CAMBELT REPLACEMENT???

[ALFA156DALE]

Hi Guys,
           I know this has been previously talked about on this forum, I have looked at all or most of the previous ones and still don't really have an idea of what kind of money i'am going to be up for to replace one of these cambelts on my '99' alfa 156 v6. Can anyone out there point in the right direction to replace these cambelts and how much roughly it is going to cost me?

Thanks
Dale.

[lombardi]

They normally charge more for the 6cyl as opposed to the 2lt-it is harder to get to,last time i enquired the cost varied between $1500 to $2000 ,i think this figures include service and replace water pump,if u are in melb try pursang maranello,they are very highly recommended and dont sting u to much,buona fortuna.ciao

[alanm]

Dale
I have a recent receipt for $2064.
Description on invoice reads 'Replace camshaft drive belt, tensioner, bearing and rocker cover gasket using cam locks'
This price also included fresh oil, filter and brake fluid.
The work was done by a respected Alfa specialist.
Alan

[ALFA156DALE]

Arr well I bet to start saving for that then, i suppose its cheaper to replace the cam belt then buy a new alfa (which would probably be the outcome if i don't replace the belt.) thanks for that feedback greatly appreciated.

Thanks

[shiny_car]

You can save a bit of money (couple hundred+ ) by buying the parts yourself from a place like EB Spares (UK) or Arese Spares (Sydney; speak to Vlade).

Aside from the belt, you will probably want a tensioner and idlers, and new gaskets for the cam covers. Unsure if the 2.5 has a metal-impeller water pump - I presume it does but check - if it has a plastic version (like the 3.2 GTA/GT engines), change it, cos the plastic versions eventually crack and fail. Replacing the pump is the same process as changing a cambelt, so you only want to visit that job once!

[John Hanslow]

Getting an Alfa Specialist to do the job is about $750 plus.  The V6 might cost more due to the water pump being replaced as necessary.

Check out the club sponsors link but to suggest a few workshops we have Monza Motors, Maranello Puursang MOtors & the Italian Job.

Cheers.

[davel58]

what is everyone's view on when this cambelt replacement should occur??

i have a 1999 156 TS manual, it has only done 38,800kms (which is incredibly low for a 10 year old car)... the cambelt replacement has not been done since new however they are normally done in or around the 50k mark. 

do you guys normally give as much emphasis to time as you do kms on the clock in terms of servicing things like this? obviously i dont want to gamble the thing snapping and busting up the engine... but i also dont want to shell out 1000+ bucks to get this done when i dont need it.  its a tricky situation i suppose. 

[Joe Garra]

I've got a 164 and replace the belts on time or km, whichever first. It usually ends up time for me. I'd change them yesterday.

[davel58]

so what are we talking time wise?

if its every 50k then are we talking every 3/4 years? whichever comes first?

sorry for the ignorant question, i am a new alfa owner (1 year now) and am not used to this kind of issue recurring so often.  Car is currently at Ital motors getting a service as we speak - so i may just get them to do the replacement now if they can give me a reasonable quote for it. 

bloody hell - hurts the wallet though i can tell you!

[John Hanslow]

Due to cam belt failure reulting in engine damage with significant costs to repair, Alfa Romeo revised recommended the cam belt replacement times.  My service book has a Alfa service sticker put on the cover notiying of this.

60,000 kms or 3 years, what ever comes first.  I would book it in asap because of the risk. That's no joke as peiple have bought cars with belt failure soon after.  IF the belt has not been changed, that is unfortunate an a sign that the car has not been maintained with any reference to normal scheduling.  Regular oil changes could be a problem but with a low milage car  ..

Get the car fuilly checked out at an Alfa Specialist.  Note that you may need to replace the variator as you need to take off the belt first.  A good once over by a specialist will solve your needs and you will get the facts and a reasonable price.
Cheers.

[Davidm1600]

Dave, in essance, yes it will hurt the wallet.  But that is the pain to go with the pleasure of owning one of these fine cars.

