300TDi Cam Belt Change

[Gecko 03]

My daughter has a 1995 Disco TDi manual. Its done 165k and runs really well. I was told by the previous owner that the cam belt was changed at about 120k, about 4/5 years ago, but there is no paperwork to back this up. I've looked at the Haynes manual and its no help at all.

Does anyone know what the recommended replacement mileage is please?

Keen to avoid an avoidable disaster if it were to break....

Any advice appreciated.

[Les Henson]

Every 72,000 miles or 6-years under normal use, but less (as little as 36,000 miles) if the vehicle has been used hard.

The cam belt should have replaced in kit form as shown here:-

http://forums.lr4x4.com/index.php?showtopic=6943

[georgemason]

Is this a tricky job or could any mechanic carry it out? My 300TDi has been stood for a couple of years on and off, and I'm soon to make a 2500 mile journey in it. Should I get the belt changed before I start? (don't fancy having to arrange a new engine half way!)

[bilge rat]

not a bad job to do, take ya time , hardest thing id say is replacing the bottom damper bolt. getting it tight enough, they have been know to come loose and damaging the end of the crank. getting it off is not so bad , disconect the fuel cut off solenoid on the derv pump and flick the starter a few times with a breaker bar against the floor or chassis, timing pins you can use a couple of drill bits think its 9.5 mm and 3/16 but dont quote me. can find out iff you need me too. hope this helps cheers alan.....

[Les Henson]

You can do it yourself as long as you're careful. Removing the crank bolt can sometimes be a bit of a swine - especially if someone has not done it correctly in the past. If the engine hasn't been run for a while then there's a chance that the tensioner and other sprockets will have a film of rust on them, which will wear on the belt until it's cleaned off after being run for a while. Best to play it safe and replace the cam belt kit.

[georgemason]

You can do it yourself as long as you're careful. Removing the crank bolt can sometimes be a bit of a swine - especially if someone has not done it correctly in the past. If the engine hasn't been run for a while then there's a chance that the tensioner and other sprockets will have a film of rust on them, which will wear on the belt until it's cleaned off after being run for a while. Best to play it safe and replace the cam belt kit.It's been run from time to time over the last couple of years and has been in Greece so has been quite dry, so hopefully the sprockets wont have too much rust on them...

I have the RAVE manual on cdrom, are the instructions on there good enough for an amateur mechanic to have a go, and will i need any special tools etc.?

Cheers.

[Gecko 03]

Many thanks to Les and Bilge Rat for this info. Very much appreciated. The car has not been driven hard but it has done lots of short journeys.

Armed with your good advice I think its safest to get it changed asap. I'm not handy with spanners so will ask the local landy specialist to do it.

Cheers,

[bilge rat]

glad to be of some help , wise to get a specialist to do it iff your not too happy about doing it. good luck alan.....

[georgemason]

Yeah thanks from me too, sorry about hijacking the question, info from bilge_rat and les was helpful... One thing I found, might be of use to someone else reading this and thinking of doing it themselves: http://www.difflock.com/servicing/300tdi-timingbelt/index.shtml

Reckon I'm going to give it a go although it sounds like quite a few bits and pieces needed to set the engine at TDC, and a couple of pullers etc. Trust myself more than Greek mechanics!! :D