belts and chains | Ask Honest John

Ask Honest John

Most recently answered belts and chains questions

I have just replaced my 156,000 mile 1994 Volvo 850 auto estate with an almost identical 1998 V70. This is the 4th consecutive Volvo estate I've owned since 1975 - all second-hand. I've followed your advice...

VAGabomb

Does the latest 1.6 diesel engine in the Audi A3 and VW Golf have a belts or chain cam? It seems to me that aside from the risk of a belt failure, the fuel savings over a 3-year period are negated by the...

Belts off

I have recently experienced 2 timing belt failures, both within the 40,000 / 4 years limits. The 1st in August 09 on a 1995 Astra 1.6 petrol. The 2nd in December 09 on a 1999 Zafira 1.8 petrol, which occurred...

VRS ting

I have a 52 plate ex-police force Skoda 1.8T with around 95,000 on the clock and service evidence would suggest the mileage is correct. Recently, though, the engine warning light symbol has come on and...

Brace yourself for a belting

Could you please advise me about a hefty service quotation I have received from the local Volvo main dealer for a 100,000-mile service of my 1996 Volvo S40 automatic? They have serviced the car since I...

Scottish fiver

My VW Passat V5 is registered Dec 1999. It's a V registration. I have had it for 7 years now. I bought it in 1992 and it had 2 previous owners and 10000 miles on the clock. Apparently it had a bump in...

Broken link

At four and a half years old with 45,000 miles on the clock and despite regular servicing and easy domestic usage, the timing chain on my 2,184cc Nissan X-Trail DCI SVE snapped. Nissan was not interested,...

Forever young

My wife's Audi A2 1.4 diesel has approx 16,500 miles on the clock, mostly on short journeys. It is just over 3 years old and our Audi dealer has recommended changing the cambelt on the basis of time. This...

Learning your Alfabeltic

I have a 2004 Alfa Romeo 147 diesel that has done 39,000 miles. Last week the cambelt failed and the local dealer says it needs an engine rebuild at a minimum of £3,000. The dealer said the cambelt should...

Hyu and CRDI

My wife and I test drove the Hyundai i30 Comfort 1.4 petrol and 1.6 CRDi diesel last Sunday, and preferred the diesel for its power, lower emissions, taller gearing and motorway cruising. The problem is...