Thread: 300 Tdi timing belt wear

There were 2 modified timing belt kits. One kit has a new timing case along with the pullies & injector pump bracket whereas the other kit is a lot smaller.

If the belt is still wearing, I would suggest that maybe the wrong kit was fitted - it depends on the VIN of the car.

Thanks Scott,

I have the RAVE CD which details the VIN numbers, but I don't know how to identify the kit currently installed, other than the tensioner having a raised front edge.

I have read previously that the later kits had this raised front edge to stop the belt tracking too far forward into the timing belt cover.

Thanks for your post. Hopefully will get more responses to shed some more light.

Regards
M.

AFAIK, the latest change to the timing belt drive, replaces the tensioner and the sprocket on the crankshaft has flanges on both sides.

The sprocket on the tensioner does not have flanges (this was the older system). You said it had a flange on the front. It appears to be the old sprocket and the rear flange has been worn away by the belt.

The new tensioner (without flanges on the sprocket) is better at holding the pulley in line than the old style.

The other change that Land Rover made was to issue instructions to reduce the tension in the timing belt. From memory, the new value to use for new timing belts, when adjusting the tensioner is 11 Nm (the workshop manual says 14 Nm).

It is important to use the reduced tension. Those cheap and nasty pressed pulleys that Land Rover use, distort and cause the belt to track off. The 200Tdi has better pulleys and does not have the same problems.

Edit; the instruction, with the reduced tensioner setting can be found on the rave cd.