1200 bucks for fitted timing belt. Is it really that hard??

[pete94]

The local LR workshop reckons 1200 hard earned ones to purchase and fit a timing belt for 300 Tdi motor. Well i near fell off the purch!!! Im sure a few people out there has had this job done, just wondering if anyone actually had to fork out anything near $1200 for it :eek:

[weeds]

i think i paid about 1/2 of that, maybe $700

[p38arover]

Did the $1200 include the new idler and drive pulley, etc?

[Phoenix]

depends on the parts. my local dealer said about 3 1/2 hours (althoguh one had taken a day and a half), but parts needed can be a killer if it's more than just the belt and seal.

[nice1guv]

As mentioned it all depends on what is required; there are two timing belt kits that are usually used.

STC4095L: TIMING BELT MAJOR UPGRADE KIT CONTAINS FRONT COVER, TIMING BELT, CRANKSHAFT GEAR, TENSIONER, IDLER, PUMP BRACKET, SIDE COVER, GASKETS, DOWELS & FASTENERS - around $700

STC4096L: TIMING BELT MINOR UPGRADE KIT, CONTAINS TIMING BELT, CRANKSHAFT GEAR, TENSIONER, IDLER GASKETS & FASTENERS - around $300

If you are replacing the belt, you should still change the gear and tensioner etc as they will not last until the belt needs doing again, so it makes sense to do it all while in there.

The last belt change I personally had done was with the minor kit and cost about $650 all up parts and labour.

If you are getting the full monty major kit, $1000 - $1200 is probably about right.

[redrovertdi]

Can you do it yourself? I was quoted between $700 and $1200,[everybody said it was an expert only job] in the end i bought a kit on ebay[belt, idlers and updated solid pulley] for approx $270. As it was i removed my radiator[defender] so i had a bit of room to see what iwas doing, i marked the gears to the timing case[marking pen-i didnt have the lock up kit] and removed the belt and idlers and pulley and installed new, took me about 5 hours as it was new to me, later did my fathers disco and that took alot less time, both cars have run extremely well[done approx 2 years ago]

[It'sNotWorthComplaining!]

Well serves you right, you should have bought a VW, check out how they change the belt on these.:D
YouTube- Volkswagen Generator Belt

[roverspec]

Up here we can do a Defender timing Belt change for $800 and that is full kit with crank seal and o ring, coolant flush and removal of radiator. Also too that is when we normally find the viscous coupling is gone and that has to be add to the bill.

It normally takes us around 3 hours but it all boils down to how hard it is to get crankshaft nut off. one car took us 6 hours to under one nut that was with a high power rattle gun and heat gun. They last person used so much ****ing Loctite it wasnt funny.

well its all food for thought.

carla

[Disco44]

Up here we can do a Defender timing Belt change for $800 and that is full kit with crank seal and o ring, coolant flush and removal of radiator. Also too that is when we normally find the viscous coupling is gone and that has to be add to the bill.

It normally takes us around 3 hours but it all boils down to how hard it is to get crankshaft nut off. one car took us 6 hours to under one nut that was with a high power rattle gun and heat gun. They last person used so much ****ing Loctite it wasnt funny.

well its all food for thought.

carla

Yes Mate that's the bug in the system that crankshaft nut.I know of one that took a couple of days and the Garage concerned tried to charge that on an hourly rate. Does landrover have a special tool to remove that nut ?

John ( disco44 )

[roverspec]

Morning John,

Unfortunatly they dont.

All you can do is hope it cracks really easy. You can try first by using the motor to crack it but you have to be careful, and remeber to unhook the fuel solinoid so you dont start the car.

But generally they are usally pretty easy to undo with rattle gun, it was only that one so far. ( fingers crossed ) that has given us trouble.

oh joy

carla

[JamesH]

This is probably a stupid question but is the major kit only needed once and from then on you need the minor kit?

I think mine got upgraded when the first one went at Lake Grace on new years eve with 88000k on the clock. :twisted: I changed to the third belt at 156000 when the engine was out for the prang. I'm planning to change it every 80000k.

[roverspec]

Hi James,

If you have the modifird gear on it now you can change the belt at 100000km - 120000 km, there is no great need to change it at 80000km any more.

A good rule of thumb is every second t/belt change can be belt only unless the idler bearing is worn, but it should be fine to put a full kit on every 2nd one. And you can spread it out longer now. We have no problems in the past, we are still fixing the early ones to the modified and man we have been done them just in time to as we have taken the cover off and the belt was nearly broken.

that my thought.

carla

[JamesH]

Thanks Carla

I don't mind the $300 kit going in each change I am just glad that the $700 upgrade kit is a once only thing.

My brain takes in your good advice about 100000km changes but not sure my soul does. We were heading down east of Esperance, Duke Of Orleans Bay to see in the new millenium. The car was running perfectly and then snap rattle stop rattle. Back of beyond. We got towed into Esperance Caravan Park to wait for the long weekend to finish so we could book the car in. Depressing. I'll never really trust that belt again, upgrade or no upgrade.

[loanrangie]

Thanks Carla

I don't mind the $300 kit going in each change I am just glad that the $700 upgrade kit is a once only thing.

My brain takes in your good advice about 100000km changes but not sure my soul does. We were heading down east of Esperance, Duke Of Orleans Bay to see in the new millenium. The car was running perfectly and then snap rattle stop rattle. Back of beyond. We got towed into Esperance Caravan Park to wait for the long weekend to finish so we could book the car in. Depressing. I'll never really trust that belt again, upgrade or no upgrade.

$700 :o, the upgrade kit is only less than $300. Mine had the upgrade kit at last belt change at 140K, now on 253 so yeah 80k is not required in my opinion - unless of course you spend a lot of time in mud or do a lot of heavy towing.

[pete94]

Did the $1200 include the new idler and drive pulley, etc?
The bloke didnt really specify. For that price i would want to hope so! Thanks to all you blokes i will definately shop around. May even try it myself, cos you dont learn by paying other people to do it for you!!:cool::(

[loanrangie]

The bloke didnt really specify. For that price i would want to hope so! Thanks to all you blokes i will definately shop around. May even try it myself, cos you dont learn by paying other people to do it for you!!:cool::(

The STC 4096L kit is complete including idler, tensioner, crank pulley, belt, gasket, mounting studs etc and is around the $270 mark. Plenty of info if you search on how to DIY, mine is due and will be done after xmas when i have time off.