THIS JUST IN: BELT SERVICE ONCE A MONTH!

Italian and 'subtle' don't exactly mix well.

 

To be fair Rob, Ferrari has since the intro said 3 years for the 360 and has retroactively applied that to all cars back to and including the 355.

 

Brian, of course, as usual, is correct. Dale

 

I go with 5 years as realistic with a HUGE safety margin.......

10 years is also realistic for those accepting a little risk factor.

Amanda DID give me a new belt for Christmas though, so at least my pants won't fall down as I replace the engine..............LOL!

If I was worried about a 360 under warranty, I guess you do as they say......

Once a month sounds like 'belts and suspenders' to me.......

 

He's referencing this post, in which someone quotes FoD

http://ferrarichat.com/forum/showpost.php?p=134656497&postcount=9

 

I am usually very conservative with Ferrari belt changes and therefore opted for the Fiorano "changa-whila- you- driva" option- belts are changed automatically as soon as an electronic sensor determines that it is appropriate, based on driving style, conditions and driver's pocketbook. This is to be distinguished from the Porsche GT2 "valence replacement program" which mandates (achtungg) that every time you go over a curb cut or driveway entrance, you spend 300 dollars to replace a piece of plastic suspended so close to the ground that it is designed to crack, chip or splinter when it invariably makes impact.

 

There's not much moderation in our moderator!

 

I was told that the new belt design had increased the interval back to 5 years by my dealer, six months ago when I had mine replaced.

 

I'd say just use your judgement and common sense. I plan on doing my belts again at 40-45,000 miles which will mean an interval of 3-3.5 years.

Below is my dealer's recommendations.
Image Unavailable, Please Login
Image Unavailable, Please Login

 

Is it mileage or the environment that causes the belts to wear or crack???

 

Well don't believe everything Ferrari tells you.

Ferrari says it takes 28 hours (or that what they tell dealers to charge) to take out and put back in a 355 engine.

Truth be told it doesn't even take half that time and in many cases (not naming anyone in particular) a major service on a Ferrari can sometimes be done without removing the engine. An ex-Ferrari mechanic told me that some dealerships simply remove an engine mount and jack the engine up.

Anyone ever notice that when the car is under warrantly (like Audi for example) and oil changes are covered by the dealer, it's ok to go 8000 miles (as stated in the Audi manual) but as soon as the car is off warrany they recommend 3000.

Regards,

Jon P. Kofod
www.flatoutracing.net

 

5 years, 7 years, 3 years, 10 years, I dunno. All I can say is, "A" as someone in the business I cannot recommend any interval longer than Ferrari without sticking my own butt out into the wind. "B" I hate fixing cars for free and that includes my own, I'm doing belts on the TR this winter. It's last set was 5 years ago. After all is said and done, for me, that seems a prudent lifetime for them. If the car got tracked hard, a lot, I would do it more often.

 

Mileage is much easier on them, in fact I don't believe I have ever seen them fail from use. I have seen them go way over the mile limit, scary over the mile limit. I have seen them so worn and loose that if they ever spun the car and didn't clutch it the belts would have slipped 10 teeth. Age is the problem. Yes I have seen them go way over the age limit. I have also seen a few not make it 5 years on the late cars but that is very rare. You have to remember that the very late cars generate very high underhood temps, much more so than even 10-12 years ago. At the dealer I had one of the mechanics polyester uniform pants catch fire just standing with his knee right behind a 360 tail pipe tip too long, the car was just sitting idling.

I have to admit timing belts have been pretty good for business, I make money changing them and I make money from people who don't change them. I was never a big fan of belt drive cams, at the time it had it's place but I am happy they have gone back to chains.

 

Which is exactly why, when the time comes, I'm gonna replace my timing BELT with good old fashioned push-rods!!!!

On a serious note, why didn't they go with a chain? Is it the weight, the speed at which the belt turns or what??????

Are there any aftermarket belts that claim greater longevity or reliability?

 

Belt change can deffo be done in situ- here's how.

http://www.ferrarichat.com/forum/showthread.php?t=16100&highlight=situ

http://homepage.mac.com/ajm7/Belts/index.htm

 

Belts are first and formost an inexpensive solution. Compared to the chain drive systems in use in the 70's belt drives were lighter and as a result required less power to spin them up to speed. They also heve the benefit of providing shock absorbtion to the drive system which in some applications was important.

The belt suppliers that Ferrari have used have always been considered top names. I have never had misgivings about the quality of them, it is just that a Ferrari is just about the worst environment for a belt.

 

On the 355 I have been told by the the main dealer that if I do not have the bels done every 3 years my Power warrantee will not cover any damage.

What is also surpising is that it is reccommended that I change belts every 3 years for the 308 (although there is no warrantee), which I have been doing during my 8 year tenure and over 20,000 miles.

Am I too prudent ? Will I be taking a chance if I leave it longer ? I am quite heitant to try this out just in case ...

 

Rob - You can't be serious. Have you ever looked at this site