Thread: Dayco serpentine belt- Cautionary tale

Originally Posted by Bolton

Evening all. Around 10,000kms ago I replaced the Gates serpentine belt on my 99 300 TDI as precautionary measure only. At local parts shop the assistant responded to my request for correct serpentine belt for my LR by looking through a catalogue and selling me a Dayco belt.

I assumed he was right and fitted the belt. 2,000 kms later, whilst my wife and her friend were driving the LR, the belt shredded. Thankfully my beloved had enough mechanical sympathy to kill the motor as soon as temp started to rise and did not attempt to drive it further. Motor is OK. On getting it home I found the belt had shredded and bits of it were wrapped tightly round various pulleys. Took a lot of cutting with a good knife to clear it. I re-fitted original Gates belt and it ran fine. I immediately fitted a brand new Gates belt and that was 8,000 trouble free kms ago. The Gates belts sem to work fine.

I feel sure I fitted the Dayco belt properly. It is not hard to fit a serpentine belt and I think poor fitting would have manifested itself before 2,000 kms was up.

The Dayco belt did "feel" a little different to the Gates belt. The material felt harder and was just not as supple.

Anyone have any similar experiences or and opinions on this? Was it just the wrong belt? Do LR's not like Dayco belts or did I mis-fit it?

I hope my experience helps others make the right choice of product.

Cheers

Bolton

there are two different sizes of belt for 300tdi. depending on the size of your alternator pulley. there are some threads about it here. that could be a reason.

Only used Dayco belts for years on a 300Tdi without issue.
It's the brand I always specified.

As mentioned above, there are two belt sizes available.

Dayco was the Genuine part for a lot of land Rovers, some Genuine belts also have Dayco on them also. They are a high quality belt. Something must have been the cause of your problem
Cheers, Mario

Some alternator pulleys are 49mm, some 61mm. Different belts

Err5911 for 49mm alt pulley
Err3287 for 61mm alt pulley

Someone correct me if they know otherwise

1998 Disco 1 300tdi no edc no abs
1995 Disco 1 v8i dual fuel RIP

It's not leaking oil, it's bleeding power.

The 99 300tdi should have the err5911 which is 1580mm long. The early 300tdi 94/95 MY has the 1595mm long belt, err3287

Jc

I just started the 96 300TDI D1 after an oil change in Darwin, and literally watched the belt shred before my eyes. Never have I been so fortunate!!

I couldn't make out the brand, but could see 7KR1580. The Gates equivalent is 7PK1580 which the closest (100m walk) parts place didn't have in stock. The next closest did have one, and luckily the very nice man declined to charge me the list price - $114.00........

He also reckons the Repco one, which he did not have in stock, is way cheaper, and softer, so less likely to squeal of the pulleys are worn, however may not last as long.

Anyway, all back together and no squealing yet!!

Gumnut

List price $114 for a belt!, makes you wonder how much margin they have in those things and then put them on sale for less 20% and still make a killing.

Originally Posted by Gumnut

I just started the 96 300TDI D1 after an oil change in Darwin, and literally watched the belt shred before my eyes. Never have I been so fortunate!!

I couldn't make out the brand, but could see 7KR1580. The Gates equivalent is 7PK1580 which the closest (100m walk) parts place didn't have in stock. The next closest did have one, and luckily the very nice man declined to charge me the list price - $114.00........

He also reckons the Repco one, which he did not have in stock, is way cheaper, and softer, so less likely to squeal of the pulleys are worn, however may not last as long.

Anyway, all back together and no squealing yet!!

Gumnut

I have a repco belt on mine, it was about $80 and the only belt i could find close to where i broke down so had little choice.
That was 2 years ago and no issues so far.