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Tension, doe sit really need changing?

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1.6K views 27 replies 8 participants last post by  Callum_T  
C
#1 ·
Im doing my cambelt at the moment but not sure were to draw the line about changing vitals. Im not going to do the water pump as i have just done a coolant change and is fine for now but im not sure if i should get a tensioner or not. Do they fail often? Do i really need to replace it? The car is a 62K...

My bro thinks i should get an origional but i could get a discont price from euro car parts today... what do we think?
 
M
#9 ·
MGR only recommended checking the tensioner and replacing if necessary, but depending on the age and mileage of the car, it is probably worth doing for peace of mind (mind you, I don't think I have ever heard of one failing - I have heard of one or two cam belts failing, usually because they were left too long without replacement).

How much can you get one from Eurocarparts for? Genuine MG Rover ones are available on eBay for around £22:
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/GENUINE-M...ZS-45-75-/310355665864?pt=UK_CarsParts_Vehicles_CarParts_SM&hash=item4842a3a3c8

or:

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/NEW-GENUI...SIONER-W-/270824490622?pt=UK_CarsParts_Vehicles_CarParts_SM&hash=item3f0e65c67e

MGR recommended renewing the patchlok bolt that holds the tensioner at the same time. They are available from XPart for £2.10.

Pengy_666 said:
I've found non gen belt kits are good. Especially gates kits.
Click to expand...
Gates should be good - the genuine MGR cam belts are made by Gates.
 
T
#12 ·
Man in the Car said:
MGR only recommended checking the tensioner and replacing if necessary, but depending on the age and mileage of the car, it is probably worth doing for peace of mind (mind you, I don't think I have ever heard of one failing - I have heard of one or two cam belts failing, usually because they were left too long without replacement).

How much can you get one from Eurocarparts for? Genuine MG Rover ones are available on eBay for around £22:
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/GENUINE-M...ZS-45-75-/310355665864?pt=UK_CarsParts_Vehicles_CarParts_SM&hash=item4842a3a3c8

or:

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/NEW-GENUI...SIONER-W-/270824490622?pt=UK_CarsParts_Vehicles_CarParts_SM&hash=item3f0e65c67e

MGR recommended renewing the patchlok bolt that holds the tensioner at the same time. They are available from XPart for £2.10.


Gates should be good - the genuine MGR cam belts are made by Gates.
Click to expand...
Mine was a gates kit, cambelt and tensioner was around £40, I should actualy remember the proper price as I only changed it this time last saturday lol
 
C
#13 ·
Cheers for all your help guys! I think im going to order a proper Rover one after all as they are cheaper then euro car parts.
Image


Im also worried about my leaking diff seals too. Have cleaned everything up today to see how bad the leak actually is before taking it on holliday. There seems to be some play betwean the drive shaft and diff. You can push the actual shafts up and down a little. Is this normal?
 
H
#14 ·
Ignore the water pump at your peril Callum.... Water pumps have been known to start leaking shortly after a cambelt change, presumably because the belt is guaranteed to run in the exact same position as before.

I'd do the water pump too if I were you, although I understand that it's frustrating since you've changed the coolant already.
 
C
#15 ·
Hmmm, this is annoying. My brother has never changed the water pump on both his K series engines so i might give it a miss as they are alright. Will it give any sing if its going before dumping the coolant?

It hasn't been on the road for a while but im taking it on a 2 and a half hour drive to holliday soon so want to do the belt and tensioner etc...
I think i will do the waterpump when its next on the road for good.
What do you think? Is it really worth it for 2 weeks of driving?

Cheers mate
Image
 
C
#18 ·
Make sure you change the tensioner bud, its a ******* when you dont change it then a week later it mess's up and snap goes the cambelt..

Youll be one angry lad! :lol:

Change the waterpump while your at it mate, they are like £15-20..

Might as well do it while its easily accessible.. No doubt it will start leaking about 500 miles after the new cambelt anyway so might aswell replace it while you at it :)
 
C
#19 ·
Chaz said:
Make sure you change the tensioner bud, its a ******* when you dont change it then a week later it mess's up and snap goes the cambelt..

Youll be one angry lad! :lol:

Change the waterpump while your at it mate, they are like £15-20..

Might as well do it while its easily accessible.. No doubt it will start leaking about 500 miles after the new cambelt anyway so might aswell replace it while you at it :)
Click to expand...
Ahh man, anouther cost :lol:
Is it worth it for a 300 mile ish journy? After 2 weeks she is going back in the garage nice and safe lol
Image

I also dont want to loose my nice new coolant
Image


If you really think i should for the saftey of the car then i probs will but...?
Image
 
R
#20 ·
I can only echo the above. If your changing the belt, then definitely change the water pump and tensioner, if you don't and they let go later on, which is sods law, then it's going to cost a lot more to fix than it would to buy the water pump and tensioner.

Look at it this way, would you reuse the belt after a HG change?
 
C
#21 ·
Well, i have just orderd a new origional tensioner off ebay but im still not sure on the water pump. Havn't really got the money for that and coolant and getting the car on the road etc...
My brother hasn't done it on both his K series anyway and they have been alright :lol:

Who wants to buy me one? :lol:
 
C
#25 ·
Chaz said:
Lol :p

New coolant mate

Unless you've only done about 5 miles on your current coolant? Then just catch it and put it back in mate, if when it comes out it looks a bit rusty and ****ty, put some new in lol..
Click to expand...
errrm, done about 2 miles with the new coolant lol
Image

Although i am also worried about the new one not sealing and giving up on the motorway... We changed the thermostat in my mums old laguna and the new seal didn't work...
Image

We had to use the old seal in the end...
Image
 
M
#27 ·
Water pump leaks immediately after a cam belt change are usually down to overtightening the belt (not necessarily the new belt either) - particularly a problem on the VVC engines and earlier K series with the manual tensioner.

It shouldn't be an issue with the auto-tensioner (although some people do still manage to get them overtight, goodness knows how?).
 
C
#28 ·
Ha, yeah this does have a new auto tensioer to go on for about 350 odd miles and then going to be garaged... The only reason why im not snapping at the chance to fit a new water pump for a few hundred miles is because my brother didn't change his and its fine after a cambelt and tensioner change...
Image
 
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