mancunian 0 Posted October 19, 2006 Report Share Posted October 19, 2006 Lotus say get the cambelt changed every 24000 miles or 4? years if earlier. When did you actually get yours done? Quote Link to post Share on other sites
mike_sekinger 694 Posted October 19, 2006 Report Share Posted October 19, 2006 Mine is a 1999 car with only 21K miles. I had the belts changed only this last month, because when checked they were fine. It is only a precautionary measure that I change them now, as they still appeared to be perfectly serviceable. Quote 1996 Esprit V8, 1998 Esprit V8 GT, 1999 Esprit S350 #002 (Esprit GT1 replica project), 1996 Esprit V8 GT1 (chassis 114-001), 1992 Lotus Omega (927E), 1999 Esprit V8SE, 1999 Esprit S350 #032, 1995 Esprit S4s, 1999 Esprit V8 GT (ex-5th Gear project), 1999 Esprit V8SE ('02 rear) 1999 S350 #002 Esprit GT1 replica Link to post Share on other sites
superdavelotus 124 Posted October 19, 2006 Report Share Posted October 19, 2006 I thought it went down from 72K to 36K? It's now gone down further to 24K you say? I don't really have the issue on mileage, more age. I agree that 4 years is long enough to leave a cam belt on so looks like next year a cam belt for me and I'll have only done 10K since the last one! Mine have been changed at 21439 in Oct 2003 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
snuffy 0 Posted October 19, 2006 Report Share Posted October 19, 2006 Chris Neal told me 24k was what they recommend. Quote Right then, said Fred. Link to post Share on other sites
jonesl 0 Posted October 19, 2006 Report Share Posted October 19, 2006 Chris Neal told me 24k was what they recommend. Yep, 24K it is... got mine done @48k Quote Link to post Share on other sites
leighton 0 Posted October 19, 2006 Report Share Posted October 19, 2006 I put this very question to Brian ( Lotus's engine guru ) on the factory day . He recommends changing at 24000 miles, but to get the tension checked EVERY YEAR . I'll be taking his advice !! Quote Link to post Share on other sites
spoonito 0 Posted October 19, 2006 Report Share Posted October 19, 2006 I just purchased a 2001 with almost 20K miles... It had the belt replaced right before I bought it. Quote Garage: 2001 Lotus Esprit V8 2003 Kawasaki ZX6RR 1994 Toyota 4Runner Wish list: MV Agusta F4-1000 Tamburini Link to post Share on other sites
outtamyway 0 Posted October 20, 2006 Report Share Posted October 20, 2006 I just purchased a 2001 with almost 20K miles... It had the belt replaced right before I bought it. Lotus USA warranty Rep in Atlanta told me that they will replace the belt @ 4 1/2 years if you don't hit the milage which I think was 24K. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Bernie 0 Posted October 20, 2006 Report Share Posted October 20, 2006 (edited) Changed at 23567 miles...Done by Lotus dealer with engine in place... Edited October 24, 2006 by Bernie Quote Link to post Share on other sites
2003 V8 TT 0 Posted October 20, 2006 Report Share Posted October 20, 2006 So how many of you paid for the belt change, and how many of you didn't (warranty job)? What is the rough estimate of the job? I've had it done on my S4 but never on a V8. '03 V8 with 10k miles...looking to get my timing belt covers opened up and the belts retentioned for the first time at 12k miles -- is that a warranty service or out-of-pocket service? -Will Boston, MA USA Quote SPOOL 'EM UP! http://www.lotusenthusiasts.org/Cars/WilliamJan/Default.asp Link to post Share on other sites
jeff_hooper 0 Posted October 20, 2006 Report Share Posted October 20, 2006 So how many of you paid for the belt change, and how many of you didn't (warranty job)? What is the rough estimate of the job? I've had it done on my S4 but never on a V8. '03 V8 with 10k miles...looking to get my timing belt covers opened up and the belts retentioned for the first time at 12k miles -- is that a warranty service or out-of-pocket service? -Will Boston, MA USA If you need to pay for the cam belt change care you don't get ripped of by people that claim its an engine out job - charge you for it and then DON'T take the engine out. Its a perfectly okay job for an experienced mechanic used to the Lotus V8 - I've heard that is the current factory advice to do it engine in. I've heard some Lotus specialists/garages in the UK have refused to do the work due to lack of experienced staff. To sell the car in the USA Lotus had to claim a certain life between cambelt changes - 72,000 (?). But never intended to let the cars do that sort of mileage and belts were changed at factory expense at much shorter intervals. (The more cynical of us - like me, may suggest that as a safety measure the engines were specially designed to self destruct in other ways well before the cambelt would actually snap! Usefull if ever a car never saw a main dealer for a service and the secret cambelt change - of course they can then just blame the failure on lack of proper servicing). Checking the belt tensions is an annual service item. Jeff Quote Link to post Share on other sites
hedgerley 440 Posted October 23, 2006 Report Share Posted October 23, 2006 Mine is due and I've had the quote, confirming it is an engine out job. Who should I point them to at the factory if they say it can be done without removal - Brian Angus? My dealer (who has been impecable up to now by the way) is unlikely to take my word for it. BTW, I am following the handbook recommendation of 36k/3 years (my 3 years are up) How long have they been recommending 24k? They are also saying I should change the clutch if the engine is coming out. It was replaced not long before I bought the car, about 12k miles back (current mileage 42k) and I am having no problems with it. Is this worth doing or is the dealer simply racking the work up for the sake of it? Quote Link to post Share on other sites
