Cambelt replacement cost and other matters

On an MOT they do have to rev up the engine for a short period and if the belt has been neglected then it can fail.

Most garages will ask when the belt was last replaced and warn you if they think there is a risk of failure.

It is a good idea to give a Diesel a bit of a burn up or a good run before the test as this is known to improve the emissions result. I drive for about a minute in 3rd gear at 3500 to 4000 rpm. But not with a worn out cambelt!

Alec

Where i take my car for the M.O.T. they never rev it hard, they hold it at 2-3000 rpm only for a short time.i got told by a pug garage that there is no need to rev the engine at high revs, from Chris Addlestone Surrey

The chap I use in Gloucester charges about that much. I think it was even cheaper for the 106 and =A3120 for my Xantia. Citroen wanted =A3300 for the Xantia.

--=20 Malc

Thanks for the replies Alec/Chris/Malc. It was enough to prompt me to phone my local peugeot dealer and have a chat with the service dept. I was told the test for my car could invlove running the engine at about

3500 is about 93mph in fifth. I don't know how the strain equates but decided on balance of needs/costs that I would risk it. I dropped by the garage tonight to check a windscreen repair was adequate and the put it through the re-test => pass. Phew.

Cambelt is booked with Mr Cheap next week. What else would I do £300 vs £120 from an established garage that specialises in this engine? Strange that I think I would have felt easier had the offer been say £180.

Still proving allround to be an economical little car to keep.

I would be inclined to make sure they fit a genuine Peugeot cambelt, even if you supply one yourself. I really don't trust any other make. A lot of money to put the engine right if it goes prematurely.

That used to be the diesel test several years ago, but it was changed due to the excess risk of breaking the belt. My MOT man refused to test diesels at that time. The test now requires the engine to be revved up to near max momentarily four or five times, and the average figure is taken. This is far less dangerous for the belt.

If your Peugeot garage is insisting on using the old method, then how out of date are they on other things?

As has been said, it is a good idea to take the car out to a quiet bit of road and just put your foot down in second and leave it there for about 30 seconds. It clears all sorts of s*1t out of the system, ready for the emmissions test.

I did feel like I was pushing his memory to come up with the above. It was not exactly on the tip of his tongue so I would guess the actual method used by this guy could be anything and he was trying to quote what he thought it should be.

As it happens I may have been fortunate that they re-tested it just after I had driven it several miles back from getting the last of the faults fixed.

I am feeling fairly fortunate allround as with just a small change in the circumstances of who I talked to and when it could have cost me upto £843 to get through this MOT and get the cam belt done. Instead it will cost me £273 in total.

(I did drop by gifts4life.org just to make sure feeling so pleased with myself doesn't wreck my Karma)

OR PUT SOME OF THAT CLEANER IN THE TANK AND GIVE IT A RUN DOWN TO THE COAST.OR ROUND THE M25? From Chris Addlestone Surrey

I guess if you live on the coast it's doable (is the ozone good for your emmisions then) but the M25 120 miles at 30 mph? plus getting to it in the first place? sounds rather excessive and unnecessary. Sure you know what your shouting about? ;)

YES I DO