted *just over* a year though. I think they must be designed to last 13 months!
I did wonder if it had been fitted correctly as I remember reading something about very specific fitting instructions for the tensioner which if not adhered to can cause the part to fail...
J
I did wonder if it had been fitted correctly as I remember reading something about very specific fitting instructions for the tensioner which if not adhered to can cause the part to fail...
J
21 July 2003, 10:14 PM
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Whit all that problem I read about new defect cambelt tentioner, I think I reuse mine when I replace the cambelt on my MY99, it has been working for 60K miles now, and Subaru do not request it to be changed during a cambelt replacement, so I try to se if it can go 60K Miles more. I assume fist sign of defect will be noice.
Why do some Subaru dealers replace tentioner and pulley when they replace the belt, other dealers just replace the belt and nothing else. Is there any recommendations from Subaru ? Is it just some dealers that want to earn more money.
Has anyone reused their phase 2 tentioner without problems.
Why do some Subaru dealers replace tentioner and pulley when they replace the belt, other dealers just replace the belt and nothing else. Is there any recommendations from Subaru ? Is it just some dealers that want to earn more money.
Has anyone reused their phase 2 tentioner without problems.
22 July 2003, 07:52 PM
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The plot thickens...
Cambelt tensioner has been replaced - noise has gone - sorted.
But...
(To recap)... During the 45k mile service at a Subaru dealership (March 2002) it was noticed the Cambelt tensioner was leaking and required replacing. This was replaced with part number 13033AA002 at a cost of £194.38+VAT.
A noise later developed which was initially thought to be piston slap so the car was taken back to the same dealership in June 2003 and the noise was re-diagnosed as a faulty Cambelt tensioner (again). This has now been replaced with part number 13033AA040 at a cost of £96.79+VAT.
I queried the different part numbers and the dealer has said that these ARE the same part but Subaru have recently 'slashed their prices' and 'changed the part number'.
Has anyone got the part numbers for the early/later type tensioners, or have aceess to look up the above part numbers?
Cheers, Jay
Cambelt tensioner has been replaced - noise has gone - sorted
.But...
(To recap)... During the 45k mile service at a Subaru dealership (March 2002) it was noticed the Cambelt tensioner was leaking and required replacing. This was replaced with part number 13033AA002 at a cost of £194.38+VAT.
A noise later developed which was initially thought to be piston slap so the car was taken back to the same dealership in June 2003 and the noise was re-diagnosed as a faulty Cambelt tensioner (again). This has now been replaced with part number 13033AA040 at a cost of £96.79+VAT.
I queried the different part numbers and the dealer has said that these ARE the same part but Subaru have recently 'slashed their prices' and 'changed the part number'.
Has anyone got the part numbers for the early/later type tensioners, or have aceess to look up the above part numbers?
Cheers, Jay
07 September 2003, 04:29 PM
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Just had a new tensioner myself on my MY95WRX and it cost £107.20 (+vat). Had the cambelt and 4 pulleys done as well and all in cost me £850 including labour.
Don't think I'd be too happy about it only lasting a year though. Doesn't that mean you'll need a new cambelt as well?
Jo MY95WRX
[Edited by Jo Peters - 7/9/2003 4:33:02 PM]
Don't think I'd be too happy about it only lasting a year though. Doesn't that mean you'll need a new cambelt as well?
Jo MY95WRX
[Edited by Jo Peters - 7/9/2003 4:33:02 PM]
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