Hi.

My type r had an engine rebuild by a well know specialist about 3000 miles ago. Whislt driving along to the next village the steering went v.heavy. After a look under the bonnet the altenator belt looked like a cheese string. Rectified now but when fitting it i noticed that the cam belt is missing parts of the grooves randomly along the belt. The belts, belive it or not, are made by mitsubishi and i presume were new when the engine was assembled.

I'm worried the cam belt will commit suicide and take my engine with it. Is it normal for these belts to perish so easily and whats the alternative?

After a LONG drive (all day friday and sat), before i got home the change from 4th to 5th became a bit of a nightmare. Gearstick needed a bit of coaxing to move over to fith before slotting in. Was no prob actually getting in gear (i.e. moving the stick forwards) but just the latteral movement. Took the car out this morning and felt fine. Could this be to the g.box oil being too hot and thinning?

Any advice much appreciated.

 

Doug, you sure it's the cambelt you're looking at? I changed mine last year and from memory I don't think you can actually see the cambelt without removing the covers - which are pretty fiddly.

p.s. there are two belts on the front for driving alternator, power steering, water pump and air con.

 

LOL. Yes, covers are not fitted.

 

Kevin,

Did you do the change yourself? Did you need a cam lock tool?

 

Personally I'd not use the car if there were teeth missing from the cambelt - shouldn't think the belt will jump with a few missing teeth but I'd be more concerned about the general condition of the belt. I fitted a Gates belt from GGR, not too bad a job but took an afternoon - most of which was with the bloody silly cover bolts
I did stick a thread on here with some help if you fancy having a go yourself.

Just saw your reply - I didn't use any special tools, had to make a locking bar to loosen the crankshaft bolt. Managed without a cam locking tool, one of the cam pulleys wanted to keep jumping because the cam was at the top of it's lobe but I managed ok.

 

Will do. Prefer to do the hands on work myself. Pays off in the long run if you dont screw it up!

Thanks.

 

I know it is fasionable to run without the cambelt covers in some cars eg Cosworths, but personally the thought of something finding its way between the belt and pulley is to horrific to contemplate!
If you are missing teeth from the belt something pretty nasty has happened. Change it QUICK. The sound of pistons hitting valves is something you don't want to experience.
JohnD

 

Must have been having a blonde moment today. Belt in question is for the AC. Left handside of the altenator? LOL.