Cam belt and tyre replacement

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Please can anyone recommend a competent , reasonably priced garage in the East Midlands to carry out a cam belt change on our Fiat Ducato Hymer manufactured in late 2014. Although our tyres are well within the legal limit I thought I read on this forum that they too should be changed at the five year point.

We would normally use Nick Fisher at Eurotruck in Leicester but understand he is no longer trading and unfortunately we have lost his mobile number to ask his advice.
Many thanks
 
Florencee said:
I thought I read on this forum that they too should be changed at the five year point.
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There are a variety of suggestions varying from 5 years through to 10 years but I use my trusted local tyre company (local independent) and had them fully checked each year both before and after our holidays.
At the start of our holidays in 2017, I decided to replace the tyres although the garage said they were very good. They were then 12 years old. I originally had the 4 replaced but not the spare as it had been unused anyway. However, a week or so later, I discovered that in some countries they won't replace a different type on the same axle so I had the spare replaced too.
Basically, I put my trust in the tyre company and saved money. Obviously they could have said anytime to replace whether needed or not as they would have had a good sale.
 
How many miles since the cam belt was last done if at all?

Kev
 
Thanks for replying folks.We have done 25000.00 miles.Happy to replace the cam belt just don’t know where to go to have it done, likewise the tyres.

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We having been using Ark Motors Ltd in Sileby for servicing and repairs. They are a family firm and found them o.k. You could always give them a call for a quote for the cam belt and tyres.
 
pappajohn said:
2014 reg it won't have been done and needs replacing regardless of mileage

Miles or age, whichever comes first
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Very wise. I changed mine at 24000 miles and was shocked at the state of the old belt. It was very badly perished so I've probably saved a few thousand pounds.
My van is a 2013 Ducato.
 
Changed two tyres recently, very badly cracked at the bottom of the tread, only four years old. One had a slow puncture.
 
Florencee said:
We would normally use Nick Fisher at Eurotruck in Leicester but understand he is no longer trading and unfortunately we have lost his mobile number to ask his advice.
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You could try contacting him via the O&A forum his username is euroserv.

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I can recommend AB Vehicle Services at Acresford on the A444. They did mine even though I could have done it myself but they are far more used to them than me. We use them for MOT’s on all our vehicles and I totally trust them.
 
Did you know..........On the Belt box there is a code that states the age and when it was manufactured? Did you also know that a considerable amount of belt kits sit on shelves for some time before they are sold?
With that in mind...what is the real concern over age and mileage?
Feel free to abuse me in what ever way you need to..But..this It's a fact.
You will go out and buy a kit that has been sitting on a shelf waiting to be used possibly for sometime and with out any hesitation..you will pay the going rate and have it fitted. Yes?
Why then, do folk make such a fuss about age related items on their truck when they have either A) Not covered the mileage ..Normally 60k or B) The truck or car or what ever.. is either 3 or 4 years of age like this one is in this thread and still at only 25k mileage..Yet you feel the need to change it ?
Now I know there will be those of you that will look at this and think...erm?
I also know there are others who believe that you should wait until its covered the mileage required as stated by the MIras System. Basically..The belt is driven to an equivalent of 60k miles under the most of all extreme tests. That is ..High revs and rapid decrease in revs at a constant. `This test goes on for some time and equates to the use of going up and down the gear box over a 60k mileage period. It does and will go on to do a lot more but ..the law states that the time period, like in most things ..has to be before the actual breakdown period of the belt . So as not to cause mechanical failure of the engine.
Dont get me wrong...If you feel the need to swap and change because its 4/5 years of age ..then it's up to you. That does not mean that the rest of us who let it go on until the miles are covered ..are wrong also. It is at the end of the day down to common sense and of course..the individual.
Feel free to check the manufactures date next time you are in a motor shop. You may be surprised?

Kev
 
WillH said:
Changed two tyres recently, very badly cracked at the bottom of the tread, only four years old. One had a slow puncture.
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Fair comment and obviously good checks saves problems. I would definitely consider not replacing with the same manufacturer tyres.
 
EX51SSS said:
Fair comment and obviously good checks saves problems. I would definitely consider not replacing with the same manufacturer tyres.
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I didn't, the defective tyre was a Continental Vanco. I've used them for over 60k miles. Replaced with Avon tyres, all that were available on a Sunday morning in Perth. They seem fine so far, good wet performance and we have driven in some extreme conditions.

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When we was after 2 new tyres at the beginning of the year all the the tyres were a year old already, we got a pair just under a year old. So now if someone sticks to the 5 year rule they have only 4 years of life in them.
 
Ivory55 said:
When we was after 2 new tyres at the beginning of the year all the the tyres were a year old already, we got a pair just under a year old. So now if someone sticks to the 5 year rule they have only 4 years of life in them.
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Tyre suppliers consider a tyre new up to 2 years from manufacturing date.
 
