V6 Timing Belt Replacement Advice
 

I am thinking about buying a V6 ZTT 2005 with just over 40,000 on the clock.
It has had regular servicing inc oil and filters every 5000 miles but has not had the timing belts changed from new. I cant afford to change them immediately probably not for say 3 months or 1600 miles. Will I be taking a big gamble driving it.

Any advice appreciated.

Without sounding harsh ....

Belts can go, so can pumps, tensioners etc so it always risky and few would go out of their way to say oh yes it will be fine.

My personal opinion is to get it done - simply because traders on here will do a good price and warrant their work. Broken belt is almost guaranteed to scrap the car so complete write off in pure financial terms. Even if you have to shove it on a credit card for the 3 months .. the interest in the cost of the job will outweigh the cost of losing a good motor.

As ever you pay your money and take your chances. Personal experience on another motor 24k motor looked after like gold (not a rover) me being me changes belt long before interval (mileage not age as it was passed the age) and glad I did as the pump was rather crusty which surprised me greatly !

Yep, just read some of my threads from the last week or so ref belts, its a complete game of roulette

Does the price of the car reflect the belts not being done, otherwise you need to renegotiate the asking price which will aid the belts being done in your ownership. :}

All good points,
can you recommend a garage that can do the work in the south, Hastings Ashford area.

Don't risk it, it's a false economy, if you can't afford it park the car up until you can!

I don't know if there's anyone nearer to you mate
But Chris (cb750chris) ain't a million miles away
Think his workshop is around fareham/ gosport way
Regards
Chris

No, of course not. The belts have a service life of 90,000 miles. You will not be taking a big gamble at all.

Simon

And only twelve years old :eek:.........no of course you won't be taking a gamble :duh::getmecoat:

At the request of the OP, yes you can drive it, and yes factor in the cost of replacement circa £400-£500 and negotiate a discount based upon the fact the belts should be due their second replacement based on time.

Do not risk knacking a nice 40,000 mile car because some people bury their head in the sand in regards to this job ;)

Brian :D

We all have different approaches to cars, hence the varying condition of many examples.

My own approach would be that if I could not afford to get the belts done on a V6, I could not afford to own/run a V6.