Topic: 300tdi belt tensioner (Read 13509 times)

muddyjames · « **on:** October 30, 2005, 15:30:23 »

I am looking at buying a 300tdi disco with 10 months mot etc etc. m reg 172k miles and the guy has said it has been confirmed by a garage (taking with a pinch of salt as I have learnt not to trust anyone when buying a car) that it needs a new belt tensioner as the bearings are going. He had the cam belt replaced last year. How much of a job is it to do? If it is a garage job how many hours labour am i looking at and how much would the part be and if the part broke what would be the consequences???

Here is the disco I am thinking of. Right price for me and only a few miles down the road. Outside condition is good but havent seen inside yet or heard engine. http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=4585018851&indexURL=3&photoDisplayType=2#ebayphotohosting

This will determin whether I buy the disco or not.

Cheers

James

Xtremeteam · « **Reply #1 on:** October 30, 2005, 17:35:20 »

thing is the 300 tdi has 2 belt tensioners,

one on the main fan belt on the front of the engine & one that the timing belt runs on,

if the main tensioner fails it knackers the belt & "could" stall the engine so when u fone the aa they tell you the engines seized

that tentioner is about Ã‚Â£60+V & takes approx 20 min to fit,

the timing belt tentioner "shouldve" been replaced when the timing belt was done,to change it would mean preferable a set of tensioner & pulley (Ã‚Â£20 each) & about 4 hours labour

Budgie · « **Reply #2 on:** October 30, 2005, 18:47:58 »

Sometimes there is a "squeel" from the main drive belt that sound like either the PAS pump, alt' bearings or the tensioner bearings when it's actually just a pollished belt. A small drop of WD40 on the smooth side of the belt will tell you if it's this. If it is then the noise will stop, returning when the WD40 has gone, just change the belt. ;)

The tentioner has one stud holding it to the front of the engine block and is normally easy to change.
Remove belt from tensioner, remove nut from stud, slide tensioner off stud, put new tensioner in place using location lug, tighten nut and replace belt. Ut's really that easy.

If you get a new one, keep the olod one as a spare because you can get the bearing changed and that's much cheaper than a new tensioner. :D

muddyjames · « **Reply #3 on:** October 30, 2005, 19:33:17 »

thanks for that info. I am now slightly more baffled as there are 2 tensioners!

So when I go to have a look at the disco I need to take some wd40 with me and squirt some on the cam belt. If I cant work out which is the cam belt I could just give a little squirt on all of them?

If the engine does stall and the aa say siezed has it siezed or does it just need a new tensioner or is that the cam belt gone and major problems?

What do you think the chances are of a friendly garage coming and looking at the disco with me? Not much chance I bet.

Oh I dont know what to do now. I will go and have a listen anyway. Thanks alot guys for the help. Really useful. I know more now than i did a few mins agao anyway. Any more help will be welcome. If any one wants to look at it with me in the Basingstoke / Reading area your more than welcome too!!!

Budgie · « **Reply #4 on:** October 30, 2005, 22:52:13 »

James, just to make it a little clearer:
I was talking about the drive belt.
This runs the off the crankshaft pully and powers the fan, PAS pump, water pump and alternator. The other pully is for the injector pump.
Unless the Disco has air-con then this will be the only belt you will see.

The cam belt is inside the front cover on the engine and you won't be able to see this. As Mikee said, if the timing belt has been replaced then this tensioner should have been done at the same time.

The Drive belt tensioner is the more common problem with the 300 TDi, either the bearing goes or the tensioner gets out of alinement and causes the belt to squeel.

Another common problem with this engine is that the rev counter sometimes either jumps all over the place or drops to zero. This is nothing worry about as it's normally just a loose connection on the back of the alternator. But don't tell the sell as it may be a good bargining point!!

muddyjames · « **Reply #5 on:** October 31, 2005, 03:59:46 »

ok cool. this one does have air con that needs re gassing (barganing point!!!) but if i do get it wrong and the tensioner does go then it is nothing major to worry about?

muddyjames · « **Reply #6 on:** October 31, 2005, 12:07:49 »

just been to my local garage and they have said it is about Ã‚Â£200 inc vat for labour to change either the cam belt or the other belt tensioner. This does seem on the pricey side for what you have described as a relatively easy job to do. I may get another quote. If it is the cam belt tensioner then i will leave well alone I think.

muddyjames · « **Reply #7 on:** October 31, 2005, 12:16:12 »

I have just phoned up Keith gott in Hampshire where the guy has taken the Disco to be serviced etc in the past and they said that when they change the cam belt they change the belt tensioner at the same time so it is more likely to be the external belt tensioner which is Ã‚Â£80 fitted. Not too bad. Any thoughts please.

