348 Timing Belt Failure?????

"..... an interesting angle on the discussion I'll grant you that however perhaps more relevant would be if the aviation mechanics who work on 767's are paid considerably more per hour than aviation mechanics who work on turbo props because of the same rational you site above !!!??? "

Actually you are correct. Heavy mechanics make twice what turboprop mechanics make.......Not altogether different skills, just different stakes......

 

I was following your logic 'till the comment about the Redneck's yard. Started laughing so hard I forgot what the thread was even about.

So true.

 

Please let this thread die in peace!

There should be a ban on any thread with "timing belt" in the title.

All this wasted talk and the job could have been done already.

 

Fair enough then. However, in your example, the disparity will always be there and so the difference will be more justifiable. Not in the case of the Ferrari... certainly not all Ferrari’s are NLA parts based rarities. How can the work on a 120K Lexus or 240K BMW be considered lesser than on a 40K GT4 or 70K 308. I'm sure a stuff up on a 5 Series V8 would be just as costly as a GT4. Logic follows then that we should have a sliding scale of hourly rates that increase as the cars price and rarity increases. Anyway this is semantics and gets the thread nowhere.

In the end I never did get an answer to my thread post #14 but boy I've seen some emotive discussion over it here these last days) and clearly never will !

 

Love boatr's comments. I'll go for that. So when I'm controlling a 767 and getting separation from a 747 in thick cloud I get paid double! Then I do that every few minutes, cool, can't wait for my next pay packet Don't begrudge pilots their pay, skilled work. Auto pilot on.....Auto pilot off again..... sorry just mucking about, they earn every penny.

Anyway, guys, got to say, where did all this come from? Yes I threw a bit of a grenade in, maybe it was a tad irresponsible, but I really didn't expect the 'circling of the waggons' by the pros or some of the comments from the owners. I merely asked why it cost so much out there. I expected a responce along the lines of the "parts required cost x out here in the states, I charge y per hour for labour which is pretty much in line with other prestige marques, that gives you a cost of z." Didn't think it was really that tough a question. I've asked on several occasions what a bog standard engine out cam belt service with no extras would cost out there and it appears that no one knows. Ok I guess that's an answer of sorts, little odd but it's an answer.

Got to say, do think some of the comments that have been made were a little below the belt. Most I can cope with but a Toyota!!!! Crikey, that one was uncalled for!

 

"Just now I rang the 'official' dealership here in Melbourne and was quoted the official dealership price of $AUD6,800 for a std cam-belt service (admittedly it was a cold call and he did qualify it by saying if I came in they can look after me !!!)".


Don't mean to drag up the 20 vs 40hr thing again but just to further qualify the call I made the other day to the leading Ferrari Dealership (above).. I did ask how long it would take and they said they would need the car for a week.
When I further qualified the hours he did tell me it would be about 24hrs 'on tools'.... maybe you 40-50hrs+ pro's might need to work just a bit faster...!!!

.....Ops I think I might have ruffled some feathers again !!

 

Mate, yer not helping!

 

I actually dont care how long it takes, as long as its done in good working order I am fine with it. So its wonderful you can have it does in 24hours

But I am so happy mine does it in 40hours and charges me 55,000kc ($2742AUD). But to say maybe us Pro's(Im defending my mechanic) might need to work a bit faster.......Maybe he is slow, but this is the same guy that works on the only Koenigsegg Agera in this region. I trust his work.

 

That's because the answers are ALL screwy.

But here are all the answers.

I have two official books that say the timing belt is to be changed every 52,500 miles.

There was a technical bulletin saying every 30,000 miles or every 3 years

Finally I have an official workshop manual that says the timing belt should be replaced every 35,000 - 45,000 km (21,748 miles - 27,962 miles)

That is why you will never get a straight answer, and why this debate has raged on for years, and years.
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As for me, it's 52,500 miles or bust.

You make your own choice which "official" schedule you want to follow.

 

Sure you don't want to rephrase that one Ernie?

