The all-important cam belt

We check (or should check) oil levels, tyre pressures, etc on a regular basis and, when the motorhome is three years old, we must start having an annual MOT. Many of us, however, forget that there is another important engine component that should be looked at: the cam belt or timing belt as it’s commonly called.

The Fiat maintenance manual for our motorhome states that the cam belt should be changed after 72,000 miles or every four years – check your own manual for the timing relevant to your motorhome as later models have a longer mileage/time span before the belts require checking. When the Frankia was five years old, we thought we should have the cam belt changed, after all, we could damage the engine if the belt failed while we were driving – and that could cost a lot more money.

Changing the cam belt on an A-class motorhome isn’t easy as access to various parts is a little more difficult than a normal low profile or overcab model. We had intended booking into S&J Motorhomes at Poole as Steve Worsell is a dab hand with Fiat engines and he also owns a Frankia. Time restrictions, however, determined that we should use our local Chelston Service Centre so we duly booked an appointment with them.

It’s essential that your mechanic has the correct belt for your engine as, apparently, there are three sizes determined by the number of ‘notches’ around the circumference. It’s also vital that the new cam belt is put on correctly, following the direction of rotation.

The first job is to remove the covers that protect parts of the engine and then pin everything into place so that the timing of the engine isn’t changed – maintaining the correct timing is essential because if the engine turns even a small amount it could be disastrous. When the mechanic removed our cam belt, it was obviously not too worn and would probably have lasted a while longer. Nevertheless, if an engine isn’t used regularly (and many motorhomes aren’t), then moisture can settle between the belt and the bearing and cause damage. Our bearing had a very slight sign of damage on a small part of the outer surface but fortunately it didn’t need replacing as it could be cleaned up quite easily.

If you are going to the trouble of having the cam belt replaced, then you may as well have the auxiliary belt replaced at the same time. It doesn’t make sense to put an old belt back as it may be stretched or worn even if there are no visible signs of wear and tear on it. Our mechanic also told us that he prefers to use proper Fiat belts rather than cheaper alternatives because he knows they are good quality and are fit for purpose.

Of course, if you have the Fiat service after four years, then your cam belt and alternator belt will be replaced automatically. We paid just over £300 for the work on our motorhome as Chalky invariably takes care of all the general maintenance himself.

Changing the cam belt isn’t a task you should undertake yourself unless you are a mechanic, have the expertise to do the more difficult tasks, and have access to ramps. So, if your motorhome is coming up to four or five years old, and the cam belt hasn’t been checked or changed, think about booking it in to your local service centre before you embark on your next holiday. Peace of mind is priceless, and it could save you a lot of money and heartache should the unmentionable happen.

Photograph captions)
Pic 1)      Access to the engine in an A-class is difficult
Pic 2)      An opportunity to look at the underside of our motorhome.
Pic 3)      New and old cam belts together.
Pic 4)      How the cam belt fits around the bearing.
Pic 5)      Just a few final checks and we know we have a well-maintained engine.
Pauline White