Replacing Timing Belt....

[glacierboy]

I am aware that the timing belt on my 300Tdi is soon to be due for replacement, and having read various horror stories I am keen to make sure it gets done properly. However, it rather worries me reading assorted guides to replacement (the difflock one was very detailed) that this is not really a task for the faint-hearted. Whilst I am keen to do as much maintenance on my Disco as possible (LR's are projects, not vehicles after all), I think I may be a little out of my depth with this one.

I am not sure how much it would cost for a garage to do the work, but this may sway me towards doing the work myself. Any advice would be gratefully received....

[nickgriff]

This isn't a job for the faint hearted. If it goes wrong, it really goes wrong!!
Best would be to phone around some local specialist LR garages, ie Turbo Rovers, Frog Island, Nick Kerner, James French, all within easy distance of Oxford.
If they sound too rich for you, then have a go yourself!

[spud murphy]

Hi Nick
I got my 300 TDi ES auto last year with a genuine 50K on the clock and like you read the horror stories about the cam belt so made this a priority. The belt was showing signs of wear when the engine was stripped down so this was a wise move. I had the work carried out by an independant,
KAM autos
unit 14 ash
kembrey park
swindon
tel 01797 423119

Ask for Darren or Mike, top blokes, who do all sorts of work on everything.
Cam belt, tensioner, idler, auxilary belt and tracking bar adjusted all for £260, and with a complete lack of bull**** or sucking through the teeth!! Compare this to LR!!!
Highly recommended, Cheers Spud

[Strange Rover]

I would class myself as a competant DIY fixer, but the cam belt I did in a mates garage he used to work for land rover and had all the tools,

As said before if it goes wrong it goes wrong big time. Even getting to it, the pulley can be a sod to remove, bolts can snap and then you need to ensure all the timing marks are locked off, and on a 300TDi you need to make sure you have not got a dodgy pulley. For what it costs I'd get a recomended garage to do it and then have piece of mind as if the cam belt goes it will be very very expensive !!!! and if its done not 100% your timing will be out resulting in smoke and poor power and economy.

[glacierboy]

Thanks all.... you have confirmed what I was thinking, to be honest. Ah well, better get in touch with Frog's Island.

Cheers

[toppa]

They are not hard to do, but as said you need confidence, if they go wrong, damn do they go wrong!!!!

CHeers

[sneakypete]

If you are in any doubts dont do it, it just aint worth the grief.

I put mines in to a local indendant - they charged £250 ( i think it was), to perform the changes and upgrade the pulleys with the modified ones, fitted new belt and a a couple of other little jobs - fit the main coolant hose, new fanbelt (well he did have to take all these bits off in oneway or another).