Engine Timing Belt Change Interval

[Mike Allfrey]

I am still working on a set of technical notes that relate to engine timing belts.

I have made a thorough check of the Owners Handbook, the Service Portfolio and the Brooklands edition of the Rover 75 and MG ZT Workshop Manual and have not found any written information about the intervals at which the engine timing belts should be changed.

Originally I was informed by my Rover dealership here in Melbourne, Australia that the timing belts should be changed at 145,000 kilometres or after six years use, whichever event came first. I have not yet seen this important information written in a MG Rover produced document. To me, this omission is extremely strange.

My selling dealer is now defunct, so I can't check there.

Does anyone in our group know where this important information was written for owners to act upon?

Having visited several Website forums on this subject, I have found out that Holden/Vauxhall Astra/Vectra intervals have been reduced significantly, as have those for Audi cars, in the interest of reducing warranty costs. Bung it back on the customer! Noted also, is the fact that the Rover KV6 and 25K4F engines enjoy the longest timing belt change interval of all.

I believe this subject is/was important enough to warrant a copy of pertinent written notification -- somewhere.

Thanks for help, again,

Mike Allfrey. Rover Car Club of Australia Inc.

[jcwatrichmond]

My 2003 service schedule from Rover, and the Haynes workshop manual, quote six years or 90,000mls. It's a good idea to reduce this a bit bacause of the disasterous results from a broken belt, so why risk it.

JCW

[MangoMan]

Hi Mike and welcome....

After reading a few threads here I've got the impression that most are changed around the 90,000 - 100,000km. mark. I think this is mainly due to the fact that on average most people (in UK) do about 16,000km a year, so 6 years. I'm sure you can do the math...... :D

Hope this helps.

[COLVERT]

And of course the R75 diesel has a chain drive which will last the life of the engine.

[MangoMan]

And of course the R75 diesel has a chain drive which will last the life of the engine.


.......which isn't very long........ :D

[T-Cut]

Here's the 2004 official MGR service listing. Cam belt replacement at the recommended 6 years/90K miles is the most cost effective schedule. The OEM belts have a notional ten year life, so MGR knew what they were doing in setting down the schedules. Of course, many people change stuff much earlier, which is their prerogative.

http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y191/waveguide/ServiceScheduleSheet.jpg

TC

[COLVERT]

.......which isn't very long........ :D

I suppose not------------:shrug::shrug::shrug:

Hardly more than ten times that of the 2 litre petrol engine Lol.:D:D:D


Colvert.

[Mike Allfrey]

Hi Folks.

Thanks for that information, and T-Cut, thanks for showing the Service Schedule.

I am still surprised that there is no mention in either the Workshop Manual, nor the Owners Handbook. Especially when the Handbook is of such quality.

I have certainly taken on an interesting task!

Thanks again,

Mike A.

[Mike Allfrey]

Dear T-Cut,

I have had a look at the Service Schedule. Most enlightening, as I have never seen one before! Even though my car was a new purchase.

May I use a portion of the schedule, that shows cam belt change interval, in my notes?

The notes are for club use here in Australia. They will probably be posted on the Internet.

Thanks,

Mike A.

[T-Cut]

I am still surprised that there is no mention in either the Workshop Manual

It is strange from our point of view. I guess the Workshop Manual describes 'how to' rather than 'when to'.

- - nor in the Owners Handbook. Especially when the Handbook is of such quality.MGR didn't anticipate that the owners of these cars would do their own servicing or understand anything remotely technical. That's why they fitted the silly temperature gauge that doesn't say anything but 'everything's fine'. If it goes into the red, the Handbook says 'stop and seek qualified assistance.' They (perhaps correctly) assumed that the driver wasn't likely to be 'qualified'. Indeed, I suspect the vast majority of owners never check the coolant level more than annually, never mind attempt servicing.

EDIT: Please use the servicing information as you wish. Many UK owners will have received a copy of this back in the days.

[MangoMan]

I suppose not------------:shrug::shrug::shrug:

Hardly more than ten times that of the 2 litre petrol engine Lol.:D:D:D


Colvert.


"Touché"....... ;)

[Mike Allfrey]

Thanks T-Cut.

Greatly appreciated. In my working days, I was responsible for writing owners manuals for the farm machinery that we used to manufacture here in OZ. Our combine harvesters used to use timing belts to drive the two sickle knives of the thirty-four feet width cutting platform. We placed in bold capital letters that the belts must be replaced at four-year intervals.

But then, farmers always considered themselves better mechanics than the machinery manufacturers!

I wish Rover had stuck with the button in the fuel gauge that, when pressed, indicated the oil level in the engine's oil sump. Temperature gauges also gave you faithful information in those days. That dates me!

Thanks again,

Mike A.

[JT667]

And of course the R75 diesel has a chain drive which will last the life of the engine.

This 'throw away' remark has cheered me up no end! Having previously had a peugeot diesel where the belt had to be changed every 70k, I was getting twitchy about my R75 now recording 143k, even wondering if it had been done the first time (no mention in the servicing record). This now confirms that I don't need to worry about it and I was slightly puzzled by the fact that my copy of the Maintenance check sheet noted above states that the 90k replacement is for Petrol models only. :D Yippee, I can concentrate on other things now. Thanks Colvert and of course Mike in Aus who started the thread

[kaiser]

Thanks T-Cut.

Greatly appreciated. In my working days, I was responsible for writing owners manuals for the farm machinery that we used to manufacture here in OZ. Our combine harvesters used to use timing belts to drive the two sickle knives of the thirty-four feet width cutting platform. We placed in bold capital letters that the belts must be replaced at four-year intervals.

But then, farmers always considered themselves better mechanics than the machinery manufacturers!

I wish Rover had stuck with the button in the fuel gauge that, when pressed, indicated the oil level in the engine's oil sump. Temperature gauges also gave you faithful information in those days. That dates me!

Thanks again,

Mike A.

Ha ha, I also wish they still built the p4 and P5. They were far superior as mechanical items, built to last, with the best they could do.
Those cars can last you a lifetime, if you are technically minded and have access to a lathe and a welding machine.