Timing belt overview.

[DroveRunner]

2,4TD

Just searched on "Timing Belt" and "Cambelt" to get an idea of the job. Hear it is rated as a 2.5hr job at a garage but it *looks* worse than that.

But am I right to summarise that with a good toolkit and determination everything will come off without special tools or disaster? Best to take out radiator for better access, and a good chance to properly flush it....yes? Also seems that air-con can be moved aside enough without undoing pipes.

Are there any tensioners that need changing? Tensioner cost?

This vehicle has covered 76K and we understand was imported a few months ago at about 73K. The timing belt light goes out so might you think it was changed in Japan before it came here. Are they good at doing that to schedule over there...even when they know it is about to be exported?

Do you think there is much of a scam just resetting the light and not doing the belt??

Thanks,

David

[Koi]

Belt changes are every 100,000kms so with 76,000 on it the light won't come on, unless the clock has been wound back????
While its all stripped down to do the cam belt I would change all the belts as you know they are sound then.

[DroveRunner]

See I'm new to the Surf and imports. When I mentioned the current "mileage" as 76K I meant 76,000 miles. I'd assumed as part of the import/BITMA thing the whole speedo was replaced with a MPH one and the odometer set to the miles approximating to the existing km reading.

Looking carefully I can see it is the original speedo with a black sticker over the "k" of km/hr.

What have they done to make the speedo read right? And does that now change the km's covered to registering miles from the date of the import??

So the correct change is at 100,00km or 60,000mls. That is about right for my personal view that anything over 50,00mls is about due, I always change sooner rather than later.

But what about age...this belt if original is 14yrs old. In the UK it is understood that you should consider age with belts and 5yrs is plenty old enough for a timing belt regardless of mileage.

Are there many breakages with this 2.4 engine type or does their belt seem a good reliable setup?

Thanks,

David

[marky]

A mph sticker is usually put over the original one to give accurate mph.
the trip or odometer will still read in Kilometers.
at 1000kms your cam belt warning light should come on to warn you of time to change it.
My advice is to change all the belts as you have to remove them to get at the cam belt. Removal of the Radiator is also advised.

[stimpy30]

hm

good point rubber breaks down so belts usaly have a mileage or age change point if ya talking 14 years a price of a belt cheaper than an engine only prob i had bottom pulley wouldent come off had to use a proper puller to remove it

[DroveRunner]

Thanks all.

Going to wait for the workshop manual to arrive before I tackle this job. I'll report back in a week or two.

I've started a new thread to find out about speedo conversions.

David