Zydeco Joe Posted November 10, 2017 Share Posted November 10, 2017 Have had our 2005 Auto Trail Tracker for 5 years and done close on 50,000 miles in it. The Cam Belt was changed by the dealer just before we had the van. Is it due a new Cam Belt or could I wait till next spring. Am planning on a winter trip to Spain doing around 2500 miles. Am looking to change the van next year and this kind of complicates my thinking but would it be for the best ?. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
colin Posted November 10, 2017 Share Posted November 10, 2017 Whilst it's unlikely the belt will break a couple of things to bear in mind. Will it be playing on your mind that the belt will break. Will having a 5+ yo belt devalue van. Will you actually change the van next year, or will you be looking around at what's available and therefor maybe you might have the van longer than you think. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Derek Uzzell Posted November 10, 2017 Share Posted November 10, 2017 The on-line handook for a 2005 Ducato (I assume you have a paper copy) advises that - for vehicles with the 2.3litre motor (which I understand your Tracker has) the “timing belt and various control belts” should be replaced "every 240,000 km or every 60 months”. So, if there was a timing-belt change just before you bought the Tracker in August 2012, the belt is now overdue for replacement. Sometimes timing-belts seem to be immortal: other times they snap well inside the advised time-period between replacements. If the belt breaks during your Spanish trip or before you sell the motorhome, you’ll be kicking yourself for not having it replaced. If the belt does not break before you sell the motorhome, you will have saved some money. The advice from Fiat seems clear enough - it’s up to you whether you ignore that advice and accept the risk of the belt breaking or get the belt replaced ASAP. If you are comfortable with taking the risk, you might be wise to at least have the present belt’s condition checked. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Robbo Posted November 10, 2017 Share Posted November 10, 2017 Do you know exactly what work was carried by the Dealer in changing the cambelt ? Was the work itemised on an invoice ? Was it carried out by the Dealer or a reputable garage ? The cambelt change normally includes new belt tensioners and, I believe, a new water pump. White van man does considerably greater mileages between cambelt changes. So, you'd probably be OK with your forthcoming trip to Spain. But why take the risk for the sake of £300. Also, you'd be able to sell the van more easily, when the time comes, with a full up to date service history. If you do have the cambelt changed, suggest you take it on a thorough test run before venturing on the Spainish trip, just to make sure everything is functioning correctly. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ocsid Posted November 10, 2017 Share Posted November 10, 2017 The passage of time exposed to the atmosphere including any ozone has every bit as much effect on degrading the belt's structure as does mileage. Coupled to this any weepage of oil that finds its way to contaminates the belt greatly accelerates its lost of structural integrity. Not an area I personally would gamble with though I know many choose to. What does a rebuilt engine and change out cost? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
starvin marvin Posted November 10, 2017 Share Posted November 10, 2017 If you have ever been unfortunately enough to have to have been driving a vehicle when a cam belt has "let go" I assure you, you would arranging replacement immediately. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest pelmetman Posted November 10, 2017 Share Posted November 10, 2017 Zydeco Joe - 2017-11-10 1:01 PM Have had our 2005 Auto Trail Tracker for 5 years and done close on 50,000 miles in it. The Cam Belt was changed by the dealer just before we had the van. Is it due a new Cam Belt or could I wait till next spring. Am planning on a winter trip to Spain doing around 2500 miles. Am looking to change the van next year and this kind of complicates my thinking but would it be for the best ?. I've just paid £250 to change the belts on my 901 quid Toyota purely because its towing our caravan out to Spain ;-) .........as I know how much hassle I'd have trying to sort it out if it went en-route 8-) ....... not to mention the grief I'd get from my brother and SIL who will be driving it :D ....... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Zydeco Joe Posted November 10, 2017 Author Share Posted November 10, 2017 By the look of all your reply's the advice is New Cam Belt. Many thanks to all who have replied I will bite the bullet next week and get it booked in. Not yet sure of cost but thinking around £350 mark ?. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