 

Regarding the service schedule, my European looks the same as yours Ernie with the exception that it says "every 24 months" on some items, including cam belt replacement. Oddly it says "every 2 years" on other items which I thought was kind of like every 24 months, but still. The technical bulletin obviously cam out later so replaced that requirement so that's what most go to over here. Well, that's what most say it should be but lots don't stick to it.

 

Nope because that is EXACTLY what I meant. I have 30,000-ish miles on my current belt, and creeping up on the 9 year mark. The miles don't bother me so much, but the time frame does. I pretty much have all the stuff I need to do the engine out major. I just haven't decided I'm gonna do it yet. I may do it this winter, I may do it next year, I may wait until it turns over 100,000 miles, and it may even bust in the mean time. LOL!

 

LOL. Good luck with it. Of course if the time bothers you but the milage doesn't could always go on a serious road trip. Just take some spares along if I were you

 

West coast 30k miles is like 150K on the east coast, keep it running...

Make sure you instal a new rectal thermometer & sending unit during the major, its deeply imbedded and everyone forgets to change it

 

As for me, it's 52,500 miles or bust.

You make your own choice which "official" schedule you want to follow.


.................Thanks guys got more info out of the last few posts than the rest of the thread. Can't believe the official variation, that’s staggering.

How hard is it to simply check the belt?

If a belt is starting to go can you tell?

Are the signs of fatigue visible and checkable?

I have the plastic covers on mine and have seen previous comments on how you must not touch these as they can crack (other recent thread)..!!!


So I am 3yrs 5 mths and 12,588 Km's from its last major (belt,seals,tensioners etc) done by the major dealership I purchased it from. No track driving.. fairly regular use.. Would you agree I'm safe for another couple of years (no liability of course on your comments )

 

What do you think?

A) 52.5K
B) 30K/3yrs
C) 21k-27k
D) All of the above
E) None of the above

(as the Final Jeopardy theme song plays)

LOL!!!

 

.... maybe just put all the possibilities into a hat and draw one out !!

Another question....? God forbid!!

What is the more important parameter time or Km's. With all other cars I have dealt with (with rubber belts) Lexus. Alfa Romeo Audi even a Daewoo !! They only ever specify Kms.
I can only assume this is because some Ferrari's can sit for years with little or no movement so a belt I guess can harden over a long period of time without use (much like tyres I guess) but if you’re using the car reasonably regularly, say every other weekend 100 k or so, would the kms be more relevant ?

Any comments from the pros of which we(I) do genuninely value your input and appreciate good genuine advise !!

 

Hell my own waste belt get's changed out long before the timing belt is due so I consider that justification for keeping the service at 30K or five years with mild driving. Less with more abusive use. Just my two cents

 

ROFL not to discourage you but let me translate. "Patience is a virtue" Sun Tzu.

4 hours for engine removal=Broken ****
2 hours to get the water pump, timing belts etc. off=Not done yet
2 hours to clean up the engine and engine bay=Overspray
2 hours to rebuild water pump=More broken ****
2 hours to put timing belts etc.=A perfect world!
4 hours to time the cams=if you have done this before.
2 hours for valve cover R&R (will have them stripped and coated between weekends)=Yes but send them out for re-finishing
4 hours to put engine back in=If your name is Brian or Dave
2 hours to check over everything.=40 more if you missed something

 

Since I love to work on my 348, I will be doing my major every 5 years because for me it will be a great time! In fact, it is all I can do to keep myself from doing it earlier than that. I can't wait to pull the engine and detail everything out. I am installing a twin post MaxJax lift just for this reason. So I could care less how long the belts will last. I will just be having fun!

 

.....thanks thats good news and realistic I think !!... how much does the waste belt changeover cost ?!?!??!?!

 

Luckily for me it's just the belt! Still holding a 34" waist at 37.

 

....well done.. wish I could say the same at 53

 

Paraphrasing someone here once from years back, when timing belt threads were tired then:


"Every belt I ever saw looked almost brand new ............ EXCEPT for the BROKEN part."