new cam belts 1.4 petrol

[A2driver]

Just changed both cambelts yesterday and the write-up from A2OC was very helpful. Not that much of a difficult job although the exhaust cambelt is a bit fiddly. The advice to index mark the cam sprockets was really useful as they do move one the connecting belt is removed.
One thing I did notice is that all the tensioners were in perfect working order and my cam belt was just starting to show signs of age (few micro cracks). I did fit the new tensioners as they'd only sit on the shelf but I would've quite happily left the old ones on.
My car has done 93300 miles and I have been keeping an eye on the belt periodically for some time now.

One job I didn't do was the water pump as it was too cold and I wanted to come in and warm up as quickly as possible -has anyone had one fail or is it considered a good 'while you're in there job'?

 

[spike]

One job I didn't do was the water pump as it was too cold and I wanted to come in and warm up as quickly as possible -has anyone had one fail or is it considered a good 'while you're in there job'?

I think that only 3 or 4 club members have reported failed water pumps. Considering the cars mileage, I'd be tempted to replace it when the weather warms up a bit.
See also the comments from an independent in this post - http://www.a2oc.net/forum/showpost.php?p=74675&postcount=7

Cheers Spike

 

[A2driver]

Changed the oil + filter tonight and whilst the tray was off I noticed a damp patch on the tray and a slight weeping on oil on the sump. I wonder if it's possible on damage the crank seal when removing the crank pulley....I would say no as the crank must be under incredible forces during normal engine running...but i can't think of any thing else it would be.
It's coming from where the dipstick/oil filler interfaces with the sump



Oh and WHO put the filter THERE!!! Forgot what a stupid location it was

 

[bretti_kivi]

clean the breather pipe. I have something similar occasionally, generally when the breather is blocked with ice. That increases pressure in the system and that seal appears to be the one which starts going first. Next trip to the garage, that is on the list of things to do.

Bret

 

[A2driver]

Hmm checked the breather pipe and it's fine. I thought it was the oil filter which I replaced soon after the cam belts, so I removed checked and re-fitted.
It's something I've disturbed since changing the belts so either the crank seal was damaged removing the pulley (how I don't know), or the sump gasket has been damaged when the engine was lowered on the jack.
Or possibly the dip stick/filler is leaking.
Has anyone changed the crank seal, is it like any other car? I'm thinking some workshop manuals would be helpful, has anyone got a source on CD?

 

[pgodoe]

Keep us posted! I have a leak from the same places you noted. And the engine has started to use a fair amount of oil(!). Don't know if it throws it out during driving, cause it don´t leak while it stands still.

cheers,

-P-