Timing Belt change / 348

I was going to do my cam belt/major around now. It is due, IF I follow the cars history from new. The cam belt/major service has been done every 3 years ,regardless of miles. The belt was last done in 2003. I have since put on around 2400 miles on the new belt. Most guys here told me to wait and do it at 5 years. So I think the consensus here now is around 5 years, regardless of mile. Go with 5 years. Im going to wait another 2 years before I do mine now.

 

My Major is being now, I am curious to see the belts that are in it.
I will post it when I see them.

 

If we all bought NSX's instead, we wouldn't be having this conversation

 

That sounds like a plan. Can I get an NSX in red/tan?

 

Mine goes for the major in a few weeks @ Sport Auto in Summerfield NC. Last known major was 3 years ago. Anxious to see the condition of the belt and the shock/horror on ferrarioldman's face when they pull the dirty oily lump from my car.

It has been three years to the mark, and about 20K miles.

 

You are doing yours every 3 years mate? Maybe I should do mine then? Not wait another 2 years. Then again, I have only done 2400 miles in the last 1.4 years. Not as much work as your 348 has done.

 

Pap -

I'm going to follow the Ferrari spec for my car, because I'm not rich enough for a valve job if it goes ka-blammo.

-d

 

Yeah. You are onto something there mate.

 

I thought that the belt was replaced everytime a major was done? Mine needs the 3 year service this summer and I was assuming the belt gets replaced whether it needs it or not.

 

Cam belt. Yes, every 3 years is Ferrari factory spec. But some say you can go 5 years before a major service. Which is what has me on the fence at the moment....... Alt and A/C belts also, as they need to be removed anyways to replace cam belt.

 

I went a little over 5 years last time before doing the major and I am again at 5 years come this December. I plan on getting it done in the next few months. I went to the Ferrari dealership last time but this time I was considering using Sports Cars of Atlanta. Anybody ever use them?

 

I'm sorry, but I just don't buy it! Who makes these belts? I believe there are only a few manufacturers out there and they are making belts out of the same materials for other automobiles that will last 100,000 miles and certainly over 3 years!! I understand the fear of destroying an engine if one goes, but I have seen plenty of brand new parts fail. In fact, I am more afraid of a new untested belt than one with plenty of hours on it. If time is such a factor, does the belt have a date stamp so we know how long it has been sitting on a shelf?

However, I do inspect my belt regularly, and will replace it at the first sign of trouble.

 

This topic has been done to death. Belts can fail (or a tensioner/water pump can take them out even though the belt is good) - there was a case posted recently where it failed at 6 years. Lots of work/expense. The VW/Audi 1.8T engine is now known to be prone to belt failure and replacement in recommended at 60K/6 years.

If you do not want to do the service don't do it, but keep the money you save in the bank just in case...

It cost's an extra £300GB a year (over 3 years) to have the belt changed above the normal servicing costs. Not worth the risk IMO.

 

Not to start an arguement, but the Honda/Acura engine is also an interference motor (at least thats what my mechanic told me). It needs belts at 60,000 miles. The differnece is it's about $400 dollars for the Acura vs. $7000 for the Ferrari.

Anyway, my belts were last change in 2000. Major schaedules for this winter. I will be very curious as to how the old belts look.

 

I agree, this topic IS old, but I finally had to voice my opinion.

For me, it's not about saving money, or an ounce of prevention being worth a pound of cure. I'm more concerned about doing more harm than good. You introduce more wear and tear on bolts, threads, wires, etc. every time you disassemble and reassemble something. Not to mention the potential for accidental damage caused while in the shop.

But again, I still don’t buy this time thing. Even if I change my belt every three years, I don’t know how old the belt was when I bought it. So I could be past my maintenance schedule before the belt is installed. If Ferrari, or any other manufacturer really believed this, they would require a date stamp be placed on the belt at the time of manufacture.

 

So would I, when you get your service done, please get pictures of the your six year old belt and the new belt side by side and post them. I'm sure I'm not the only one who want's to see the difference. How many miles are on this belt?

 

What he said. I'm on the Ferrari-specified three-year plan for my 328. It's not about how long belt rubber lasts. It's about maintaining the entire mechanism.

 

Hey, everyone's got to do what makes them feel warm and fuzzy. But I think some of these maintenance schedules are driven by their legal/accounting departments rather than their engineering department.

The original owners manual doesn't require a belt replacement for 50,000 miles. Yet somehow it has been cut in half. Are their engineers that stupid? Or are are their lawyers and accountants that afraid.

Anyway, all of this has been said before; I'm just weighing in on performing regular inspections, paying attention to your car, and not ignoring the warning signs (odd noises, leaks, etc.).

 

Good point. If you are replacing your 5 yr old belt with a belt that has been sitting for 5 yrs., how good is that. I wish they would date stamp these belts. Especially with a low production car like Ferrari. How many production runs do they manufacture for a particluar model belt.

 

Agreed, pulling things apart for the sake of it makes no sense. In this case though the book that came with my EU92' car says 2 years - a fellow fchatter reported serious damage when a belt let go at 6 years. I'm going to split the difference.

I'm thinking more and more that doing a 'quickie' job (tank out, new belt, inspect bearings) after 3 years then a 'full monty' (subframe down, new WP, hoses, tensioners, valve clearance etc.) on 6 years could be a good compromise.