Cambelt change - how much Xsara 1.4i

[smashymike]

50k just clicked over, mostly 'wife' driving, stop/start less than 5miles each way, should i consider changing the cambelt now? Any idea how much anyone?

[Kowalski]

50k just clicked over, mostly 'wife' driving, stop/start less than 5miles each way, should i consider changing the cambelt now? Any idea how much anyone?

At that mileage, if its done short start stop journeys, almost definately!

If its more than 5 years too, you'll want to have it changed by yesterday.

[AndersDK]

to give you an idea :
http://www.frenchcarforum.co.uk/forum/v ... hp?t=18711

[fastandfurryous]

50k miles is a nice round number of miles to get the belt changed at. Although PSA recommend 72k/80k for various different cars, the general consensus is that is too long, and belts have failed at less than this mileage.

Some people recommend half this, to 36k/40k. At that rate I'd be changing a cambelt every 18months, and I think that's playing it too safe, and just costing extra.

Plus, every 50k is a much easier interval to remember, meaning it's less likely to be overlooked. Vauxhaul did a very similar thing with their oil change interval many years ago, changing it from every 9k to every 10k, (with no change to the engine or oil spec) on the basis that it was easier to remember, and hence less likely to be missed/forgotten.

[smashymike]

Thanks guys, think i'll book it in soon. Kowalski - what was that garage over Byker Bank you've used before?

[Stuart McB]

Had the belts done on both my Xsara VTR's, never paid more than £75 each, that parts and labour.

[Kowalski]

Thanks guys, think i'll book it in soon. Kowalski - what was that garage over Byker Bank you've used before?

Bonello Auto Services or something along those lines.

The guy that owns it is Citroen trained and then became an independant.