starvin marvin Posted November 10, 2017 Share Posted November 10, 2017 pelmetman - 2017-11-10 5:49 PM Zydeco Joe - 2017-11-10 1:01 PM Have had our 2005 Auto Trail Tracker for 5 years and done close on 50,000 miles in it. The Cam Belt was changed by the dealer just before we had the van. Is it due a new Cam Belt or could I wait till next spring. Am planning on a winter trip to Spain doing around 2500 miles. Am looking to change the van next year and this kind of complicates my thinking but would it be for the best ?. I've just paid £250 to change the belts on my 901 quid Toyota purely because its towing our caravan out to Spain ;-) .........as I know how much hassle I'd have trying to sort it out if it went en-route 8-) ....... not to mention the grief I'd get from my brother and SIL who will be driving it :D ....... You're joking! there's not two of you. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest pelmetman Posted November 11, 2017 Share Posted November 11, 2017 starvin marvin - 2017-11-10 8:14 PM pelmetman - 2017-11-10 5:49 PM Zydeco Joe - 2017-11-10 1:01 PM Have had our 2005 Auto Trail Tracker for 5 years and done close on 50,000 miles in it. The Cam Belt was changed by the dealer just before we had the van. Is it due a new Cam Belt or could I wait till next spring. Am planning on a winter trip to Spain doing around 2500 miles. Am looking to change the van next year and this kind of complicates my thinking but would it be for the best ?. I've just paid £250 to change the belts on my 901 quid Toyota purely because its towing our caravan out to Spain ;-) .........as I know how much hassle I'd have trying to sort it out if it went en-route 8-) ....... not to mention the grief I'd get from my brother and SIL who will be driving it :D ....... You're joking! there's not two of you. There's actually 4 of us ;-) ........ Can't have too much of a good thing eh Marvin? :D ........ Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
starvin marvin Posted November 11, 2017 Share Posted November 11, 2017 pelmetman - 2017-11-11 2:39 PM starvin marvin - 2017-11-10 8:14 PM pelmetman - 2017-11-10 5:49 PM Zydeco Joe - 2017-11-10 1:01 PM Have had our 2005 Auto Trail Tracker for 5 years and done close on 50,000 miles in it. The Cam Belt was changed by the dealer just before we had the van. Is it due a new Cam Belt or could I wait till next spring. Am planning on a winter trip to Spain doing around 2500 miles. Am looking to change the van next year and this kind of complicates my thinking but would it be for the best ?. I've just paid £250 to change the belts on my 901 quid Toyota purely because its towing our caravan out to Spain ;-) .........as I know how much hassle I'd have trying to sort it out if it went en-route 8-) ....... not to mention the grief I'd get from my brother and SIL who will be driving it :D ....... You're joking! there's not two of you. There's actually 4 of us ;-) ........ Can't have too much of a good thing eh Marvin? :D ........ I think I'll go and have a lie down in a dark room! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest pelmetman Posted November 11, 2017 Share Posted November 11, 2017 starvin marvin - 2017-11-11 3:47 PM pelmetman - 2017-11-11 2:39 PM starvin marvin - 2017-11-10 8:14 PM pelmetman - 2017-11-10 5:49 PM Zydeco Joe - 2017-11-10 1:01 PM Have had our 2005 Auto Trail Tracker for 5 years and done close on 50,000 miles in it. The Cam Belt was changed by the dealer just before we had the van. Is it due a new Cam Belt or could I wait till next spring. Am planning on a winter trip to Spain doing around 2500 miles. Am looking to change the van next year and this kind of complicates my thinking but would it be for the best ?. I've just paid £250 to change the belts on my 901 quid Toyota purely because its towing our caravan out to Spain ;-) .........as I know how much hassle I'd have trying to sort it out if it went en-route 8-) ....... not to mention the grief I'd get from my brother and SIL who will be driving it :D ....... You're joking! there's not two of you. There's actually 4 of us ;-) ........ Can't have too much of a good thing eh Marvin? :D ........ I think I'll go and have a lie down in a dark room! It's not that bad ;-) .......one of them's a girl :D ....... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Zydeco Joe Posted November 16, 2017 Author Share Posted November 16, 2017 Today had the Cam Belt and Water pump changed at Fitch Autos in Brownhills at a cost of £393.60 inc the dreaded vat. Now all set for the winter trip to sunny Spain LOL. B-) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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