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dumb girl question - what are the belts called?

Posted: Tue Jan 10, 2006 8:26 pm
by me2
I've got a real girl question. What are the two belts on the engine called?

The front one has begun to crack and I don't know what to call it when I speak to a mechanic.

A small section has begun to split along the belt. Is this an urgent repair or will it be OK for a while? Any idea on price to replace these belts, I figure I'll get both done at the same time.

Thanks in advance

Posted: Tue Jan 10, 2006 8:32 pm
by SchumieFan
Theres 2 "fan belts" a air-con belt and a alternator belt visable, the cambelt is hidden so it couldnt be that (but get it checked while your at it) the 1 i think u mean is cracked is the fan belt.... if it is cracked (properly) then youl need to get it changed ASAP of you could do some serious damage. the parts themselves wouldnt be much more than $15 each but if your gonna get some1 else to do it then youll be lucky to scrape under a couple of hundy (? correct me if im wrong)

edit: happy?

Posted: Tue Jan 10, 2006 8:35 pm
by SchumieFan
By the way.... Congrats to Mell for finally getting pregnant, i know u been wanting a bub for a while, lets just hope this guy hangs around this time :)

Posted: Tue Jan 10, 2006 11:09 pm
by cb
SchumieFan wrote:By the way.... Congrats to Mell for finally getting pregnant, i know u been wanting a bub for a while, lets just hope this guy hangs around this time :)
Was that really random or did i miss something?

Posted: Wed Jan 11, 2006 6:13 am
by Dr_Jones
Fan Belt??? Am I missing something. I could have sworn my fans were electric 8O .

Anyway yes, change them if one breaks it may take the other with it leaving you with no air con, no power steering and no alternator. But don't worry your fans will still work.

Posted: Wed Jan 11, 2006 7:28 am
by Nacho
Which side of the engine is the cam belt? What's hiding it?

Posted: Wed Jan 11, 2006 11:43 am
by mr_bishi
If you mean the belt nearest to you when you stand at the from of the car,then that's the aircon/powersteering belt. If it breaks it can take out the crankangle sensor/wiring and the oil pressure swtch wiring,so get it changed.
If ones on the way out then the other might not be far behind so change them both.

Ask for the alternator belt and the powersteering belt.

The cambelt is on the front (lhs from front of the car) of the engine behind the plastic cam pulley covers

Posted: Wed Jan 11, 2006 1:24 pm
by SchumieFan
cb wrote:
SchumieFan wrote:By the way.... Congrats to Mell for finally getting pregnant, i know u been wanting a bub for a while, lets just hope this guy hangs around this time :)
Was that really random or did i miss something?
not really random... would u like me to make an entirely new post just 4 that?

Posted: Wed Jan 11, 2006 11:44 pm
by bigpitty1
well If I was you I would get the belts changed because if you loose the air-con and powersteering belt basically you just loose the air-con and powersteering, and if u loose the alternator belt your engine basically won't run, then u got the timing belt or cam belt, if that one goes you will pretty much do a lot of damage like damage the heads and then you need to get new heads which will cost a lot, but that shouldn't happen if u get your car service regularly. I forget how many Km's you have to do when you need to replace it, I'm sure one of the guys here will know.

Posted: Thu Jan 12, 2006 9:27 am
by SchumieFan
bout every 100 thou mine was done at 117XXXks and im at 156XXX at the mo

Posted: Thu Jan 12, 2006 7:40 pm
by me2
OK, thanks for the quick replies.

Any idea of a rough cost to get a mechanic to replace these? I have noooo idea!

Posted: Thu Jan 12, 2006 7:51 pm
by SchumieFan
SchumieFan wrote:Theres 2 "fan belts" a air-con belt and a alternator belt visable, the cambelt is hidden so it couldnt be that (but get it checked while your at it) the 1 i think u mean is cracked is the fan belt.... if it is cracked (properly) then youl need to get it changed ASAP of you could do some serious damage. the parts themselves wouldnt be much more than $15 each but if your gonna get some1 else to do it then youll be lucky to scrape under a couple of hundy (? correct me if im wrong)

Posted: Thu Jan 12, 2006 9:12 pm
by Bennoz
I paid $35 bucks for both the belts from my local auto shop - changed them in 20 mins - if you get charged more than $50 I'd be pissed

The power steering / air con belt I bought was a Bosch. Part No: 6PK1080
The alternator belt was a Bando brand. Part number: 4PK940

The part numbers reflect both the length & width. Ie '6PK' is a 6 ribbed belt, a '4PK' is a 4 ribbed belt.

Posted: Sat Jan 14, 2006 12:12 am
by me2
Whoops, I missed that Schumie, must've been those comments about Mell (whoever she is?).

Thanks everyone who's responded.

Posted: Mon Jan 16, 2006 9:31 am
by Nacho
Do you need the engine out to get to the cam belt? Is the timing belt and the cam belt the same thing? I don't think that belt has every been changed in the car so just wondering how many kms you're meant to replace the cam/timing belt/s?

Posted: Mon Jan 16, 2006 10:07 am
by EURO
cambelt =timing belt...

it is my understanding that the engine needs to come out to change the belts, but I could not guarantee that. Generally when yuor getting your timing belt done, your doing a major service, often replacing cam seals etc...

recommended is every 100 000kms... I did mine a bit earlier then that to be on the safe side.

Posted: Mon Jan 16, 2006 11:35 am
by Bennoz
Engine doesn't need to come out to change the timing belt.

Posted: Mon Jan 16, 2006 11:55 am
by EURO
my bad

Posted: Mon Jan 16, 2006 1:56 pm
by Bennoz
but you gotta pull half the engine off to get at it! :P

Posted: Mon Jan 16, 2006 2:39 pm
by Nacho
The same bits you remove to get to the alternator?