Hi all,
My Freelander is on an 2009 plate and has done 111,000 miles, still driving and sounding good.
I wondered if you was me, would you get the cam belt changed on my next service in March?

Officially, the interval is 150k/10 years

However, at 150k, the belt does look very worn and perished

I'll be doing mine at some point in the summer, somewhere around 134k-ish
That's long enough for me

There is a theory that cam belts last longer than chains as they don't stretch, some say that there are some that will never need changing, there are many cars in scrap yards because the timing belt has snapped, though the cause may not be the belt,these do seem to be the cheaper mini and supermini models, with a lesser number of medium size vehicles. LR says 150,000 miles for the TD/SD engine, possibly this is due to the idler and tensioner rather than the belt, should either seize then the belt goes. my PC is slightly to the right of Genghis
2012 HSE SD4 In Orkney Grey now gone, best car ever.

donksey wrote:

Hi all,
My Freelander is on an 2009 plate and has done 111,000 miles, still driving and sounding good.
I wondered if you was me, would you get the cam belt changed on my next service in March?

Despite the belt having an alleged 150,000 mile life, my sphincter would be twitching at 111,000 miles if still on the original belt.  Past: FL2 TD4 HSE Auto
Evoque SD4 Dynamic Lux Auto
Present: Audi A3 S Line.

The workshop manual does say if the cars been used in arduous duties, lots of town work, engine stops and starts it should be renewed around half that at 75000 miles.
I dont think I would be comfortable letting mine go to 150000 miles somehow, mine will be done a 70000 if I still have the car then.
For the damage it might cause if one does actually fail the cost of putting a new one on is worth it especially if you do it yourself.

Also now the cars, the manual ones, now have stop start systems on them so the engines forever stopping starting up in traffic it might be wise to renew it earlier than the 150000 say??

I did mine at 90k miles with all the associated bits 'n' bobs, no brainier for me.

whilst I hear what every one is saying about changing the belt earlier than 150k which I whole heartedly agree with in the case of a car with a dubious service history, what would happen to a car that had a documented service history to manufacturer specs, where the belt failed before 150k ?
I would have thought the manufacturer would have an obligation to pay for all repairs up to the value of the vehicle as the belt had failed before the recommended interval despite correct servicing ?

I used to have a 1999 Ford Mondeo 20 Si, full Ford service history, 1 company owner, and then I had 1 service done at a Ford Rapid fit centre. The belt was recommended to be changed at 100k but snapped at around 82k and wrecked the engine. Ford refused to pay out as the Rapid Fit workshops, whilst they were on Ford premises, were a separate franchise and so not classed as a main dealer.

Well you could say if the belt failed 149999 the manufacturers should cough up as it failed before 150000 recommended replacement was due? maybe if you have a good lawyer and can get it on Watchdog they might pay up, but how do they arrive at the 150000 miles renewal mileage to start with?
Have lots failed just afterwards? One assumes theres still a bit left in them at 150000 and its not going to snap at 150001 miles, so is there a safety margin built into the 150000 and in fact they will go to 200000?

Its a bit like the person who smoked 300 fags a day and lived to 110 and the other chap who only smoked one and dies at 20, its all a bit of a toss up what happens when.

Why did you used to say on the older cars renew to belt at 40000 but now they will go to 3 times that at least, whos to know a belt hasnt been caught on the edge when the engines being serviced and weakened it, been contaminated by some external fluid thats caused early failure?

Has there been a case where the manufacturers have paid for a new engine where the belts failed 5 miles too early? I very much doubt it and I bet there all sorts of excuses they can come up with to prevent them having to stump up the cost of renewing the lot if it fails?

I changed mine at around 100k, mostly because I was unsure of how the car had been operated by it's previous owners. Althought the belt was a little shiney it seemed in good order, however the water pump looked ropey and had signs of leakage, so possibly this may have been the 1st item to fail before or at 150k.
Look to change it for the OEM kit not a motor factors offering, and you can look forward to another 100k+

Joe Fix it until it's broke !

I my experience cambelt failure is not so much the belt suddenly failing all by itself but usually as a result of worn pulleys & bearings (water pump/idler pulley or tensioner pulley -depending on vehicle). On VAG diesels it was always prudent to change water pump and tensioner pulley along with the cambelt. Jules

Thanks for all your opinions, I think I'll go ahead and get the belt plus all else associated with it done.
Next decision is whether to get it remapped after, think I'll ask the garages opinion on the condition of the engine.
I really like the car and hope to keep it for a few years.

I paid about £370 at an indie to do cam belt, tensioner and water pump. Worth doing for peace of mind.

changed mine at 140k km and 8 years.
I think that 8 years are enough for a belt

A guy in the trade once told me that he had only very rarely come across a snapped belt but most of the damage in his experience came from the belt being thrown off by waterpump failure or occasional tensioner failure. We had a Renault Clio that had a new belt when we bought it but 12 months later the waterpump failed and threw the belt. I can never understand why such a critical component as a timing belt is made to drive a waterpump. 3 x FL1 2 manual + 1 auto
5 x FL2 4 manual + 1 auto
Now Discovery Sport P250 MHEV SE

Wifes freelanders on 148k so will get this done soon,Who is good ,cheap and in the yorkshire area and knows what they are doing? any recommendations ?