I'm still getting familiar with the setup of my latest acquisition (the TS)...

Correct me if I'm wrong, but the deal with belts on this model is as follows:

* timing belt (nicely hidden away behind several covers)
* alternator/pwr steer/water pump belt (serpentine style)
* aircon belt (garden variety drivebelt style)

The timing belt cover has writing on it indicating that it was fitted at 250,000km. Given the car now has 340,000km on it, how long before I need to worry about this? Is it a 100K replacement schedule, and therefore something to replace again soonish, or do I not need to worry for a while?

I'll check the prices on the other two belts and do them pretty soon either way, just to be safe, but if the timing belt will need doing soon also then I'll do them all together.

I could replace the timing belt myself, but it looks like a fiddly job and with a new baby plus work plus studies, I just wont have the time, I don't think. How much would I be looking at to get a mechanic to fit it for me, and do the others as well? I will go in and check with one tomorrow, but it would be good to have some idea of a good price before doing so.

Yes, the timing belt should be replaced every 100,000 Km. Consider replacing the water pump at the same time unless you know its been changed recently.

Rob

I'm currently waiting on a quote to get the timing belt, water pump, and accessory belts replaced. That should keep things going nicely for another 100K or so.

Someone mention the idler, water pump, and front camshaft seals for replacement also. What is the opinion on getting these done at the same time? Will they add hugely to the cost, and is there a tangible benefit in doing them anyway?

Water pump should add another ~$100 parts to the bill. Lifespan about 200,000km usually.

If you're so keen should also renew the water hoses & heater hoses... $80 parts max?
If got choice I'd rather be changing accesory belts by the roadside than coolant & hoses.

Does the 2nd gen have easy access to the rear bank of sparkplugs?
(3rd gen needs whole induction taken off to change rear plugs; they are platinum 100,000km)

The hoses look pretty good, but I'll probably do them to soon enough. I'm a little paranoid at the moment! But if paranoia keeps the car running well then I can live with that. lol

There is a limit to how much I can (and want) to spend, but within reason I will do whatever I can now, if it reduces the likelihood of problems down the track. We've got what looks to be a pretty decent car now, and I'd like to keep it that way!

Hard to say without knowing what's been done recently too.

At that mileage, shockers and suspension bushings would be on 2nd/3rd set I'd hope.
But yeah stuff like that won't get you stranded... last thing you want is a dead car
with no aircon in noon heat and a newborn inside.


Talking of which, when I went to fetch our newborn & mum back from the hospital I
managed to slamlock my keys in the boot about 2s before the Magna auto-relocked its doors.

Pray you don't do that, new mums get narky at waiting. :P

Hard to say without knowing what's been done recently too.

At that mileage, shockers and suspension bushings would be on 2nd/3rd set I'd hope.
But yeah stuff like that won't get you stranded... last thing you want is a dead car
with no aircon in noon heat and a newborn inside.

Yep, good advice, and they're on the list for the next round of replacements. I've rationalised the cost of this stuff on the lines that it is all bits that would have been replaced on the Commodore in due course anyway, as part of its own regular maintenance, so it is not an additional expense, just one we've moved forward a bit - with the compensation being that it will then be that much longer before we need to do it again. So it all balances out in the end!



Talking of which, when I went to fetch our newborn & mum back from the hospital I
managed to slamlock my keys in the boot about 2s before the Magna auto-relocked its doors.

Pray you don't do that, new mums get narky at waiting. :P

:bowrofl: Has she forgiven you yet? I'm always a bit paranoid about doing things like that myself.

Yes, the timing belt should be replaced every 100,000 Km. Consider replacing the water pump at the same time unless you know its been changed recently.

Rob

why change the water pump?
if its not broke... don't fix it

ummm im suprised no1 picked it up - we have timing chains not belts.

or am i smoking crack and the 6's have belts?

The V6s have belts.

why change the water pump?
if its not broke... don't fix it

Simple: I have no idea about the history of this vehicle, and no idea whether it has been replaced recently or at all, and consequently no idea whether it is likely to fail or not. Having just gone through the joys of having our old car blow up the day before bringing our baby home from the hospital, I have no desire to go through a repeat! So, I am taking the precaution of replacing those parts likely to cause significant problems in the event of failure, so that I don't need to worry about them. Given that it has 340,000km on the clock (and not knowing the history), I don't think it's going overboard to do so.

In any event, the timing belt itself is less than 10,000km from requiring replacement (assuming it was precisely 250,000km when last done, and not just "near enough"), and will come up for replacement in the next 6-12 months anyway. Perhaps it is early, but not overly so.

I got a quote for $844 to put in a full timing belt kit (including seals), water pump, and accessory belts. A small price to pay to ensure trouble-free driving for the next 100,000km! :) Far cheaper than having to buy another car AGAIN because this one broke down after not taking simple precautions.

ummm im suprised no1 picked it up - we have timing chains not belts.

or am i smoking crack and the 6's have belts?