Re: cam belt.
Manufacturers state a service period to change the belt, they developed the engine and enrolled the belt manufacturer to design and make the belt.
The belt manufacturer knows his product and its expected lifespan.
£400 for a periodic belt change
£1400+ for taking a chance and needing new valves, possibly a new head or at least new valve seats, possibly a piston or two or even new conrods.
Nobody is forcing you to change the belt but the manufacturer knows their product far better than some institute doing laboratory testing.
 
What’s the mileage and years for a change for cam belt on a fiat Ducato...?
 
120 MultiJet, 130 MultiJet and 150 MultiJet engines have a timing belt which must be checked every 90,000 km and replaced every 180,000 km on Euro 4 engines, and checked every 96,000 km and replaced every 192,000 km on Euro 5 engines.

What is yours?

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Recommendation for cam belt and other mechanical work, www.cgcarsleicester.co.uk I have known Carl the owner for many years, very reliable and very knowledgeable. Also very up to date with tools and equipment.
Narborough Rd Leicester.
Like pappajohn i would stress age being as important as mileage. Having seen many engines destroyed by cam belt failure why chance it for a few hundred pounds.
 
Kev and Carolyn said:
120 MultiJet, 130 MultiJet and 150 MultiJet engines have a timing belt which must be checked every 90,000 km and replaced every 180,000 km on Euro 4 engines, and checked every 96,000 km and replaced every 192,000 km on Euro 5 engines.

What is yours?
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2012 150bhp euro 5
 
Kev and Carolyn said:
120 MultiJet, 130 MultiJet and 150 MultiJet engines have a timing belt which must be checked every 90,000 km and replaced every 180,000 km on Euro 4 engines, and checked every 96,000 km and replaced every 192,000 km on Euro 5 engines.

What is yours?
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Also states regardless of mileage should be changed every 4 years in the case of heavy use or at least every 5 years
 
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Kev and Carolyn said:
120 MultiJet, 130 MultiJet and 150 MultiJet engines have a timing belt which must be checked every 90,000 km and replaced every 180,000 km on Euro 4 engines, and checked every 96,000 km and replaced every 192,000 km on Euro 5 engines.

What is yours?
Click to expand...

So that’s 119303 miles...? ?

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Kev and Carolyn said:
120 MultiJet, 130 MultiJet and 150 MultiJet engines have a timing belt which must be checked every 90,000 km and replaced every 180,000 km on Euro 4 engines, and checked every 96,000 km and replaced every 192,000 km on Euro 5 engines.

What is yours?
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So your average motorhome will never have a belt change.
That's the reason for time as well as mileage periods.
Early Ducato 2.5/2.8 were around 80000mls OR 4 years.
Many wouldn't do 80000miles in 15 years.
 
Think of it under load conditions on a daily basis with your average heavy footed delivery driver!
Heavy Duty...Full stop!

It really depends on use and also you! As stated beforehand...take note on the kits available. They are dated with a code so check if you are really concerned. If not...you decide when you think it's appropriate .
Don't always be forced into doing something that you don't have to. I would see how my truck performs and to what I put it under as regards Load conditions personally. If I was to be heavy footed and changed up and down the box regularly and caused heavy stress on the engine ..then I would have it done regardless of miles. I'm guessing here but like most of us ..you would not abuse your truck?
You can listen to those who would say every 4 years or you could use a little common sense and think about it a little. Either way..it would be your choice. That is what counts at the end of the day.
My view is a personal opinion only. What I do is up to me.

Regards Kev
 
pappajohn said:
So your average motorhome will never have a belt change.
That's the reason for time as well as mileage periods.
Early Ducato 2.5/2.8 were around 80000mls OR 4 years.
Many wouldn't do 80000miles in 15 years.
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Its a little like expecting a Narrow boat engine running at 4 mile/ hour at 1200 rpm to need a cam belt change every 4 years because it says you should do...The same engine may be fitted to a truck or a generator then, the belt would experience different working conditions on each type of environment yes? Well That aside..the boat "Plods for most of its life at 1000 rpm . That would not justify a 4 year change because its 4 years old. We have to be serious here a moment.
Dont just look at this as it is read...Check out what actually a Cam belt goes under during a test. We as drivers of whatever beast we have , can never put our engines under the stresses that the test centres do.

Like I said...Individual choice. You do what you feel the need to. Personally ...I will wait my time and use common sense.
 
I have seen many cambelts break before they reach the recommended mileage interval but have exceeded the time scale that they should be changed at can't tell you why but they have
They don't normally just snap they shed about 4 inches of teeth off the belt and the timing then jumps causing massive damage
I changed my tiguan cam belt at 28000 miles as it was 4 years old and VW say it should be done then
Average cost to fix an engine with a snapped belt about 2k but some engines will be scrap if it snaps
You take your chances in life and cambelts are one of them
 
According to Fiat, it is 8 years for my 2007 2.3l 130 lump
I insisted on a new belt when I bought the van 5 years ago, and replaced it this year too
As others have said, a cam belt is a whole ot easier to do than a head job !

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