2003 V8 TT 0 Posted October 24, 2006 Report Share Posted October 24, 2006 Mine is due and I've had the quote, confirming it is an engine out job. Who should I point them to at the factory if they say it can be done without removal - Brian Angus? My dealer (who has been impecable up to now by the way) is unlikely to take my word for it. BTW, I am following the handbook recommendation of 36k/3 years (my 3 years are up) How long have they been recommending 24k? They are also saying I should change the clutch if the engine is coming out. It was replaced not long before I bought the car, about 12k miles back (current mileage 42k) and I am having no problems with it. Is this worth doing or is the dealer simply racking the work up for the sake of it? Here you go: http://www.lotusespritworld.co.uk/EGuides/...l/Cambelts.html Gives all the explanations, except for whether I should pay out-of-pocket (if so, how much) or if it's a warranty covered item (in the USA). Quote SPOOL 'EM UP! http://www.lotusenthusiasts.org/Cars/WilliamJan/Default.asp Link to post Share on other sites
Paul93Lotus 7 Posted October 26, 2006 Report Share Posted October 26, 2006 (edited) They are also saying I should change the clutch if the engine is coming out. It was replaced not long before I bought the car, about 12k miles back (current mileage 42k) and I am having no problems with it. Is this worth doing or is the dealer simply racking the work up for the sake of it? I think that's the mentality of "do-it while we're in there". I guess it would depend on if the engine is coming out of course as you would save on the labor..since breaking the tranny apart from the motor while it is being removed might be done anyway. I guess it would depend on some factors like how long did the last clutch last, do you drive the car hard (hard take-offs and shift changes) that might contribute to wear. You'd be looking at a steep bill though for parts as they will likely replace the t-o bearing and resurface or replace the flywheel. I know on several cars I've had replacing the thermostat and water pump were no brainers on front wheel drive V6's, as well as cam seals as you just don't want to do the job twice if one of the others fail. Especially for a thermostat. Edited October 26, 2006 by Paul93Lotus Quote Link to post Share on other sites
redshift 32 Posted October 31, 2006 Report Share Posted October 31, 2006 (edited) Timely thread. I have just found a 2001 V8 in LHD. Only 24K km so I asked if and when the belts had been changed. Dealer (Lotus) replied that they are done at 120K km or 8 years and that they were the official Lotus figures. Are these figures of 36K miles or 24K miles 'recommendations' or the official service intervals?? May help negotiate the price........... Edited October 31, 2006 by redshift Quote Link to post Share on other sites
david hopwood 0 Posted October 31, 2006 Report Share Posted October 31, 2006 Timely thread. I have just found a 2001 V8 in LHD. Only 24K km so I asked if and when the belts had been changed. Dealer (Lotus) replied that they are done at 120K km or 8 years and that they were the official Lotus figures. Are these figures of 36K miles or 24K miles 'recommendations' or the official service intervals?? May help negotiate the price........... just a quick note on the question of does the engine come out or stay in .well the engine stays in,if you look at the cam covers you will see two bolts on each at the front these are removed and special tolerance pins are inserted with another pin locking the crank in the timing position normally things would line up and our belts can be replaced without anything moving out of line.Things would only become more complicated if the tolerance pins would not fit,and then it is only plenum and cam covers off to use special tools to lock the cams whilst the pully bolts are loosend.I bevieve the main reason this job has been cocked up on so many engines is the cam pullys on the v8s have no keyways they taper lock.I was wondering where to take my car for belts last month but would walk away from anyone who told me it was a engine out job Quote Dave Hopwood Link to post Share on other sites
MGFCrasher 0 Posted October 31, 2006 Report Share Posted October 31, 2006 My car has done 26 k and the belts were done at 22k. My usual rule of thumb is unless there is a bill that can be checked back to the dealer/service dept DO THE CAM BELT!! Quote Link to post Share on other sites
mike_sekinger 694 Posted October 31, 2006 Report Share Posted October 31, 2006 Dealer (Lotus) replied that they are done at 120K km or 8 years and that they were the official Lotus figures. Are these figures of 36K miles or 24K miles 'recommendations' or the official service intervals?? To my knowledge, the original Lotus Service interval for cambelts was 36K miles or 3 years. There was a service bulletin updating that schedule and reducing the interval to 24K miles or 3 years. At no time have Lotus V8 engines had a cambelt service life of 120K Kms or 8 years - your Dealer is either confused, ill informed or answering the wrong question. Quote 1996 Esprit V8, 1998 Esprit V8 GT, 1999 Esprit S350 #002 (Esprit GT1 replica project), 1996 Esprit V8 GT1 (chassis 114-001), 1992 Lotus Omega (927E), 1999 Esprit V8SE, 1999 Esprit S350 #032, 1995 Esprit S4s, 1999 Esprit V8 GT (ex-5th Gear project), 1999 Esprit V8SE ('02 rear) 1999 S350 #002 Esprit GT1 replica Link to post Share on other sites
redshift 32 Posted October 31, 2006 Report Share Posted October 31, 2006 Thanks for the comments. Just got a reply from Dave Massey at Lotus to confirm that the current schedule is: 40,000km / 4 years for replacement and 20,000km / 2 years for tensioning. I think this dealer is hoping he can shift the car without having to cover a B service. I'll see if he will move on the price now.... Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Phil_B 0 Posted November 3, 2006 Report Share Posted November 3, 2006 Yep, mine done at about 24K miles, and have just had the engine rebuilt (45k miles), andso obviously did the belts again (and the clutch for good measure). The 24K miles bulletin must have come in a while back, as it was done quite a while ago at 24K. Phil B Quote Link to post Share on other sites
andyblackman777 39 Posted November 3, 2006 Report Share Posted November 3, 2006 hi, Yes i agree with the 2yrs for tension and 4 yrs for changing never do the mileage! I think the 8 yrs 100000 miles was for the USA to be able to sell the car there. They got changed for free anyway at normal service intervals!!!! cheers Andy Quote Link to post Share on other sites
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