mixin247

To cut a long story short, Ive had my MY06 WRX for about 3 months now. Its got full service history. But because im not a very trusting person I decided to change the timing belt and pullys for piece of mind.

So yesterday was a nice day to tackle the job, but as I took off the timing belt covers I was shocked at what I was looking at. When the belt was change at its last service it was fitted by an IDIOT!

All the guides were not fitted correctly, but the one on the crank was tight down to the belt. Its been melting away at the belt, im so lucky I spotted it!

Its easy for you guys to check your by removing the coolant bottle and removing the right cover, its worth the 5 min job!

Here's what I found:

Martyn19

Lucky it never snapped!

mixin247

Tell me about it, so pleased i caught it in time!

Paulo P

iTrader: (42)

Bloody hell! So lucky you checked it! How many miles had it done like that?

jameswrx

iTrader: (4)

Has something hit and bent that guide over the crank?

mixin247

Nope its not bent, the paint has come off from the heat and the friction. It just wasn't set with the correct 1mm gap.

Its done about 2000 miles by looking at the service book!

mixin247

And here's my nice new gates belt fitted with new tentioner and pullys ect.

Also with the guides fitted correctly!

dazer_70

wooh you have been lucky...and to think a mechanic fiited that and stamped the service book....and thats why i do the work on my own car

chopperman

Damn that was lucky. Was it a subaru dealer who did the cam belt service?

Alan MaC

Had mine changed Friday by Foresters Subaru in Bilston West Midlands.


Is a good investment, changing it & a good job you checked it out.

Serious stuff when it goes!!!

regards





AM

poolio74

You wanna dig through your history and find a telephone number of the place that changed the belt and phone them.someone deserves a right bollocking for that!

lisa_z

iTrader: (1)

looks bit scary that so glad you spotted it well done .

My Baby is going in to BlueBridge Subaru for Rich to do hers on Thursday this week its just not worth cutting corners with something as important as cam belt changes. cant wait for her to get sorted ready for the good weather and fab back roads

ScoobySteve69

iTrader: (13)

Well spotted and catastrophe avoided

scoobychris300

thats why i do everything myself
chris

comrade mackie

Great job. was it hard to get the belt on without cams moving? how did you lock it up?

regards,

Mackie

mixin247

The two on the right side are the only ones that jump. Top one must be turned clockwise only to get back in the right place and the bottom one anticlockwise. But if before you take the old belt off you can put mole grips clamping the two right cams together which will stop them moving.

Don't put too much force on the mole grips and damage anything.

It's actually a really easy DIY job if your handy with tools!

Mikej857

Now that was lucky and a rather large bill has been avoided

sharpy2010

iTrader: (1)

How much is the repair bill for an STi if the cam belt snaps then roughly? Or are there too many variables involved to say "Its going to cost £xxxx" for example?

Alan MaC

As I understand it, pretty much a new engine!


Regards





AM

ALi-B

iTrader: (1)

Cylinder head rebuild at the very least (new valves, seats and guides). Assuming a valve head hasn't snapped off and dropped completely whilst the engine was rotating (rare, but can happen)

Piston damage maybe superficial, but the indent can cause a hot spot making detonation more prone. Big ends take a bit of knock, but generally survive if the engine was previously in good shape (if worn, it may just finish them off).


As for the cambelt guides. Its a very easy mistake to make for the non-observant.....they move when tightening them up. Therefore they should ALWAYS be tightened with the appropriate sized feeler guage slightly larger than the target clearance (as the belt compresses) placed between the guides and the belt . Then rechecked upon completion. Clearance should be 1.0mm


Whilst talking about idiot cambelt fitters, its always wise to check the bearings in the idlers and tensioners rollers and 'shop manuals don't state how to check them (as they assume a mechanic knows what a dodgy ball-race bearing feels like), they should turn fluidly with little effort with no noise or play. If they spin freely with no resistance, the grease has dried out, same with noise and play (wear+dried up grease) or tight spots (dirt/rust). Water pump should also have the same scrutiny.

scooby1929

iTrader: (1)

I got a new timing belt fitted on my hawk and then a about a week later there was a large screaming noise. Got a different guy to look at it and it was rubbing badly on the anti jump guides and was a tooth out. I then had to replace the heap, idlers pulleys etc

his-n-her-scoobs

iTrader: (5)

I always run the centre timing cover removed so can keep an eye on the belt and tensioner (a common cause of big end failure type noises)