Timing belt Change

[Speve]

Hello all I realise this is an often repeated subject but would just like a few opinions?
Our van is coming up Four years old and most of its life has been towing a car trailer we have covered approx 13000 miles would you consider that water pump and pulled need changing as well? the mileage is very low for a four year old van and considered leaving that until next belt change? Or would it still be prudent to do the complete change?
Thanks in advance for your replies

 

[Phill D]

The recommendation is 5 years if time limited.
So you got at least another year yet.
Then I personally would change as a full kit.

 

[sonar]

Mines 19 years old with 18885 less than 19 k on the clock and it’s just been done.
can’t say if it was ever done before. Nothing in the paperwork

 

[Stealaway]

I would ask the mechanic to check the pump when the belt is off. If its sweet leave it be - he'll know.

Five is the norm but consider when the base van was made? How long it was before Hymer converted it and then sold it?

 

[Speve]

The recommendation is 5 years if time limited.
So you got at least another year yet.
Then I personally would change as a full kit.

Yes thanks I have noticed the 5 year max however it is recommended at 4 years as have always towed a trailer.

Note in handbook : (7) Advised maximum mileage 144,000 km. Irrespective of the mileage, the timing drive belt must be changed every 4 years for heavy-duty use (cold climates, town use, long periods of idling) or at least every 5 years.
So decided to go as heavy duty use I had intended full kit but though worth asking the question due to mileage being fairly low and wondering if pump etc would last the extra time?

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[Lenny HB]

Most of the kits now include the pump me thinks they do that for a reason.
Ours is due now at 5 years old only done 31000. We are off for 6 weeks on the 4th April so I will get it done when we get back that will have put over 3000 more miles on it.

Although you are classing your use as heavy due to towing the trailer with such a low mileage I wouldn't have thought it necessary to do at 4 years.

 

[Speve]

Most of the kits now include the pump me thinks they do that for a reason.
Ours is due now at 5 years old only done 31000. We are off for 6 weeks on the 4th April so I will get it done when we get back that will have put over 3000 more miles on it.

Although you are classing your use as heavy due to towing the trailer with such a low mileage I wouldn't have thought it necessary to do at 4 years.

Thanks Lenny I’m in the process of getting it booked in for MOT, service & timing belt if required? An expensive time I suspect? so I will ask them the question we will be off to Portugal for three weeks before it’s done so will also put a few more miles on the clock

 

[Silver-Fox]

I would ask the mechanic to check the pump when the belt is off. If its sweet leave it be - he'll know.

If I was the mechanic I’d say change it.
No way would I want the customer in say a yet or two time saying the pump is leaking and you said it was ok.

The cost is minimal compared to having to strip it all back out and another belt required.

No brainier change pump and pulleys as a kit.

 

[mikebeaches]

Last November, I had the timing belt, tensioners and auxilary belt changed on my 2016 Fiat X290 2.3L 130hp at my local Fiat Professional dealer. They said because of the very low mileage (15,872) changing the water pump was unnecessary.

Labour: £280
Parts*: £233
Sub-total: £513
VAT: £103

GRAND TOTAL: £616
--------------------------------------
Parts breakdown*:

Fiat - 71736716 - Camshaft drive set - £191.36
Fiat - 5802102136 - Trans belt - £19.24
Fiat - 500388408 - Trans belt - £23.13

Total (excl VAT) - £233.73

 

[Stealaway]

No brainier change pump and pulleys as a kit.

It just seems to me that after only 13,000 miles the pump would still be as new and its likely that in 5 years time it will have done no more than 30,000 miles.
A mechanic should know how long it is before the pump does want changing

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[Silver-Fox]

It just seems to me that after only 13,000 miles the pump would still be as new and its likely that in 5 years time it will have done no more than 30,000 miles.
A mechanic should know how long it is before the pump does want changing

Lots of pressure on the mechanic as I said.

Also the pump will deteriorate even when stood still, more so possibly.

 

[PP Bear]

My van is 15 years old, had 3 timing belts and tensioners and pulleys etc, and still on the same water pump.

At only 34k miles, I won’t disturb the factory fitted pump until it needs it. What’s important is that you use quality antifreeze and that it’s changed at the service interval.

My timing belt doesn’t drive the water pump, so not sure of your engine, but would enquire first.

My cars had 3 timing belts and 3 water pumps as that is driven by the timing belt. I haven’t seen a kit yet that comes with a water pump, but that might well have changed recently.

 

[Silver-Fox]

My cars had 3 timing belts and 3 water pumps as that is driven by the timing belt. I haven’t seen a kit yet that comes with a water pump, but that might well have changed recently.

There’s the thing, if the pump is driven by the timing belt just change it

 

[L' Hobo]

My 66,000ml Fiat X250 is also 15yrs old and on the same water pump and as Fiat say that it will last the life of the engine, unless it has obvious problems, it will never be changed just well maintained!

 

[pappajohn]

Yes thanks I have noticed the 5 year max however it is recommended at 4 years as have always towed a trailer.

Towing will have no effect whatsoever on the water pump or cam belt.
False economy If you don't change the pump and it later fails.
it's going to cost as much to replace as the belt change cost last time
The work involved in changing the belt will still be the same later to just change the pump.

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[Lenny HB]

Had a water pump size on a car & it stripped the cambelt, car was only 3 or 4 years old.

 

[Landy Andy]

I didn’t change my water pump. It had only done 8.5 Thou miles. It’s not rubber like the belt.