On 28/02/2020 23:25, Steve Walker wrote:
On 28/02/2020 15:40, Dave Plowman (News) wrote:
In article ,
Â*Â*Â* Tim Lamb wrote:
That would have traded out at about £2 with a new cambelt and dealers
guarantee.

Dealer charge for a cam belt/water pump job on a Ford Fiesta is around
£800! Anyone care to buy a low mileage 10 year old Zetec?

Odd, isn't it? When they first arrived they were little different to a
fan
belt to change.

Think there's a Ferrari which gets the award, though. Engine out job
for a
routine cam belt change.

I was going to change my cam-belt soon (Zafira B 1.8) and was finding
kitsÂ* (including water pump) for around £99. I spoke to a local,
independent garage that I trust (I don't trust many of them) and they,
because they can buy kits much cheaper, quoted only £150-odd to supply
and fit! For the sake of £50-odd, I can't be bothered doing the work
myself. I can make that up by spending two extra hours at work.

SteveW

It is crucially dependent on the vehicle.

Some vehicles its a 'cam cover off, lock crank and cam in place, release
tensioner, remove and replace belt, replace cover, and go'.

For other vehicles it may mean dismantling half the car to get at it.


It's the same for many other components. On my freelander the thermostat
was almost impossible to reach without dismantling large amounts of
underbonnet trash, similar for the high pressure fuel pump.
But the turbo-to-inlet hose which splits often, is a 2 minute job with a
screwdriver.

Clutches that need a complete gearbox removal or and engine removal are
another sometimes expensive item

--
Any fool can believe in principles - and most of them do!