i have been quoted £195 for a cambelt change from my vauxhall dealership?

Question

i have a corsa 1.7tdi on a 03 plate.is this price ok?
the car has done 80,000 miles.
can i get away without changing cam belt?

Answer 1

I had a cam-belt go on my peugeot 406,crash bang wallop,and that was just my wallet.Dont risk it,unless your engine is a safe engine,by that i mean if the belt snaps,the pistons don't come up and hit the valves,but most do.The hourly rate these days at a main dealer is around £40,belt will be around £20,so they reckon around 4hrs work.

Answer 2

No you cannot get by without a change of belt not unless you wish to risk a lot of engine damage , as for the price it sounds a bit dear to me i would shop around £160 would be about right cam belts only cost about £28

Answer 3

1. No, you won't get away with not changing the cambelt.

2. When a main dealer does the job, all of the pulleys and the tensioner, and several other pieces are changed, as they should be. A backstreet garage may not do this leading to premature wear and breakage of the cambelt.

3. The price seems reasonable to me

Answer 4

I've just had the cam belt changed on my 02 Peugeot 206 diesel at 86k, and this was £205 at the dealership, so I would say that it's an average price and definitely worth getting done for peace of mind....just think what it would cost you for a replacement engine if this did break whilst you were cruising on the motorway ?!


A timing belt, timing chain or cam belt is a part of an internal combustion engine that controls the timing of the engine's valves. Some engines use timing gears. The term "timing belt" is also used for the more general case of any flat belt with integral teeth. Such belts are used for power transmission or to interchange rotary motion and linear motion, where either high loads or maintaining a specific drive ratio are important. A common non-automotive application is in linear positioning systems.

Timing belts are typically inaccessible and difficult to inspect. Replacement at specific intervals is recommended by the manufacturer. The manufacturer may also recommend the replacement of other parts, such as the water pump, when the timing belt is replaced because the additional cost to replace the water pump is negligible compared to the cost of accessing the timing belt. Failure of the timing belt will leave the engine non-functioning. Depending on the design of the engine, the piston and valve paths may "interfere" with one another and incorrect timing in their movements may result in the piston and valves colliding. (Such designs are also called "interference head" or "interference engines". Conversely, non-interfering engines are called "free-wheeling" or "non-interference" engines.)

In interference designs, regular service is especially important as incorrect timing may result in the pistons and valves colliding and causing extensive engine damage and therefore costly repairs. The piston will likely bend the valves or if a piece of valve or piston is broken off within the cylinder, the broken piece will cause severe damage within the cylinder, often also affecting the crankshaft. In some newer engines, timing belts are designed to last the effective life of the engine. When a timing belt is replaced, care must be taken to ensure that the valve and piston movements are correctly synchronized.

A timing belt is typically rubber with high-tensile fibers (e.g. fiberglass or Kevlar) running the length of the belt.
Rubber degrades with higher temperatures and with contact with motor oil and antifreeze. Thus the life expectancy of a timing belt is lowered in hot or leaky engines. Newer or more expensive belts are made of temperature resistant materials such as "highly-saturated nitrile" (HSN). Older belts have trapezoid shaped teeth. Newer manufacturing techniques allow for curved teeth that are quieter and last longer.

Answer 5

Sounds like a good price to me. If your cam-belt snaps & your engine isn't a 'safe' engine, you'll ruin the engine sending valves & pistons smacking the head etc. It's a small price to pay for peace of mind. Your car is coming to the age where it's necessary to change it. Usually the water pump is changed at the same time.

Answer 6

In a word no. But shop around a bit to find a better price - Vauxhall will always charge the most for work on their cars, most independant mechanics should be able to offer a much cheaper quote.

I just got mine done in a Honda Civic for £60, but thats without labour (a mate does it). There's a heck of a lot of work involved in getting to the belt to change it.

Answer 7

the belt should have been changed at about 60 000 miles, you should get it done asap, if it breaks you are talking mega bucks, not a bad price for a main dealer though an independant garage would be cheaper, ps get a reciept

Answer 8

Make sure you get receipts and guarantee for the work. Cam belt is an extremely important on any car

Answer 9

Yes bearing in mind if the cam belt goes you need a new engine

Answer 10

ask around friends for a good backstreet garage as VAXHALL will always charge silly prices,and to check if the cambelt needs done ask around garages also,because ppl often think that these dealerships are trustworthy when there just as bad as many rogue garages,i always go around a few garages so i know im not being ripped off...GOOD LUCK M8!!!