Just had the front & rear timing belts replaced as part of service with LR Main Dealer, and 36 hours later on trying to drive off the steering was rock heavy got out of car & a swoosh of fluid from engine. Switched off immediately - looking in engine bay there is a belt at the front of the engine that has either fallen off or snapped! I assume this is not the timing belt itself as that's inside the engine but must be the belt driving pas air con etc?, but this must surely have needed taking off & re-fitting to deal with the timing belt?
Can anyone confirm?, or had this issue?, also mechanic indicated that he was going to do the timing belt change without taking the body off, I thought the body was needed off to get proper access? And is there any risk of mechanical damage, or because this is (I think) the ancillary belt that it just needs replacement & fluid topped up - but what fluid was that? - implies to me that perhaps a coolant pipe had not been reconnected?
Have called LR Assistance, but any tips/comments appreciated meantime!
31st Jan 2019 10:22 am
rrhool
Member Since: 28 Aug 2014
Location: Norfolk
Posts: 4496
You are right. The auxiliary belt at the front drives the aircon pump/alternator/power steering.
Yes, it would have been off to do the timing belt. Either a tensioner has failed, or the belt has failed(aux belt).
It is possible to do the rear timing belt without body off. Fiddly, but possible.
Sounds like it needs to go straight back to the LR main dealer!Richard
D3 SE 2007. Triumph 2.5Pi 1973. Ferguson TEA20 1948.
Discovery 2 4.0 ES 2001- Gone
Discovery 1 300Tdi ES '95 - Gone
Range Rover Classic '79 - Gone
Thanks Richard - 3-4 hour wait for LR Assistance but apparently it's the LR specialist rather than the standard AA van, yes sounds good idea to get it back to dealer.
Have already phoned Peter Vardy to speak to the service manager, although a local phone number ended up with a central switchboard at other end of country and still waiting for call back from their Customer Services manager....and they had the nerve to send me a text yesterday telling me that LR would be sending a customer satisfaction survey and asking me to contact them immediately if I wouldn't give them 10/0 !!
31st Jan 2019 10:39 am
rrhool
Member Since: 28 Aug 2014
Location: Norfolk
Posts: 4496
Cheeky !
You'll be happy to fill in their survey! They might not like the answers though! Richard
D3 SE 2007. Triumph 2.5Pi 1973. Ferguson TEA20 1948.
Discovery 2 4.0 ES 2001- Gone
Discovery 1 300Tdi ES '95 - Gone
Range Rover Classic '79 - Gone
Richard
Yes I thought it was cheeky, and have reported it to LandRover who are going to look into it as it undermines LR's attempt to get genuine feedback. the exact wording of the text was "Hi, just a reminder that you will receive your LandRover survey shortly, if for any reason you are not happy to score us 10/10 please let us know 01224871219".
While it's positive that they want to deal with feedback, it does not help LR to assess dealerships if the dealerships try to deal with problems before the survey is completed, as it then doesn't give the full picture of the actual initial service level.
31st Jan 2019 11:26 am
Disco_Mikey
Member Since: 29 May 2007
Location: Dundee, Scotland
Posts: 20802
Belts are not a body off job
What fluid is it? Anti Freeze is pink, engine oil is black, P/S fluid is a greeny/browny colour My D3 Build Thread
What fluid is it? Anti Freeze is pink, engine oil is black, P/S fluid is a greeny/browny colour
Thanks Disco Mikey - quick update, it was engine coolant... the auxiliary belt was off, not snapped... and the water pump was lying at the bottom of the engine bay minus all 3 bolts! Just glad I wasn't driving and towing at the time that happened!
So, to get to the front timing belt, I wonder what components had to be removed and then reinstalled?.....
Any views on whether risk of any other damage? - I got the engine off within 2 secs of the coolant pouring out and the engine was preheated by the remote webasto.
1st Feb 2019 8:37 am
Disco_Mikey
Member Since: 29 May 2007
Location: Dundee, Scotland
Posts: 20802
Sounds like the garage who done the belt had undone one of the water pump bolts. Been reported on here a few times
Disco Mickey - why would they undo 1 bolt? - there are 3 on the pump so even with 1 missing the other 2 would surely have held, would they perhaps have needed to remove the pump to make it easier to get access for replacing the timing belt?
That's good news though that unlikely to be engine damage, so hopefully a quick job to refit!! Thanks
1st Feb 2019 9:51 am
Disco_Mikey
Member Since: 29 May 2007
Location: Dundee, Scotland
Posts: 20802
One water pump bolt is right next to one of the timing cover bolts, and is easily undone instead
With one bolt missing, the tension of the aux belt pulls downwards on the pump, stressing the remaining 2 bolts, until they fail and the pump is pulled out of the holeMy D3 Build Thread
Similar story here. Had the car in with the dealer for belt change. 100 meters down the road and lost power steering and all the cooling fluid dumped on the road. Upshot was the water pump had come adrift and, of course, the FEAD belt had come off. A quick phone call and some harsh words and ten minutes later they were there with the trailer. Was told the bolts holding the water pump on had sheared. Went back next day and all done and fixed, plus a really good valet done this time.
Received the bill for the initial belt change a few days later but nothing for the return visit. Do you think there's a message in there somewhere?
Read somewhere that these pump bolts are prone to failure if over or under torqued.
18th Feb 2019 3:13 pm
DiscoJeffster
Member Since: 27 Feb 2016
Location: Perth
Posts: 204
No. The problem is they undo one of the water pump bolts instead of the timing belt cover. When they find the cover won’t come off, they take out the correct bolt, then at reassembly, can’t find the spot for the leftover bolt and likely leave it on the bench, assuming it’s just a cover bolt so who cares.
They never realised they removed the water pump bolt in the first place. If they had then they’d replace it straight away. The pump has three bolts to hold it in place if I recall correctly. The one removed is at the top. This means the belt pulls down on it. Once enough vibration and time are applied to it, the other two bolts can’t hold it in place against the leverage and give way. Pump falls out, coolant on the ground, bolts sheared.
With one bolt missing, the tension of the aux belt pulls downwards on the pump, stressing the remaining 2 bolts, until they fail and the pump is pulled out of the hole
Disco Mikey - PM sent!
This was only the start of the saga!, at some point the battery terminals must have been disconnected and then not re-seated properly.... as we ended up with a complete electrical failure!
Needless to say, the dealership claim they never touched the battery...they must either be magicians to manage to replace both timing belts (without the body off) and then a water pump without disconnecting or removing the battery, or they just have less concern for safety than I'd have if working in an engine bay!
20th Mar 2019 6:06 pm
Disco_Mikey
Member Since: 29 May 2007
Location: Dundee, Scotland
Posts: 20802
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