Thread: Strongest 200 tdi timing belt?

Depending on the model,but the service schedule life of the belt is only 70-80k,so going beyond is always a gamble.
There are not a lot of manufacturers out there,but the 2 largest would be Gates and Dayco.These 2 manufacturers have their belts repackaged by other companies and sold under different names.

It is not in the manufacturer's interest to give you a belt that will last 100K or more, no matter what they priced it at.
At the average of 20k per year, a belt can only be "relied" upon for 4 years.

So how much per year does that work out to be, comparing a $50 differance between brand name and Chinese knock off, with the OEM lasting 5 reliable years. ?

Originally Posted by LowRanger

Depending on the model,but the service schedule life of the belt is only 70-80k,so going beyond is always a gamble.
There are not a lot of manufacturers out there,but the 2 largest would be Gates and Dayco.These 2 manufacturers have their belts repackaged by other companies and sold under different names.

I'm ancient enough to recall the shock & horror with the first small cars came out with lacky bands...and a very short life (around 40K) NO reason for the short life, as my AUDI/Passat was still rated at around 100K Dunno whether it was by accident or design, but a lot of them snapped in service... Did'nt do the brand any favours on the 2nd hand market.

I recently bought a spare serpentine belt for my 3.9. - Unfamiliar brand and sold under a Hyundai part number... Just matched length and ribs etc.

A quality belt such as a Dayco should be fine. Equally important though is correct installation and tensioning. Perhaps this is the cause of premature failure ?

Deano

IIRC when the 200tdi first came out Land Rover said the belt was to be changed every 100,000 kms.
Unfortunately a number broke prior to the 100,000 kms. Land Rovers answer to the problem was to recommend changing the belt at 70.000 rather than "fixing" the pulley alignment problem that was causing the breakage.
Ultimately the pulley alignment was rectified by a repair kit that was installed at the customers expense thus not costing LRA. And to be on the "safe" side Land Rover left the change interval at 70,000 kms, but the theory is they are OK for 100,000.

The question is "Do you want to take the chance?"

Andrew,I have a Dayco ETC8550 belt for a 200TDI which you can have.No use to me as vehicles are 300tdi.PM me for contact details.

If you can afford an unobtanium belt, my advice buy it, even if you have to pay shipping from Naboo , Pandora or wherever they come from.

I replaced my 1HDT belt with a Gates and new aftermarket tensioner 20,000 klm before this happened






result = seized cam, bent valves, 2 broken pistons. = left Tojo with Broome 4WD wreckers.

spare me the lecture, I have a Td5 Defender now (no timing belt)


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cheers fellas,

PM sent eddy, thanks, very generous of you.

i'm going to get a quote to get this done from Dave Dover, would love to have a go, and may still, but there are a few tools needed to get it just right and it may be a false economy to think I'm saving money. 330nm torque wrench for one..