Re costs, my mechanic has advised that I will be looking at around the $800 mark, which is in agreeance with John's advice.   Remember, feel at least a little lucky as to do the belts on the V6 seem to cost about twice and then some more than the cost of replacing them on the 4 cyl cars.

As to the kms on the clock, I would definitely get your belts checked, given you have low kms on the clock but against that time (ie. 11 years) since the car was new.  I had mine checked ('03 JTS 156 Sportwagon) recently, as I now have 105,000km on the clock and was advised that while the belts were last changed (at or before 60,000) but over 4 years ago, they still look in excellent condition and so am aiming to have them done around the 110,000-115,000 mark.  I won't be waiting until it gets to 120,000km.  

My car has always been serviced on time, and by either Alfa dealers or Alfa trained mechanics, was a one owner car from new, and thankfully has been really reliable.  However, when things do go wrong (which they will) it can cost.  I recently had to replace the timing sensor re spark/distributor, which was about double the cost of replacing the engine management sensor. I previously had to do.   At $470 for the latest job I did wince a little, especially since I had only also recently had to shell out for a new set of tyres (Pirelli P7s) at approx $900 fitted/balanced etc.  

As to the issue of doing the belts well at 50-60,000km needing replacement this is pretty normal with most cars with a toothed timing belt engine.  My '69 Fiat 124 sport (which as with all Fiat twin cam engines have) needs to have its belt changed every 30,000 miles or 3 years (so equivalent roughly) as say the 156 engine.  The real difference is the costs involved and that depends on engine configuation design etc.  I think you need to remember the 156 when new was not a cheap car.  For instance my car when new was approx $55K, whereas now it is a relatively cheapish car, however, the maintenance costs don't necessarily get any cheaper.  But despite this IMO they are worth the cost for what they give back to you in driving pleasure.  

[L4OMEO]

Hi Dave

11 years is a long time between cambelt changes regardless of make. Take a deep breath, cough up the folding, and enjoy the peace of mind that follows.

Re: the waterpump - unfortunately the 2.5 V6 has the one with the plastic impellor as standard, so consider Shiny_car's earlier advice on that. I had the cambelt changed on my '02 V6 under warranty but the dealer was unwilling to do the pump at the same time. 3 weeks later ... you guessed it. They had to front up for the effectively the same work again.

You could look at minimising the cost by sourcing parts independently, either through a club sponsor or from a place like EB Spares in the UK who sell complete kits. Can make good sense with a strong Aussie dollar.

Cheers
Rory

[davel58]

thanks for all the prompt responses guys.

i have subsquently called the garage back and the car is getting the cambelt and everything that comes with that (tensioners, pulleys etc) done.  I did some research by calling around all the previous owners mechanics and the belt had not been done since new. so 11 years without a replacement.  quote is for $800 which seems very reasonable.

i take the point that this was once a $55k car and that servicing these cars does not get any cheaper.  But with what you get in driving pleasure i think its all worth it. 

[L4OMEO]

Good work Dave. You'll feel so much better about driving it with all that work done. Make sure you take it for a good Italian tune afterwards to celebrate.

[Evan Bottcher]

I had mine checked ('03 JTS 156 Sportwagon) recently, as I now have 105,000km on the clock and was advised that while the belts were last changed (at or before 60,000) but over 4 years ago, they still look in excellent condition and so am aiming to have them done around the 110,000-115,000 mark.

That's an interesting thing Dave - I've been told by trusted folk that there's no way to truly observe the condition of the belt without removing it - obviously you would then replace the belt anyway.  I've been shown broken belts and belts that were very old and they look quite nice from the outside, but when you bend them you can see the cracks that form around the teeth on the inside of the belt.  It seems to be the teeth that give way and the belt slips, rather than the main part of the belt itself breaking.  One example I've seen in my favourite workshop had a broken belt (and bent valves of course) after 30,000km and 4 years.

Call me paranoid, but I'd be changing the belts promptly at 3 years.