TimM · « **Reply #8 on:** October 31, 2005, 12:33:12 »

If you are interested in buying it how about rather than getting him to reduce the price because of the work, offering him a higher price on the condition he gets the work done to your satisfaction?

Or have I missed the point and you have bought it now?

muddyjames · « **Reply #9 on:** October 31, 2005, 12:39:13 »

I havent bought it yet. I am going to hear it running and do a test drive today at 3pm ish.

The catch is that I was hoping about 5 weeks ago to have a disco by this thursday to take to my voluntary work.

This one came up and looks good etc except for the tensioner. I did think about asking him to get the work done but it wont be done by Thursday. Depending on how bad the bearing sound is if I did buy it I would take it so Wales with me this Thursday (100 miles ish away. Maybe a bit less)

muddysteve · « **Reply #10 on:** October 31, 2005, 13:06:58 »

i'm about today if you want someone to look at it with you :D

Steve

muddyjames · « **Reply #11 on:** October 31, 2005, 13:08:54 »

cheers Steve. Thats very kind of you. This disco is in Chineham near Basingstoke. what time would you be able to come round and look with me. I will pay your fuel costs of course. That would be fantastic. :D

muddyjames · « **Reply #12 on:** October 31, 2005, 18:54:00 »

Thank you steve for coming with me today and the towbar.

Just to let you know everyone that I bought it. Steve did a great job of haggling and I got it for Ã‚Â£2300.

Fantastic. I am OVER the MOON. Cant remember last time I was so happy.

Cant wait to play in it now at the weekend.

Thanks for everyones help.

Xtremeteam · « **Reply #13 on:** October 31, 2005, 18:57:46 »

the Ã‚Â£80 fitted for the fan belt tentioner is a fair price,

having read your first post at that mileage & also being serviced by keith gott i rekon it will have the timing belt tentioner changed at the last belt changed,
if the tentioner seizes up taker a knife & cut it to get you home,having looked at the ad i also noticed its an auto,have you test driven it yet?? might be abit slow for your liking

muddyjames · « **Reply #14 on:** October 31, 2005, 19:00:56 »

yup test drove it today. slower than petrols but sped isnt everything.

phoned up keith gott and they said they change the tensioner as standard when they do cam belts.

how do you mean slow for my liking!!! I am not a boy racer. only at work!!!

Xtremeteam · « **Reply #15 on:** October 31, 2005, 19:03:42 »

i drive alot of landrovers & diesel autos dont rank high in my favourites (unless its tweaked :twisted: ) although saying that they are good ofroad,ask ash

hes got a 300tdi auto in his hybrid

muddyjames · « **Reply #16 on:** October 31, 2005, 21:01:57 »

steve said i can take something off to do with emmissions and blank it up and it creates a few extra horse power. Sounds easy ish to do.

I dont know how easy it is to do but if i do get mega [!Expletive Deleted!] off with the auto i am sure there must be a way of converting it to a manual but i will try the auto first. never properly driven an auto before. well I mean owned one before.

Budgie · « **Reply #17 on:** October 31, 2005, 21:09:47 »

Well done James, glad you got what you wanted. :D

So what was the problem with the tensioner?

Do tell.

Matt_H · « **Reply #18 on:** October 31, 2005, 21:19:10 »

That's the egr system - it recircs exhaust gas - hense Exhaust Gas Recirculation! It supposedly helps the emissions and also lowers some of the cylinder temps. Basically you make a plateup to blank the system off, you can remove the feeds as well, dont forget to tell the ins co though!

