deano87
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Registered: 21st Oct 06
Location: Bedfordshire Drives: Ford Fiesta
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I've never got what all the belts are and do.
When I first got my car (12v) I had it serviced, and said that I don't know if the cambelt has ever been done. The mechanic said it's no cambelt, but chain driven. Therefore I know my car doesn't have a cambelt.
But there is a belt under the bonnet, which runs around the alternator, so what is this belt? My guess is that this runs off the engine, to the alternator, charging the battery, running the hydraulics & power steering etc.
If so, what does the cambelt (or chain in my case) actually do?
Questions may sound odd, but I just don't know.
Also, if the belt I have under my bonnet snaps, what damage will it cause? I know the cambelt, if snaps, can completely f*ck the engine, but don't know about the belt I have?
Thanks  
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craig8
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Registered: 31st Dec 04
Location: Glasgow
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turns the cams off of the crankshaft
E36 328
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craig8
Premium Member
Registered: 31st Dec 04
Location: Glasgow
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will also work the water pump too
E36 328
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deano87
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Registered: 21st Oct 06
Location: Bedfordshire Drives: Ford Fiesta
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Sorry, what belt does that?
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pow
Premium Member
Registered: 11th Sep 06
Location: Hazlemere, Buckinghamshire
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Thats the Auxillary belt, and if it snaps its not good news, but not the end of the world i dont think!
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Robin
Premium Member
Registered: 7th Jan 04
Location: Northants Drives: Clio 182 Cup
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On a belt driven engine, the cambelt turns when the bottom pulley (joined to the crank) turns, it turns the cam (or cams) and the water pump. If the engine is chain driven, the chain does the same thing as the belt.
The other belt is the auxiliary belt, it turns the alternator and PAS pump, and aircon one if you have it, and is also driven by the bottom pulley.
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Vaux Lad
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Registered: 15th Dec 04
Location: Stoke-on-Trent
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Yep, your engine has a timing chain.
The belt does the alt etc as already mentioned.
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Joe
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Registered: 20th Jun 04
Location: Hesketh Bank, Lancashire
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Its called a timing belt because it basically keeps the top end timed up with the bottom end. Stopping parts clattering together, there is a good GIF somewhere which helps you understand alot more how engines work.
Your timing chain should'nt need replacing at any time, unless it gets noisy.
The belt you have under your bonnet turns the alternator and water pump. Your Power steering is electric so does'nt run off a belt.
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deano87
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Registered: 21st Oct 06
Location: Bedfordshire Drives: Ford Fiesta
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So if the aux belt went, what damage would this cause?
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deano87
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Registered: 21st Oct 06
Location: Bedfordshire Drives: Ford Fiesta
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A 12v is extremely noisy  how do I know if the chain is noisy?
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Robin
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Registered: 7th Jan 04
Location: Northants Drives: Clio 182 Cup
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The battery would lose charge, so eventually you'd break down as there would be no power to the car, other than that, nothing in your case.
If the car had a PAS pump (which the 1.0 and 1.2 16vs don't) then you'd lose your PAS, and your aircon would stop too.
It won't damage the engine though.
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Robin
Premium Member
Registered: 7th Jan 04
Location: Northants Drives: Clio 182 Cup
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quote:
Originally posted by deano87
A 12v is extremely noisy how do I know if the chain is noisy?
how many miles has it done?
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deano87
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Registered: 21st Oct 06
Location: Bedfordshire Drives: Ford Fiesta
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Ok. Just there is bit of a strange clicking noise under the bonnet, and disappears when the engine is revved. Am I right in saying the aux belt would tension under load, meaning it could be that which is clicking?
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Robin
Premium Member
Registered: 7th Jan 04
Location: Northants Drives: Clio 182 Cup
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It's always tensioned, or should be.
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deano87
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Registered: 21st Oct 06
Location: Bedfordshire Drives: Ford Fiesta
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quote:
Originally posted by Robin
quote:
Originally posted by deano87
A 12v is extremely noisy how do I know if the chain is noisy?
how many miles has it done?
68k.
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Robin
Premium Member
Registered: 7th Jan 04
Location: Northants Drives: Clio 182 Cup
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Has it ever been done?
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ainsley_brader
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Registered: 24th Mar 02
Location: Tattershall, Lincolnshire
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quote:
Originally posted by Robin
The battery would lose charge, so eventually you'd break down as there would be no power to the car, other than that, nothing in your case.
If the car had a PAS pump (which the 1.0 and 1.2 16vs don't) then you'd lose your PAS, and your aircon would stop too.
It won't damage the engine though.
EPAS will cut out the moment the battery stops charging.
So if your auxiliary belt snapped you would still loose power steering even on a car where it was electric and not hydraulic!
Ainsley
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deano87
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Registered: 21st Oct 06
Location: Bedfordshire Drives: Ford Fiesta
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quote:
Originally posted by Robin
Has it ever been done?
Don't think so, no. No record in the service book, which has a 'full' history.
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Robin
Premium Member
Registered: 7th Jan 04
Location: Northants Drives: Clio 182 Cup
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Didn't know that Ainsley 
Dean, I'd get it done TBH.
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deano87
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Registered: 21st Oct 06
Location: Bedfordshire Drives: Ford Fiesta
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Ok, cheers
Desperately, or just as a precaution?
[Edited on 08-05-2007 by deano87]
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Robin
Premium Member
Registered: 7th Jan 04
Location: Northants Drives: Clio 182 Cup
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Just to be safe really.
I'm not sure what the normal intervals are, but I'd be wanting one at around 70k if it were me.
I will be doing it on my new car at about 60k, to save me a massive bill
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ainsley_brader
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Registered: 24th Mar 02
Location: Tattershall, Lincolnshire
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i wouldnt do timing chain tbh!
They are due according to vaux at 100k i think unless they go noisy.
But for the cost of having one replaced you could pick up a secondhand engine!
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Wonderboy
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Registered: 30th Dec 06
Location: Ayrshire, Scotland
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With my 12v, not being the fancy one which Deano has. I have one belt which controls the alternator, camshafts and the crank shaft. Which is a pain in the arse really.
My car has to be revved to started, or it cuts out, I'm not sure whether this is a sign or a worn belt, old battery, or a buggered alternator.
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deano87
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Registered: 21st Oct 06
Location: Bedfordshire Drives: Ford Fiesta
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Mine isn't that fancy, the GLS gives creature comforts inside. Your 12v engine will be chain driven, exactly the same as mine.
How much does a chain change cost, baring in mind it's a smaller 12v engine, not the 2.2?
Also, what is a noisy chain? 12v's are noisy full stop, so I don't know what the difference is?!
Oh, there is no indication in the service book of the chain replacement interval. Like Ford cam belts, I should imagine it's 100k.
[Edited on 08-05-2007 by deano87]
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Robin
Premium Member
Registered: 7th Jan 04
Location: Northants Drives: Clio 182 Cup
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It'll cost the same for the 1 litre or the 2.2 TBH, it's the same amount of work, the parts will be similar prices too.
£250 I'd say, that's what it is for a 2.2, if you don't go to a main dealer.
They say 100k, but I don't trust Vauxhall figures after their cockup with cambelt rollers on the 1.4/1.6 16vs.
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