Cambelt, Cambelt Kit and Timing Chain Replacement
Cambelt, Cambelt Kit and Timing Chain Replacement
It used to be standard practice to just change the cambelt when
it was due, but now it is accepted that a complete kit should be
fitted. Why? Well, with the advent of ever more
complex cambelt arrangements and the introduction of plastic
idler and tensioner pulleys, and the extended replacement
intervals on modern engines, it's not only the belt that wears
out. Gone are the days where all you have is a cam pulley,
a crank pulley and metal tensioner, now you have various idlers,
double overhead cams, one or more tensioner, etc, and if any of
these parts should fail, then serious engine damage will be
caused...
The plastic pulleys that are used now are very reliable, the
early ones were less so! The early Vauxhall Ecotec engines
had a nasty tendency to break. The bearings in the pulleys
can become worn and noisy too, and if left they can seize and
wear the belt to the point that it breaks.
If the water pump is driven by the cambelt,
Tyrrell Autos Ltd recommends the replacement of the water pump
at the same time. The reason being that if the water pump
was to fail after a cambelt replacement, the same amount of work
would be required again to fix this.
Timing Chain Replacement
Replacement of cambelts is a routine service item because they
have a finite life. Replacement of timing chains is not a
service item because they are considered to have a life as long
as other major mechanical parts of the engine. The timing chain
may need replacing if it becomes worn due to missed oil changes
and effects the valve timing, It may be shown as an
Engine Management
fault usually listed as a Crankshaft/Camshaft sensor fault.
