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MG MGF Technical - Cam Belt and Tensioner

Advice please chaps. My 2002 TF135 is coming up for 6 years (and 18k miles) and I want to book it in for a cam belt change. A local Renault agent here is taking on the new MG franchise (and presumably don't yet have much experience), and when I had a word with them, they told me that the tensioner doesn't need to be changed when the belt is. Is this right? My wife has a VWPassat - different mechanical I know - but when we had the cam belt changed on it recently the mechanic said that the tensioner was more likely to fail than the belt itself. What is the full story on the K-seies engine? Grateful for any info. Adrian B.
A Bennett

That might strictly be the case, but the advice is to replace both. They are doing the belt anyway, so in my opinion ask them to do both. If the tensioner fails and with you only doing 18K in 6 years you could possibly have it fail before you go back to change the belt, and as you know its bye bye engine on cam belt failure
Brian

At 6 years, your cambelt is in the Danger Zone as replacement is due to age, not mileage.
As regards the tensioner, this is good for 50-60 K so if you do not expect to reach this before the next 4 year belt change, then it is only a nice to do.
I am surprised that a Renault Dealer does not want to change the tensioner as Renault normally sell a belt plus tensioner kit.
A proposed new MG dealer presumably will then be MG trained, but until they are, then I would suggest that you ask the local MG Car Club members where to take your car.
Geoff F.
Geoff Farthing

Dont take the Risk £25 tensioner is good value if it goes wrong it could be £100s change it.
Rowan

Take the above advice and change it, also look at the waterpump.
Andrew W Regens

I know from experience what happens if the tensioner fails. To be honest it is not worth the risk, and I always recommend our customers get the tensioner replaced. I also recommend them to get the water pump replaced if the car has done over 50,000 miles.

From my experience, the life of a K4 water pump seems to be around 80,000 miles. However, it can fail sooner.
Ralph Gadsby

Are these diyable?
Leigh Reid

This thread was discussed between 22/03/2008 and 06/04/2008

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