Cambelts

NJV6 · Post by **NJV6** » Thu Aug 17, 2006 10:17 pm

I'm sure some of you guys will have done and or do cambelt replacements. I had my 4 cam V6 done by the local Mitsi dealer and got stung by the price - I wasn't confident of doing the job myself.

Now I took a deep breath & paid the bill, got it back and thought I must have a noisy idler bearing or something. Then proceeded to take all the belts off one by one and run it, but the 'noisy idler bearing' sound remains.

Its behind the timing belt cover and is rather disappointing. Once I get the back diff back in tomorrow it's going back to the dealer to get looked at.

Question it - Does anyone have ideas as to what it may be? It was nice and silent before it went in to the garage.

It also doesn't idle as smoothly, could the timing be cocked up with one of the banks? It still goes well but isn't quite as good at idle. I know with Lancer Evo 4 banger motors when going for high hp the exhaust cam will purposly be one tooth out.

The Bill - well it was just under 2k. This was to do the cam belt, two new rocker gaskets where oil was pissing out, $33 plugs (to get the plugs requires removal of the inlet manifold....), tensioner and labour.

& it still leaks oil. Dad has a Defender & it seems wrong he gives me more grief than I can give him

.

DaveM · Post by **DaveM** » Thu Aug 17, 2006 10:20 pm

Holy heck thats a pricey service. Never heard of them being that price :shock:

It'd just about bring tears to my eyes having to hand that amount of cash over

NJV6 · Post by **NJV6** » Thu Aug 17, 2006 10:28 pm

I had be told by all the outerlimits guys i'd be looking at close to 1k to do it including the water pump.

Sadam_Husain · Post by **Sadam_Husain** » Thu Aug 17, 2006 10:44 pm

The bill seems to stack up when you break it down and consider the other work as well

I guess when ya do the cambelt yourself you dont worry about all those other tensioner parts and stuff and just replace the belt? :?:

mudchuka · Post by **mudchuka** » Thu Aug 17, 2006 11:00 pm

a bit rough if it has to go back but he has given you a discount and the alternator cost a bit. they do look fiddly to work on as well.

Aaron · Post by **Aaron** » Fri Aug 18, 2006 8:26 am

I worked as a mechanic for 12 years and I think the labour is a bit high, 13 hours is a bit much probably 8 hours would have been ok
$33 for spark plugs :!:

that is a huge rip off!
If you had gone to a non dealership workshop then it would have been much cheaper, but when you go to a dealer you just have to bend over while they stick it to you :!:

Aaron · Post by **Aaron** » Fri Aug 18, 2006 8:31 am

You spent $2000 and they gave you a $65 discount :shock:

That was generous of them.

doddzee · Post by **doddzee** » Fri Aug 18, 2006 8:32 am

$33 for spark plugs that is a huge rip off

The 3.5's use the long lasting platnum plugs hence the price.

They done need to remove the inlet manifold though, When I changed the plugs in mine I only had to remove the throttle body, Would have taken 2 hours. I dont see how they could stack up annother 11 hours with the other bits.

Aaron · Post by **Aaron** » Fri Aug 18, 2006 8:38 am

The cost price on these plugs is about $18 from Darbi accessories in Ch Ch so $33 is way to steep even for platinium plugs.

H2OLOVA · Post by **H2OLOVA** » Fri Aug 18, 2006 9:03 am

Aaron wrote:The cost price on these plugs is about $18 from Darbi accessories in Ch Ch so $33 is way to steep even for platinium plugs.

Your forgetting that this job was done in Invercargill :wink:

NJV6 · Post by **NJV6** » Fri Aug 18, 2006 9:15 am

Guy's, the price, yes it was lots but the point of the issue here is it is not right - something behind the timing belt cover is growling which wasn't.

I will be quoting from now on. There were a couple of things on there which shouldn't have been done (antifreeze, alternator)

Aaron · Post by **Aaron** » Fri Aug 18, 2006 9:27 am

Possibly a noisy idler bearing, some cambelts make a bit of noise if they are to tight but this sholdnt happen as the Mitsi uses a hydraulic tensioner.

The rough idle can happen if one of the exhaust cams is a tooth out.

Maybe its one of those southern stags roaring :lol:

H2OLOVA · Post by **H2OLOVA** » Fri Aug 18, 2006 9:37 am

NJV6 wrote:There were a couple of things on there which shouldn't have been done (antifreeze, alternator)

If they have done this work unauthorised then you shouldn't have to pay for it!!
If you took your car in for a wheel alignment and they fitted new tyres as well, what would you say?
Back to the growl, i'm not sure what it would be, but looking at the items replaced when the belt was done there shouldn't be anything left to replace, so it sounds like a faulty part. As for the oil leak, if its coming from somewhere thats has been played with by the machanic then again should be covered by warranty. If they get all antsy about it just start quoting the consumer guarantees act.

SMOKEY · Post by **SMOKEY** » Fri Aug 18, 2006 9:48 am

NJV6, Have had a noise arter doing Cam Belt on my 2LTE Surf motor , the Belt was to tight, stripped down and re tensioned and all ok . I had given the belt a little extra pre tension the first time, thought I would pre-empt the initial stretch . How many times have I been told R T F B. ( read the f--king book ) . Why did they not replace the water pump ????? . Iv'e heard these are a sorce of problem on these motors. If they have to strip it again I would be doing the Pump , my thoughts on it .
GET DIRTY, FITZY.

NJV6 · Post by **NJV6** » Fri Aug 18, 2006 9:54 am

Thanks Fitzy & Aaron,

The one thing I did ask for was to do the water pump. As you quite rightly said they can be a problem for these 6G74 motor's but all ok if changed.

When asked about it, he said it felt alright.

Armourguard · Post by **Armourguard** » Fri Aug 18, 2006 10:02 am

You sure he didnt get the water pump mixed up and do the alternator instead :shock: