25 replies to this topic

[wswan25]

lol yeah youre right mate, well right about the consumables and to get out there and enjoy the car.....not so sure about the engine replacement being peanuts though! How much would it be out of interest you think?.... im thinking peanuts must be expensive in your part of the world

 

Yes it will last is the answer to your question.  Just drive the bloming thing.  Alternator belts and the tensioner are regular consumables along with bushes, brake pads, clutches etc.  Life's too short to worry.  Even if it fails a replacement engine is peanuts anyway. 

 

[TheRealVXed]

The lump has been put in so many rep mobiles you can pick up a 2nd hand one for a few hundred quid from the bay.  Lots of beer tokens and getting your hands a bit dirty would see it changed in a weekend with the help of people on here or pay a garage a shed load of labour.  Also if you are in Kent I would suggest taking it to a specialist, there are pletny round there, and not a garage that has never seen one before.  They have a few "characteristics" that make some jobs a right pain in the arse if you don't know what you're doing.  Sure some Kent members will be along with recommendations soon

 

Also, I am still confised?  How much is the garage charging you for your alternator belt change?  There is absolutely no need for them to be changing the alternator.

 

2 things to change;

 

Auxillery Belt (also know as alternator belt)

Tensioner

 

 

[wswan25]

Good point.... ill certainly bear that in mind!!

 

No sorry thats me confusing matters, they are not changing the alternator. I misunderstood and thought the tensioner was a belt itself, but it of course isnt a belt which i know now.

 

They are replacing the Auxillery Belt, and I believe the tensioner (but definitely not the alternator).

 

Would you say from this noise/problem that the tensioner is broken/needs to be replaced? Or could the fact the alternator belt has slipped be the issue - meaning would JUST replacing the alternator belt and using the existing tensioner resolve this issue?

 

What I dont want is for the belt to be replaced, drive away thinking its fine, and then a few miles later the issue happens again. Would it be apparent when they replace the belt if the tensioner is busted?

 

I dont know enough to question what the garage are doing. They are a decent set of guys and I do trust them to some degree, but my own lack of knowledge worries me when discussing issues such as this with them.

 

Thanks for your help. And I agree I should be using an experienced VX220 garage, thats my impatience and the convenience of the garage! I am on holiday tomorrow and wanted the exhaust done before I went. Cheers.

 

 

The lump has been put in so many rep mobiles you can pick up a 2nd hand one for a few hundred quid from the bay.  Lots of beer tokens and getting your hands a bit dirty would see it changed in a weekend with the help of people on here or pay a garage a shed load of labour.  Also if you are in Kent I would suggest taking it to a specialist, there are pletny round there, and not a garage that has never seen one before.  They have a few "characteristics" that make some jobs a right pain in the arse if you don't know what you're doing.  Sure some Kent members will be along with recommendations soon

 

Also, I am still confised?  How much is the garage charging you for your alternator belt change?  There is absolutely no need for them to be changing the alternator.

 

2 things to change;

 

Auxillery Belt (also know as alternator belt)

Tensioner

 

 

 

[fezzasus]

ffs it doesn't need this much thought.

 

Change the belt. If the tensioner can't apply enough tension on the new belt then change the tensioner.

 

You don't need a VX220 specialist to change a belt. It's the same job on any car.

Edited by fezzasus, 02 September 2014 - 11:48 AM.

[wswan25]

Exactly the answer I was after....cheers.

 

ffs it doesn't need this much thought.

 

Change the belt. If the tensioner can't apply enough tension on the new belt then change the tensioner.

 

You don't need a VX220 specialist to change a belt. It's the same job on any car.

 

[scw02102]

Best local ish garage is back in track I'm going tomorrow he is a vx and lotus specialist who knows his stuff. Dont worry about the cam belt they say 4 yrs so don't need changing A guy on here posted the other day his was last done 6 years ago and hasn't broke so 2 years is a waste Note the service that has the cambelt in cost £500-£550 so not cheap