Echo

Just saw this on a used Subaru specialist's website:

Subaru reliability is world renowned, with inbuilt experiences taken from that most gruelling test of cars: rallying. Subaru have held Autocar “Car of the Year” in 1998, 1999 and probably 2000. Do not be concerned by extra miles on my value for money estates, for example, most expensive repairs to engines are caused by timing belt breakage. It’s only a rubber belt after all, when the belt breaks, the valves don’t move, but the pistons keep going up and down. On most engines this is catastrophic, on a Subaru, if the timing belt breaks nothing touches.

Is that right?????

Mike

Graz

Hmmm,

This was the case on most Vauxhalls, not sure if it still is, and they used to have very long intervals (80-100k ?) between cam belt services.

As the scoob needs one every 45k (or 60k for newer ones) I would suggest that the valves do not clear the pistons.

TonyFlow

I reckon the site is talking about a N/A scoob - I had an Impreza GL, which wouldnt get destroyed if the belt snapped, I wouldn't advise letting one snap on a turbo though! (not unless you want to offload a fair bit of cashola!)

easyrider

Dont know about the Scoob being a non interferance engine,but the Supra twin turbo is safe if it all goes wrong.So anythings possible.

dij

Im quite sure the valves will bend.

GrantyBoy

That could be right. But if the belt is put on and is out by a tooth or two then the vales will touch, and if its an STI they will shatter as thery're made from some fancy ceramic material!!!

David_Wallis

sti valves are not made from ceramic.. they are just sodium filled.

Id bet the valves would bend.

David

Yuck Fou Motorsport

The cambelt went on my old Vectra GSi, bent most of the valves and knackered both heads, cost £1400 to get it up and running again...

That happened at bang on 80k, couldn't believe it as the car was booked in for a cambelt change the following week!

APIDavid

iTrader: (4)

Break a belt on a Subaru turbo, the valves bend - believe me!

STi valves have sodium filled stems to ease heat transfer problems. They aren't ceramic. They are of course very slightly lighter. But before you all rush off and buy 'lighter valves' just eat a pie or two less for lunch and you'll save money both ways, as you won't be buying the pies and you won't need the valves

David

APIDavid

iTrader: (4)

Surely for 1400 quid you could have bought a New Vectra?

David

stevebt

iTrader: (8)

i had a fan belt go on my cav turbo which then caused the timing belt to move and it bent 3 valves

CavT

The non-interference Vauxhall engines only applied to the 8v's of old in the Mk2 Cavalier/Astra etc.

Ken 275

[QUOTE=RecordProduction.com]Just saw this on a used Subaru specialist's website:

Subaru reliability is world renowned, with inbuilt experiences taken from that most gruelling test of cars: rallying. Subaru have held Autocar “Car of the Year” in 1998, 1999 and probably 2000. Do not be concerned by extra miles on my value for money estates, for example, most expensive repairs to engines are caused by timing belt breakage. It’s only a rubber belt after all, when the belt breaks, the valves don’t move, but the pistons keep going up and down. On most engines this is catastrophic, on a Subaru, if the timing belt breaks nothing touches.

Bollox!

Had to reply; my belt went on a bend and I ended up with £11.5K of damage to the car. Oh, and the engine was bad too.

K.

tailfin

why is it not just 45 or 60 thou miles simple?
whats all this month larck is the belt made out of biodigradable rubber?

morto15

My cambelt snapped in light frontal accident and had 4 valves that touched but i just had them replaced and re-ground in, so they do touch i can assure you

TonyBurns

iTrader: (3)

Have a guy at work whos belt broke after a minor frontal accident, needs 16 new valves@50 quid each, plus from a previous rebuild where the original people didnt do the job correctly (needs to have a sleeve fitted) but not cheap.
Basically, belt breaks and you have a big bill on your hands and when people say "it stopped when the accident happened so there wont be any damage" laugh at them.

Tony

mark28

vauxhalls dont just bend the valves they also fracture the valve guides

owners

garages

harvey

iTrader: (48)

I know of one Subaru that broke the cam belt and got away with it but I know of a dozen others where there were several bent valves.

mark28

in the past i have seen tech lads turn the key just to make sure its got all 16. C**TS

and very often you find out that the aa/rac have been out to it and they have turned it over to try and start it berfore realising the belt has gone

harvey

iTrader: (48)

Oh.......... and dont push it backwards in gear. The tension can come off the belt and jump a few teeth.