cam belt cheats

Iv'e been putting off changing the cam belt on my 98' diesel Hipo for far too long now and feel i have to get on with it.... i know my way around a spanner but it still looks rather daunting at the moment. Do any of you know of any corners that can be cut...any tricks of the trade!! that will make the job a little easier....i would send it to the garage to be done but they want more than the old girls worth to do the job.Any advice greatfully recieved

Best advice when doing any cambelt change is to use a good quality belt, replace any moving parts eg. tensioners, idlers, water pump (if driven by the belt) etc. & take your time to do the job properly.
Don't cut corners.

how much you been quoted

Shoot me down in flames but doesn't it have a chain drive??? (My ancient memory may be slipping here.)

The TD4 has a chain, earlier diesels have a belt.

Buston said:

Iv'e been putting off changing the cam belt on my 98' diesel Hipo for far too long now and feel i have to get on with it.... i know my way around a spanner but it still looks rather daunting at the moment. Do any of you know of any corners that can be cut...any tricks of the trade!! that will make the job a little easier....i would send it to the garage to be done but they want more than the old girls worth to do the job.Any advice greatfully recieved

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it is a daunting task and a very costly one if not done correct, as advised don't short cut!give engine a clean down if possible.
make sure you got a manual or dvd and print off what you need to do, study it a few times, pick a nice day and one when you not stressed or likely to be distracted!hire or buy/borrow an engine locking pin kit and make sure you got all parts required as stated in book.even tho i lock engine up i still tippex marks on all drives and count the teeth between the cogs and on the belt and then mark up the new belt so i know where its to end up! i check and double check as i'm putting back together. when done ensure you've left nowt under the bonnet rags/tools etc you've removed pins.start engine and then give yourself a pat on the back you've just saved yaself a couple of hundred quid!!

good luck

if it was only A couple of hundred i would pay for it to be done.......cheapest quote so far is £800....the cars not worth that!

Buston said:

if it was only A couple of hundred i would pay for it to be done.......cheapest quote so far is £800....the cars not worth that!

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Where are you - £800 is just daft.

I wish!

save yourself loadsadosh and buy a haynes manual and while you've got the belt off change the number 4 glow(hidden behind the fuel pump) plug and check the other 3.Best advice,go to your local motor factor buy your belt and 4 plugs and ask if its ok to bring back any you don't need to use.

When I needed to change the belts on my V6 'Clutchdust' sent this reply

'To do the main timing belt, strip it all down to access the belt then get someone on the front bulley with a ratchet. Turn the engine while cutting the belt along its length with a sharp stanley kinife, once you've gone all the way round, pull off the outer part of the belt, fit the new belt as far on as you can get it then cut the remaining part of the old belt off then push the new belt fully on. easy!!! And no **** arsing about timing it up which is a 3 man job and alot of swearing when trying to get the belt on.'
You might be able to use the same method.
After cutting the belt in half long ways I put the engine in T.D.C. for number 1 cylinder so all the timing marks lined up before I pushed the new one on. (Just in case it went wrong )