Cam belt change

If it is an ‘interference engine’, replace it.

Cambelts can fail long before the recommended replacement time / mileage. (Been there.)

Some cars, it is recommended the water pump is replaced and the tensioner. Check for yours.

By the time you get the covers off to inspect you might as well change it. I don't believe there is any inspection you can do, its not damage as such just structural deterioration with the continual flexing.

Dave

I wouldn't consider any french car myself.

If you feel otherwise, yes if the price is sensible, and install a new cam belt.

No they can fail suddenly and f*ck the engine with an interference engine and that model is one of those.

Its not so much war as a sort of 'fatigue' . You have to change it no matter what if its done the years or the miles.

You need to factor in the cost of getting it done to the cars value

The logic there is that there is so much labour involved - and its the same labour - doing those, and the cost of replacements is cheap in parts terms, so you might as well do it at the same time.

buy it change it

....and the water pump

I think most modern engines are interference, and this diesel one is too. Yes, it's recommended to change the water pump too.

I think you can easily get the top cover off and turn the engine to "look" at the whole belt. But if looking at it isn't enough, then it'll need changing.

Nor would I, but this is my daughter's decision.

The price is sensible for a car with a known good cam belt. If I (or she) had to pay for a new belt's installation, then the price is far too much.

IMO the cost of replacing it makes the car not worth buying, but might make it easier to sell on in a couple of years.

That seems to be the advice here (thanks for all of the replies). Or not buy it and buy one with a decent service history (inc cam belt).

Likely because it's the original belt and the seller has decided that it isn't worth paying for a new belt, so I would't buy it.

Well, when one went on a car I was in it needed to have the whole engine changing. I guess you need to ask why no history?

I do not drive, and to get stranded when somebody else is driving you makes you feel guilty, but of course it can happen any old time. Why don't they use proper chains any more? Is it just cost?

Brian

Generally it seems to be just the valves that need to be replaced. But that's often quite a serious bit of work, especially with modern engines and their ancillary bits.

cost.....I changed my dacia duster belt and water pump at 60k....my other car has a chain and my other other has two chains

Ideally a record of a cam belt replacement should specify that genuine manufacturer's parts were used.

Long ago, my first encounter with cam belts ended with a 'compatible' belt being fitted by an AA-approved garage. It broke about 9,000 miles later, but due to unusual circumstances, that was over a period of about two years, and the garage pointed out that the repair was well out of warranty. I didn't go back there again, and have always insisted that cam belt changes used manufacturers' belts, and that it was so written on the service report.

I had two cam belts go on Vauxhalls - Astra SRI and Nova - back in the day. In both cases it happened at very low RPM and in both cases it just broke a couple of rockers.

Both around the 80-100,000 mile mark. If car has unknown service history you have to factor this one in. Its not an easy or cheap fix if you end up with a scored bore or a smashed piston. On a low cost car its write off time.