It’s a question of timing

Regarding the letter in the February issue from Eric Hawes (p120), can I add the following information to Nick Fisher’s reply?

My 2014 Globecar on a Ducato 150 Multijet was due for service last June and I faced the same question. For this engine, the handbook service guide advised a 96-month belt replacement interval and the same for the 130 engine. However, as indicated by the asterisk in brackets, the 110 engine is a five-year maximum.

To be certain that I had got it correct, I called Fiat Professional, which confirmed that this was the case providing the mileage limit wasn’t exceeded.

As a low-mileage vehicle, Fiat agrees a two-year servicing interval so this will be done at my next service in 2022.

I appreciate that caution is good practice when it comes to belt changes, but hopefully Fiat has already built in a significant safety margin in setting these published replacement schedules.

Bryn Jones

I just read the letters about timing belts and thought I’d add to it. I’m a mechanic so able to change my belt, but felt it could be unnecessary at four years old and 8,000 miles.

I’m glad I did, getting the full kit including water pump. When I removed the pump, the drive pulley was badly corroded and would eventually have worn the belt away.

I do not know if it’s a common fault, but it is bad. The cover is a nightmare to get off.

My ’van is a Fiat Ducato with the 2.3-litre 130bhp diesel engine.

Carl