Alfa Pages

[James F]

Hi

Just an easy one - what mileage should I be changing my belts at? And what other parts should one change at the same time? tensioners?
_________________
cheers

James F

Series 3 16v SportWagon

[tvatavuk]

[Eddie W]

The 16v with its longer belts may need more frequent changing but the 8v generally at 60-70K. Tensioners must be checked thoroughly and assessed in terms of overall mileage. If the motor has done 200K and had 3 or 4 belts then the tensioners are almost certainly suspect. Ben had belts changed on his 130K engine only to have a tensioner collapse 3 months later and junk his valves. It is possible to carefully remove the seal on the tensioner and repack the bearing as most problems stem from them running dry of lube. If there is any roughness when you spin it then it is bin material.
Regards Eddie
_________________
A LITTLE FURTHER A LITTLE FASTER

[Adam H]

The moral of this story is thus:

2 Belts, 4 tensioner bearings and a waterpump is expensive, but not as expensive as the top ends of your boxer engine! Do the lot every time you change the belts.

Don't be afraid to change the belts too soon, just like using a good oil - don't be afraid to change it too soon either - your car will love you for it.

I compiled the above during one of my alfa 33 engine changes, not including one occasion lowereing the engine to change a cylinder head.....

Adam H

[GaryUK]

ALL belt manufacturers guarantee their cam belts for X mileage or TWO YEARS. I always change them before the 2 years is up to be covered by this guarantee (failure is too expensive). They are the only component that I buy a genuine manufacturers one as if they fail under guarantee the engine will be fully repaired by a main dealer, parts and labour free.

But I reckon THREE YEARS MAXIMUM between changes, five years is way way waaaaaaaaaaaay to long! The tensioner pulleys etc. may last longer and just need inspecting but the belts are a different matter.

[Matt Stolton]

It is bizarre, but as I get older, I start to agree with Gary more.......

I'm certain no more than 40K Miles, and I like the idea of no more than 2 years. I would also replace all tensioners as a matter of course, it is not worth the hassle of a dead engine for the sake of a couple of parts, which don't cost a hell of a lot.

Also never by cheap parts, unless yopu know they are actually better. On something so critical, it is not worth the risk.
_________________
Regards

Matt

Ex Alfa 33 'GTA' (P4 with Knobs On)
Now cruising in a 166 3.2 Ti!!

[JF]

Hi guys

Thanks for the info above

It is around 37K miles since belts changed (about 15 months ago), no idea about the tensioners.

The water pump was changed 11 months ago.

I have spoken to AlfaShop in Norwich who are quoting £14 per pulley and £12.50 per belt. Is this reasonable?

I will change my radiator at the same time, maybe change the spark plugs too, and the clutch slave cylinder has started to weep all over the drive when car not used every day = all comes to £212 inc vat and delivery.

Just a bitter pill to swallow at once!

But as you say, better than a new engine - and to be honest if that happened I'd probably scrap the car!

Anyway, comments appreciated, ta

James F

[Adam H]

And if you are also changing the plugs, make sure you buy the expensive ones that only need changing every 60K miles - the ones that Alfashop sold me were only 'normal' ones.

f you are doing all that to your engine change the plugs, especially if your wife or one of your children have thin hands/fingers! (All 16v owners will understand this!)

[James F]

The plugs are Alfa branded ones I bought at National Alfa Day in June - and seem to be Golden Lodge's (HLD25's?)

The current plugs were changed 40k miles ago, so maybe they don't need doing if you say they last 60k?

Just thought I'd do them as I was there - but I understand it is a pig of a job and to be avoided if possible - who knows, the car may blow up before I need to change them?!!
_________________
cheers

James F

Series 3 16v SportWagon

[Guest]

A pig of a job?

No, it's worse than that!!!!

[BILL]

The 16v use different spark plugs than the 8V.The 16v uses ngk (i think) that need replacement after 60.000 or 80.000 km and the 8V uses Golden Lodge that u replace every 10.000 Km(i replace mine every 15.000 actually ).