Timing Belt Clinic: Rover KV6

Rob Hawkins follows MG and Rover experts at Retro Sports Cars as they renew the timing belts and water pump on a 2.0-litre Kv6-engined Rover 75.

Rover’s 2.0- and 2.5-litre KV6 petrol engines are fitted to a range of its models, including the 45, 75 and 825 and the MG ZS and ZT, all with a front-wheel-drive configuration. It was also fitted to the Land Rover Freelander.

The east-west FWD engine layout means the front of the engine is close to the offside inner wing, so there’s very little room for accessing the main timing belt until several components have been removed first. Ancillaries including the alternator and power steering pump need to be detached, along with the engine mount, but once they are out of the way, there’s space to work on the belt and renew it along with the idler pulleys and water pump.

There is also a pair of shorter timing belts that need to be changed, and these are located at the back of the engine.

Locking tools are required to renew the three timing belts on a KV6 engine, and stockists including Laser Tools and Sealey sell these (online prices vary between £200 and £500). Or hire them.

The work involved is time-consuming, so set aside at least a full day or a long weekend. There’s a number of small parts to undo or take off, as we discovered when we followed independent MG Rover specialist Chris Flanagan from Retro Sports Cars renewing the timing belts and water pump on editor Martyn Knowles’ 2.0-litre Rover 75. As an ex-mg Rover technician, Chris not only knows the official procedures for renewing these parts, but has also developed his own methods after years of practice.

We’ve relied on the experts for this Timing Belt Clinic, and also called on parts specialist Xpart, who are keeping

the genuine MG Rover parts brand alive. They supplied all the parts, which are available to buy through their dealer network. The comprehensive timing belt kit we fitted (it applies to the

2.0- and 2.5-litre KV6) includes a new set of three timing belts, a tensioner assembly, idler gear, water pump, plus a set of screws and washers.