Cambelt gone advice needed please

[Ramsey]

Where do I start!
just 5 months ago I had to have a new head on my loved Bongo. Driving home today from Exeter with the kids in the car it cut out, I just managed to coast into a parking point which was very lucky as it could have been very nasty breaking down in the middle of the A30 with two children and one disabled, so I was very very lucky.
Not so lucky with the Bongo though. The recovery guy came out and straight away said cambelt. He prised the casing open a little to see that the belt was still on but had jumped a tooth and was frayed.
It cost me £1756 just 5 months for a new head! I thought that this was it she would be fine for at least another 4yrs.

I looked on my reciept and there is no evidence that they changed the cambelt though 3 different mechanics were amazed that they wouldnt have changed it when doing the head and also stated that it maybe a tensioning issue that caused the problem?
Im so gutted, I really dont have the money to keep throwing at this motor but cant do without it.
Where do I stand? Should the previous garage have changed the belt or tensioned it correctly, do I have any chance of getting them to fix the motor? Its parked outside my house at the mo so I have no idea how bad the damage is.

Al, If the garage wont do the work for free or reduced rate would you be able to fit me in please if I get it recovered to you?

Any help or advice would be great.
Thanks from one very sad Bongo owner.

Rams.

[francophile1947]

What a bu££er Contact the garage to see what they say. I'd be amazed if they didn't fit a new belt and tensioner when doing the head. I'm pretty sure that a cambelt should never be reused

[Ramsey]

I really hope your right mate as he can then reclaim his money from the belt supplier.
Would be great if anyone else new of whether you can reuse a cambelt to confirm Johns thoughts?
Cheers.

[haydn callow]

You can reuse a cambelt if you want to I suppose, if it looks o.k. then some people would .
Having said that ...whilst it's all in bits having the head done It would certainly make sense to stick a new one on.
Lets hope no harm has been done to the new head and a new cambelt fixes it....Shouldn't cost much and perhaps the garage that fitted the head will do it to keep a customer happy.

[Ramsey]

even though I caught it quickly and coasted with the engine off the recovery guy said it takes no time for major damage?
I heard a weird flapping noise for about 2 seconds and then the engine cut out? Would you expect to hear a lot of noise and juddering if lots of damage was done, it was all quick and quiet.
I hope your right Hayden.

[steviebongo]

I've done a few belts on the ford ranger fitted with the wlt engine and usually when the belt goes it damages the followers,and I would'nt refit an old belt ,u just dont no how long it will last.hopefully it's just done a few followers in and a new belt and tensioner will be all it needs.best of luck and in my opinion the garage should be het for the repair.


cheers stevie

[rita]

Hi,
After paying £1756 for a replacement head I would think they would have replaced the belt and tensioner assy.

I would also be looking for a guarantee for the work carried out.

Best of luck..

[dandywarhol]

It would make no sense, no matter how new the belt looked, to refit a used belt!

[Allans]

Sorry to hear this Ramsey. You have had some problems with that garage.

Al, If the garage wont do the work for free or reduced rate would you be able to fit me in please if I get it recovered to you?

If the message is for me, I have sent you a pm.

[Ramsey]

Hi Al, it was for you so thanks for the PM.
Im in a bit of a difficult position now, they want the vehicle in and said that they did change the belt and if its their fault they will do the work for free BUT if its something else they havent done then its chargeable!
I dont have much trust Im afraid in them and fear that I will take it in and they will blame something else and then Im stuck as the car will be in bits so I will have to use them.

Would it be wrong of me to pay another mechanic to check what the issue is first? I would imagine by just taking the belt cover off you would see exactly what caused it? They mentioned pulleys etc?

I hate feeling misstrusting but it just doesnt stack up and I cant afford their prices again.
What do you think?

Rams

Al, I have pmed you back

[Allans]

Al, I have pmed you back

I've pm'd you again.

[bigdaddycain]

A used cambelt should never be re-used. And i'm pretty sure a new belt should have been fitted at the time of the cylinder head replacement.

I'm afraid you'd be lucky to get the garage to foot the bill for this. The garage you used won't have manufactured the (likely to be spurious) belt, and will simply pass the belt on to the manufacturer for analysis. The chances are they WILL find some other reason the belt became defective other than there own manufacture process, i have seen this just too many times before.

I think it's the first time i've heard of a cambelt letting go on a bongo though...

Best of luck...

[missfixit70]

I was quite surprised that the workshop manual states it's ok to reuse a cambelt if it looks ok??? I certainly wouldn't be happy reusing a cambelt I must admit.

[bigdaddycain]

Me neither Kirsty... Too risky considering the cost of one