Cam/Timing Belt - Confused?!
 

Hi,

I have just had my car serviced 60k and the mechanic advised me to make sure that the timing belt was changed on its last service. Having only owned the car for a few months I referred back to the history and now I'm really confused.

The car has a full Subaru history up to the 50k service. The invoice for the 50k service has a line item for *MRP* BELT-TIMING Ej205/EJ207 for £74.19 exc VAT.

On the 50k SUBARU CAR SERVICE SCHEDULE sheet it has a tick next to Inspect for Drive Belts (except camshaft) and a tick next to Replace for Camshaft Drive Belt.

I phoned up the Subaru Garage and spoke to the service dept. I gave them my Reg and the looked up on the system its history. The chap confirmed it had been serviced by them and he checked the 50k and 40k service notes. He informed me that the timing belt hadn't been changed on either of these services.

I'm not mechanical minded so I'm totally confused on if anything needs to be done. I take it I'm correct in saying the timing belt is the same thing as the cambelt? Any advice on the above as I'm now worried in case the belt snaps??

Cheers Glyn

Hmmm possibly snidey attempt by the garage to get you to get a timing belt changed by them for no reason methinks.

What are the Drive Belts and when do they need changing?

Drive belts are the power steering, alternator, air con etc. They don't usually need changing unless there is a problem or they are perished.:thumb:

Thanks for that !!! ;-)

Its strange how the Subaru garage have ticked replaced Camshaft Drive Belt on the 50k service and charged for it but when I phoned them today they said no the timing belt hasn't been changed in either the 40k or 50k!

Hopefully the guy on the phone made a mistake otherwise its a bit naughty for a main Subaru dealer making out it hasn't been done!

What was the total price of the 50k service. If the cambelt wasn't changed it will be about£120 to £150, if the belt was changed then the cost will be nearer £350 as there is a fair bit of labour involved. Have a look at the back of the radiator to see if there's any damaged fins as its hard to do this job without flattening a few due to working in a small space.

If you have an invoice saying you've bought a timing belt and they say they haven't fit it, then I'd be asking to speak to the manager and asking him where its at????

The 50k service was done by the previous owner, its last service before I bought it. The total for the 50k service was £438.07 of which £240 was labour!

Doesn't matter mate, if the registration of the car is on the invoice, you have an invoice basically saying that the car was fitted with a timing belt. Go in to the garage and ask the same question holding the invoice in your hand, see what answer you get then ;)

That price sounds right for a 50k service including a cambelt change. Stop worrying and go out and enjoy.

They hardly ever fail anyway.. only once in a blue moon do you hear someone on here talking about their belt failing and when you do its normally due to smashing up the front end of the car and breaking off a cam pulley :D

maybe because people have them changed :wonder: :Whatever_

Go look on a Vauxhall site and you'll know what cam belt fear really is :D