Cam belt snapped

[jtonline]

I had a cam belt kit fitted in May. Unfortunately, the secondary belt broke whilst I was on the motorway last weekend Thankfully I was in the inside lane and was able to coast over to the hard shoulder.

I've just had eight valves and two hydraulic tappets replaced as a result. Gonna get the garage to check it over again in a few hundred miles. Not sure why it broke, I guess they didn't put it on correctly, or it was a faulty part.

 

[stezo2k]

sorry to hear that bud, hope you get it sorted soon

 

[rf860]

engine?

 

[philje123]

Well it's either a dodgy part or fitting!

I wouldn't be happy with the garage if that happned to me.

Having my cambelt done on tuesday. Hope they do it right!

Phil

 

[Blanco92]

By secondary belt, you mean the auxiliary belt (fan belt)?

The aux belt can take out the timing belt if it snaps, heard it happen a few times on various different cars. To be honest, this may have been doomed to happen anyway, regardless of whether you had the timing belt changed or not, or where you took it to have the work done.

As a fail safe, it could be recommended that aux belts are changed at the same time as a timing belt, or at the very least the aux belts should be visually checked for wear.

 

[James_R]

By secondary belt, you mean the auxiliary belt (fan belt)?

The aux belt can take out the timing belt if it snaps, heard it happen a few times on various different cars. To be honest, this may have been doomed to happen anyway, regardless of whether you had the timing belt changed or not, or where you took it to have the work done.

As a fail safe, it could be recommended that aux belts are changed at the same time as a timing belt, or at the very least the aux belts should be visually checked for wear.

I could only assume its a 1.4 16v BBY or similiar engine which has a 2 belt system;

one from crank to cam and one connecting the 2 cams.

its very easy to over-tension the cam connecting belt which will cause problems. Its very difficult to gauge what the cause was, did they even replace the secondary belt? - i certainly wouldnt be paying for the repair though not if the belt was only fitted 2 months ago

 

[jtonline]

stezo2k - Cheers, all sorted now. I got my parents to add me to their insurance temporarily so I could continue my weekend trip to Yorkshire in their little Lupo on the Friday, and I drove back on the Sunday. Picked my car up on Thursday and it seems to be running just fine now.

rtf860- only valves and tappets I think. Could have been worse.

Blanco92 - no, there are two cams. Main belt for inlet valves and that one goes around the water pump and the secondary belt goes from the main cam sprocket to the exhaust valves cam.

Car has only done 24,600 miles but I got the belts changed based on number of years in service, to avoid this very eventuality!

 

[jtonline]

MJ - repairs done free of charge. I had no intention of paying anything, but the subject wasn't even raised. I have car recovery membership too, so it didn't cost me anything extra to get the car off the motorway back to the garage.

 

[James_R]

MJ - repairs done free of charge. I had no intention of paying anything, but the subject wasn't even raised. I have car recovery membership too, so it didn't cost me anything extra to get the car off the motorway back to the garage.

good to hear mate.

 

[philje123]

Good. Glad you didn't have any problems with getting the work done. Last thing you need is the garage contesting it being their fault/problem!

 

[Blanco92]

Ah I see, I didn't know VAG used engines with a secondary belt, I've just yet to come across one. So that's why specialists like MJ are about

At least it's all ended well.

 

[krussel]

Glad to hear you got it sorted free of charge

My guess is that it was over tensioned