When did you get your cambelt changed?

[mancunian 0]

Lotus say get the cambelt changed every 24000 miles or 4? years if earlier.

When did you actually get yours done?

[mike_sekinger 705]

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.

[superdavelotus 124]

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

[snuffy 0]

Chris Neal told me 24k was what they recommend.

[jonesl 0]

Chris Neal told me 24k was what they recommend.

Yep, 24K it is... got mine done @48k

[leighton 0]

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 !!

[spoonito 0]

I just purchased a 2001 with almost 20K miles... It had the belt replaced right before I bought it.

[outtamyway 0]

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.

[Bernie 0]

Changed at 23567 miles...Done by Lotus dealer with engine in place...

Edited October 24, 2006 by Bernie

[2003 V8 TT 0]

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

[jeff_hooper 0]

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

[hedgerley 449]

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?

[2003 V8 TT 0]

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).

[Paul93Lotus 7]

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

[redshift 32]

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

[david hopwood 1]

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

[MGFCrasher 0]

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!!

[mike_sekinger 705]

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.

[redshift 32]

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....

[Phil_B 0]

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

[andyblackman777 43]

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