Timing belt and tensioner changes on 1.6, 1.8 and 2.0 petrol engines re-scheduled from 80,000 miles to 40,000 miles. Timing belts on 4 cylinder 16v engines also drive the water pump which can shed its impeller blades and seize, throwing off the belt, so water pump needs changing too. And because the limited life coolant thermostat cannot be changed without removing the timing belt, that also needs to be changed at the same time. The tensioner bolt that passes through the oil pump is also prone to fracture, leaving belt untensioned and apt to fly off.
2.2 16v petrol engine has a timing chain not a belt and has been known to snap its timing chain due to the lubrication jet becoming blocked, possibly as a result of running on dirty oil due to extended oil change intervals.
Concerned Parent
April 2011
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