Thread: 200TDI Timing Belt

Interesting question. I have done it on one of my FIATS and lived to regret it. But modern belt material could be ok. Rule of thumb for me is if in doubt change it.

Hi Keith, I asked the same question a while ago about my 300tdi and the response from those who are smarter than me was change it, it’s not worth the risk.
Cheers, Woolly.

Not just to be contrarian but of all interference engines that one might roll the dice on
The 200/300 would have to be up there

Very square and in my experience a popped belt usually equals not much more than a bent push rod or two and perhaps a cracked rocker arm

Having said that I haven’t looked at 200 parts availability for a while !

But if top end bits were available and I wasn’t prepping for some remote trip I wouldn’t lose sleep over 40kkm


Have a gander with the scope maybe you’ll see something maybe not

Originally Posted by roverrescue

Not just to be contrarian but of all interference engines that one might roll the dice on
The 200/300 would have to be up there

Very square and in my experience a popped belt usually equals not much more than a bent push rod or two and perhaps a cracked rocker arm

Having said that I haven’t looked at 200 parts availability for a while !

But if top end bits were available and I wasn’t prepping for some remote trip I wouldn’t lose sleep over 40kkm


Have a gander with the scope maybe you’ll see something maybe not

j
Agree that the nature of the engine is that it will often survive, but it’s still a fail to proceed.

Originally Posted by 123rover50

A bit of a quandary. Timing belt done 40,000 Kays but 10 years ago.Keith

If that is 40k by the reckoning of the previous owner then change for piece of mind. Not sure about the 200Tdi but I believe the 300Tdi are good for 90k but not certain how that is reduced by age and potential oil contamination. Any scope I've tried can't get past the neck in the plug hole - try a piece of hooked wire to see if you can pull out bits of fluff out - maybe try a flush through the drain hole - no fluff should mean no wear. On one vehicle I have I took the opportunity when changing a belt to put peep hole in the clam shell with a swing cover to keep out dirt. Again not sure of the history of the 200 Tdi but the D1 Tdi300 originally had a problem with the belt moving toward the back of the clam shell, shredding itself then breaking - hence trying to find any evidence of fluff before the belt breaks - they seemed eventually to have found a solution to the problem, I believe by using flanged pullys and reducing tension.