I wouldn't worry about changing it though I know how slow you like to drive! ;)

Matt

Xtremeteam · « **Reply #19 on:** October 31, 2005, 21:21:28 »

did you know that the way a diesel auto is valved it wont go into lock up until about 62mph so when you donder along the road at 55 its actually in 3rd thus using more fuel

Budgie · « **Reply #20 on:** October 31, 2005, 21:21:32 »

Quote from: "muddyjames"

steve said i can take something off to do with emmissions and blank it up and it creates a few extra horse power. Sounds easy ish to do.

I think Steve is talking about the Exhaust Gas Return (EGR) valve on the exhaust manifold. Yes you can blank it off and there are threads about it in here, just do a search for EGR.

There is also an easy tweek you can make to the injector pump that will make it easier to drive. Details are listed on this site and it's the alteration to the diaphram you're looking for. Best not try it in stages and keep an eye out for black smoke from the exhaust on hard acceleration. This is only unburnt fuel and if you see it then just back off the diaphram a little.
We did it to Gords Disco at the Belgium National this year and it took about 5 mins. He said he noticed quite a difference on the way home.

Anything you're not sure about, just ask. We can normally supply the answers, sometime with photos as well. :D

Matt_H · « **Reply #21 on:** October 31, 2005, 21:41:46 »

I was just about to say I know a decent lucas engineer but that wont help you in a 300!

M

Xtremeteam · « **Reply #22 on:** October 31, 2005, 22:38:18 »

Quote from: "Matt_H"

I was just about to say I know a decent lucas engineer but that wont help you in a 300!

M

how not??

robbie · « **Reply #23 on:** October 31, 2005, 23:06:54 »

if you want a 300TDi, I have one for sale, and it has a new cam belt fitted at 73kish and new fan belts fitted in the last 5k. 9 month MOT and 3 month Tax, almost full service history and only just over 100k on the clock

Budgie · « **Reply #24 on:** November 01, 2005, 00:59:02 »

I hate to put a downer on your sales pitch Robbie, but I think you missed this post on page one! :D

Quote from: "muddyjames"

Just to let you know everyone that I bought it. Steve did a great job of haggling and I got it for Ã‚Â£2300.

Fantastic. I am OVER the MOON. Cant remember last time I was so happy.

Cant wait to play in it now at the weekend.

Thanks for everyones help.

Matt_H · « **Reply #25 on:** November 01, 2005, 07:56:13 »

Quote from: "RedlineMike"

Quote from: "Matt_H"
I was just about to say I know a decent lucas engineer but that wont help you in a 300!

M

how not??

I didn't think 300 tdis had lucas injection pumps... am i totally wrong again?

Matt

Xtremeteam · « **Reply #26 on:** November 01, 2005, 08:19:01 »

i dunno,I should know but it was to late last night & too early this morning

muddyjames · « **Reply #27 on:** November 01, 2005, 10:49:30 »

Quote from: "Budgie"

Well done James, glad you got what you wanted. :D

So what was the problem with the tensioner?

Do tell.

It is just the bearing gone on the alternator tensioner. Nothing too serious. Got a quote for Ã‚Â£80 to change it and that inc parts and labour and vat I think.

muddyjames · « **Reply #28 on:** November 01, 2005, 11:12:24 »

Quote from: "RedlineMike"

did you know that the way a diesel auto is valved it wont go into lock up until about 62mph so when you donder along the road at 55 its actually in 3rd thus using more fuel

when you say into lock I am guessing you mean 4th? When I test drove it yesterday and really put my foor down it just got into 4th at about 55mph then I had to break for a roundabout! I will just have to remeber to go at about 63mph on motorways then! :lol:

Budgie · « **Reply #29 on:** November 01, 2005, 15:56:11 »

Quote from: "muddyjames"

It is just the bearing gone on the alternator tensioner. Nothing too serious. Got a quote for Ã‚Â£80 to change it and that inc parts and labour and vat I think.

Ã‚Â£80 isn't bad.
Just so you know, a new tentioner is about Ã‚Â£43 +vat and a new drive belt is about Ã‚Â£7 +vat (carefull though cos if the belt has Land Rover written on it then that puts the price up to about Ã‚Â£23! :shock: )

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AuthorTopic: 300tdi belt tensioner (Read 13509 times)