Has my cambelt really been replaced?

[Johns23]

Hello

New member here but I have a Peugeot Partner van 2015 that’s done 91,000 miles. I had the cambelt changed and it’s done 200 miles since but I’m not sure if I trust the mechanic. Is it possible to tell from the markings whether it is new (minus the 200 miles)?

It is an Ina timing belt made in Italy. Apparently the water pump was replaced too.

Thanks








A new one…

[GreenV8S]

Not really, unless you know what the old cambelt looked like. You might see witness marks from covers being removed and so on as a hint.

If you mark the belt now, you'll know next time.

[Johns23]

Thanks for the reply. No I didn’t see any witness marks, that’s what made me suspicious. So could a belt with 91,000 miles look like those in the photos still? And a belt with 200 miles could also look like that?

I wish I had marked and made note of it now but didn’t realise it was just two bolts to access visually.

[Johns23]

A few more photos…

[ARHarh]

Why do you think a garage would go to the trouble of charging you for fitting a new belt and not for one? Say they didn,t change it and the belt went as you picked it up, they would then be landed with a bill for badly fitted belt and probably a new engine. If they didn't want the job they would have said so or quoted you silly money, which if you were willing to pay they would have wanted the job.

[Johns23]

I guess because even new belts can go after just 7000 miles so he could just risk it not failing immediately and blame it on a bad belt. It’s not a big chain garage, just an individual who rents a ramp and was cheap. I’m probably just being paranoid and hopefully that’s the case.

I assume you believe the belt to be new from the photos then?

[stevieturbo]

ARHarh said:

Why do you think a garage would go to the trouble of charging you for fitting a new belt and not for one? Say they didn,t change it and the belt went as you picked it up, they would then be landed with a bill for badly fitted belt and probably a new engine. If they didn't want the job they would have said so or quoted you silly money, which if you were willing to pay they would have wanted the job.

Because sadly there are many garages out there who like charging, but not doing the work.

It is surprising belts don't usually have a manufacture date on them when many other less important items will do.

Are any fingerprints or clean marks around the areas from you touching it, or someone else ?

Did they show you any of the parts removed ?

[oakdale]

It's difficult to tell from pictures (the belt looks older in the third picture than it does in the others) but I'd say the belt has been replaced recently.

I think INA (Schaeffler), only do after market belts and kit, not original equipment which suggests it must have been replaced.

[stevieturbo]

INA is one of the OEM suppliers, but not sure if OEM actually use their belts. Sometimes OEM belts will have their branding on it too, but not always.

The back of the belt, writing doesn't perhaps look as clean/clear as it could do, but that does not mean it has not been replaced

If you took all the covers off and got a view of the tensioner, that would be easier to see if it is new or not.

[loskie]

is the 21 at start of part no a manufacturing year?

[bearman68]

Looks like it has been done to me - it has writing on it, which normally fades off after a few thousand miles.

I would stop worrying about it. It's the worrying that makes the cam belt break anyway.

[paintman]

If it's worrying you that much then you've got two options.
1. Mark the belt, take it to another garage & get it done again
2. DIY. You'll know the belt was definitely replaced but then you'll worry about whether you've tensioned it correctly

[Johns23]

stevieturbo said:

Because sadly there are many garages out there who like charging, but not doing the work.

It is surprising belts don't usually have a manufacture date on them when many other less important items will do.

Are any fingerprints or clean marks around the areas from you touching it, or someone else ?

Did they show you any of the parts removed ?

Yeah they did but they look after a fleet of these so could have been off any one of those, no I didn’t see any marks. I think I’m just being paranoid.

[Johns23]

Thanks for the replies, general consensus seems to be it’s not the original belt either way so that will do for me. I can’t strip it down any more as not a clue what I’m doing really so will just stop worrying and check it every 10,000 miles and assume it’s been done and replace after 60,000.

Thanks for taking the time to reply. Appreciate it.

[stevemcs]

Johns23 said:

I guess because even new belts can go after just 7000 miles so he could just risk it not failing immediately and blame it on a bad belt. It’s not a big chain garage, just an individual who rents a ramp and was cheap. I’m probably just being paranoid and hopefully that’s the case.

I assume you believe the belt to be new from the photos then?

Ah, they were cheap……. Probably no insurance and if it does go bang your on your own.

I’d be looking for any markings - usually white paint to show it’s been timed up, also never be afraid to ask to see the old parts or even photos of the work being carried out.

[GreenV8S]

Johns23 said:

just an individual who rents a ramp and was cheap

In that case you have no warranty, no assurance about what's been done or how well it's been done, and this is purely down to how well you trust the person doing the work. Which seems to be not very much, given that you're concerned enough to ask the internet. The risk is on you now. That's the choice you made by going for the cheap option.

Edited by GreenV8S on Sunday 28th August 15:27

[anonymous-user]

Trust me, I've installed brand new stuff and by the time they're covered in crud from being handled, they look like they've been there ten years.

[stevieturbo]

Johns23 said:

Yeah they did but they look after a fleet of these so could have been off any one of those, no I didn’t see any marks. I think I’m just being paranoid.

Johns23 said:

It’s not a big chain garage, just an individual who rents a ramp and was cheap.

Maybe slightly conflicting info here ?

So they or he looks after a fleet of these vehicles, but is just someone who doesn't even own a garage and does it all cheap ?

[Johns23]

Just telling you the facts I know. Not clued up on the ins and outs of the set up/contracts.

[Justin S]

The idlers run on the back of the belt and in time will make the belt shiny. That looks pretty matt finished, which could show a 'newer than original' belt. I would look for the shiny water pump, as if thats new, they would have taken the belt off to change it, at a guess.