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[mikemeega]

Hi , my first post for some much needed advice from you all. Having read a few posts on this subject i'm getting a bit twitchy  :-? !!
My 2.5 V6 estate has done 80k and last belt change was done at 65k, that sounds ok.....but in dec 2002 .
Basically the previous owner has hardly used it over the last couple of years which is why he sold it. The mileage does tally up with prev mot's and service record, the worrying thing is obviously the time scale.
before i bought it i thought it was 80k/8yr (which it also states in service record book) which is clearly not the case now.
Is it the mileage covered that is more wear on the belt and idlers or as it has only covered 15k , or will the time factor 5, nearly 6 years be just as critical?
I have got the DVD from the shop and its great, would nt even consider doing it myself without it, or the locking kit, but do you think i'm worrying about it too much or should i try and do it asap...your advice would be a great help.   sorry for the long question

[Brian T]

Hi Mikemeega,

VX changed their schedule from 80k to 40k some years ago now. Most of the peeps on here would suggest changing it if you have no reliable proof of when it was last changed. In any case if it's not been changed since 2002 regardless of the milage I think I'd sleep better at nights knowing it was done.
The kit's contain all the bits you need and are not too expensive even without a trade card.
I did mine with the forums advice although mine is only a 4 pot. but from what I've heard if you follow the DVD and the How2 on the site http://www.omegaowners.com/forum/YaBB.pl?num=1156070744 you can't go wrong

[jonathanh]

change it : belts and stuff perish with age.  If I were you, I'd give it a good service: change the filters and fluids: oil, water, brake etc as well

[mikemeega]

Thanks Brian T,  would you reccomend a vx kit or one like gates which are cheaper, has anyone used a gates kit , i've seen them on ebay for £40-50, i assume you get the back plate and idlers in it

[Kevin Wood]

Thanks Brian T,  would you reccomend a vx kit or one like gates which are cheaper, has anyone used a gates kit , i've seen them on ebay for £40-50, i assume you get the back plate and idlers in it

Make sure the back plates and idlers are included as it is these that fail first, so they must be changed with the belt.

Beware there are incomplete kits available on Ebay.

Kevin

[Elite Pete]

Hi Mike, I would change the cambelt and tensioners asap. If it were my car I would also do the water pump at the same time, adds about £30 to the cost and about 15 minutes, but its done then. I have used both genuine and these https://sslrelay.com/buypartsby.co.uk/timing-belt-kit-info.php?recordID=6719 but again if it were my car, I would buy genuine.

[Brian T]

Thanks Brian T,  would you reccomend a vx kit or one like gates which are cheaper, has anyone used a gates kit , i've seen them on ebay for £40-50, i assume you get the back plate and idlers in it

VX, Gates or Contitech are reccomended on here by most. I used a company called http://www.buypartsby.co.uk/ for mine and they supplied a contitech kit.
I'm sure the V6'ers on here will give you sound advice....and more pertinent!

[Alex Wood]

This sounds familiar! Did my cambelt kit a couple of weeks ago with the DVD. Mine had done 82k, with last change at around 40 but in 2002. Bought it with 63k on the clock and decided I'd let it run to the mileage interval (ok, couple of thou over in the end!)

Condition of the belt and tensioners was fine, looked like they could have done another 40.

I do a lot of miles and my attitude was: I trust the service history and will probably end up doing one cambelt change per year so I'm sticking to the 40k even though it's been nearly 6 years. Although the car didn't have much use in the couple of years before I bought it, it was never laid up so at least the belt turned once in a while!

I bought a genuine Vx kit with ABS trade club but chickened out of trying to fit the UNMARKED belt that Vx now supply! I bought a Gates belt from a motor factor with nice comforting lines on it to ensure it's on properly. Doubtless this becomes easy to judge after you've fitted a few but on my first go I didn't fancy it!

[dbug]

Thanks Brian T,  would you reccomend a vx kit or one like gates which are cheaper, has anyone used a gates kit , i've seen them on ebay for £40-50, i assume you get the back plate and idlers in it

VX, Gates or Contitech are reccomended on here by most. I used a company called http://www.buypartsby.co.uk/ for mine and they supplied a contitech kit.
I'm sure the V6'ers on here will give you sound advice....and more pertinent!

Got 2 Contitech kits from these for V6 - £50 each when i got them, now £60 each (still cheaper than Vx Trade Club - £97, and likely to be same kit as Vx supply!).  Good service & delivery.  Will be fitting the 2 kits i bought this week & next week (2 V6s).  Quality looks first rate.

[mikemeega]

Thanks all, made mind up to have a go as soon as i get locking tool , as you all say...peace of mind

[JamesV6CDX]

Im In Cardiff, I could always pop down to Swansea, lend you my locking tool while you do the job, and take it back

[mikemeega]

wow !! thanks james,  very kind, i'll pm you when i have sorted a day to do it, i wouldn't expect you to come all the way though, perhaps meet along m4 at sarn serv or something, unless you want to earn some beer money that is , i would come to cardiff whenever..i'm ok at normal servicing,brakes etc but i'm nervous about this...thanks again  

[JamesV6CDX]

wow !! thanks james,  very kind, i'll pm you when i have sorted a day to do it, i wouldn't expect you to come all the way though, perhaps meet along m4 at sarn serv or something, unless you want to earn some beer money that is , i would come to cardiff whenever..i'm ok at normal servicing,brakes etc but i'm nervous about this...thanks again  

Cover the cost of the fuel mate that's all, no money required.
I'll hang around while you use it, and give some advice if you get stuck

[mikemeega]

thanks james that would be great...i want to do it a day next week possibly, or week after   ....i'm feeling better already !!!

[JamesV6CDX]

thanks james that would be great...i want to do it a day next week possibly, or week after   ....i'm feeling better already !!!

I've done several of the buggers so no need to get nervous, I'll step in if needs be. But, have a go as next time you'll have the confidence