Well, you may still be smoking crack...:P

...but the TS V6 is indeed a belt. I'm not sure which other models have chains, but this one is certainly a belt.

4 cly astron II's have the chains. whereas the v6 has the belt.

only 4cyl has chain

all the 6cyl have a belt

also just because you do the work now.. doesn't mean you will have 100,000 kms of trouble free driving... trust me...
i just look at it this way... if its operating correctly atm... leave it!! if it breaks in 40,000 kms then thats an extra 30,000 kms you got out of it... and then you can get another...
whose not to say you put a new one in and it packs up within 5,000 kms...

thats just me though ;)

why change the water pump?
if its not broke... don't fix it

Yes, that's what I thought so I only replaced the belt.

3 months later I had to go all the way in there again to replace a leaking water pump.

Rob

I got a quote for $844 to put in a full timing belt kit (including seals), water pump, and accessory belts.I had mine done recently, can't remember the exact figure, but it was about $5-600 for the same. $900 all up with two brand-new driveshafts/CVs installed.
But I think that was pretty cheap from what I've heard.

I had mine done recently, can't remember the exact figure, but it was about $5-600 for the same. $900 all up with two brand-new driveshafts/CVs installed.
But I think that was pretty cheap from what I've heard.

Yep, you can't beat mates rates! lol

I think the quote is a fairly reasonable price, they're a pretty good bunch anyway, and it's not hard to add the figures up to something in that ballpark, unlike some quotes I've had in the past. I should have the money for the Crummydore on Monday, and hopefully I'll be able to book it in to get it done this week if possible, before I go back to work.

I was thinking I should get them to keep the alternator and aircon belts for me (and maybe the water pump too?), just so they're on hand "just in case". The whole point of replacing them is to not have to worry about it anyway, but I figure it can't hurt to play it a bit safer if it is no cost or inconvenience. It could be good to have them in the boot as emergency spares, so if the worst does happen, I've got something to put on to get me to somewhere that I can get it fixed properly. Can't hurt.

I figure it can't hurt to play it a bit safer if it is no cost or inconvenience. It could be good to have them in the boot as emergency spares, so if the worst does happen, I've got something to put on to get me to somewhere that I can get it fixed properly. Can't hurt.

my thermostat hose broke on me shortly after i bought the car..
bought a length of hose from repco the same diamater as the one that was cactus and replaced it until i could get a proper one.

Left it in the boot and it was useful! Another hose started leaking about 3 months ago, same diamater, used it as a temp fix again :)

WI wouldnt take the chance, Replace all belts, and do replace your water pump.
I replaced mine when i did the heads, why?, well why bloody not, what happens if mine goes cactus in 10000k's then it all has to come off again!
so i would not risk it and do eveything possible at once

If belts are recommended to be replaced at 100 000 K's does that mean the time/age of car doesn't matter? My TJ is a 2001 model and just turned over 30 000 so will that mean I've no worries for another few years?

If belts are recommended to be replaced at 100 000 K's does that mean the time/age of car doesn't matter? My TJ is a 2001 model and just turned over 30 000 so will that mean I've no worries for another few years?


as far as i know this is the reason they say something like 100k or 5 years because even if the car isn't driven all that much time and things like the weather also effect the belts causing them to crack and what not so if its an '01 model and we are now in '07 i would think about doing them some time in the near future.

wouldn't be worries to much about the acc. belts but if the timing belt goes your in for some major trouble to say the least, its at times like this you should say better safe than sorry.

I was thinking I should get them to keep the alternator and aircon belts for me (and maybe the water pump too?), just so they're on hand "just in case".
The water pump belt is the timing belt. It runs off the back of the belt.
Too risky to refit an old belt.

Rob

The water pump belt is the timing belt. It runs off the back of the belt.
Too risky to refit an old belt.

Rob

I meant the water pump itself. I wouldn't ever consider refitting an old timing belt, but was thinking that the accessory belts might be handy as "get me to the next town and fix it properly" emergency spares.

I wouldn't ever consider refitting an old timing belt, but was thinking that the accessory belts might be handy as "get me to the next town and fix it properly" emergency spares.
Share your thoughts, but my practice is:-

1) when I buy a spare set of belts (eg on special) I usually store them in the car.
Chuck them into the sparewheel well, lots of room in there for that.

2) then when I get around to changing belts... I put the used ones in the well too,
but usually only for like 2 wks then chuck them out. Usually long enough for me
to have adjusted the new belts once or twice until perfect... but there was this
once time when a new belt decided to fail totally snap on day 3.

yeah I keep some tools onboard too, just basic spanners etc.


My in-car toolkit also includes one (used) sparkplug.

Surprisingly that has saved me more than once...!