Hello all!

[mmaddock]

Just found this forum and rather pleased to find a very useful resource for DIY Transit mechanics!

Have just bought (well, I pick it up on Sat) my 3rd Transit. Nothing special, '97 190 2.5DI LWB semi-hi. Has a diff whine, and am glad to read that it is normal! Will be keeping an ear on it to see if it gets worse.

Where do you guys get your servicing parts from? Seen a set or two on eBay and wondering if they work out cheap or not? Is there an online Transit 'parts store' anywhere? Want to give it a service and get the belts changed asap to be on the safe side. Van has a lot of work to do in its first few weeks as it will be helping me move house - it's a 1000 mile round trip between houses and I foresee several trips! Can anyone tell me the right belts to buy as when I did my last Transit I had to take the belt back twice before the local car parts shop gave me the right one - and I only got the right one in the end because I guessed the size right!

Cheers,

Matt

[MrMPuk]

Your local motor factors will be able to do you most the parts you require but there are also a few online suppliers in the Feedback and Supplier Listings section that should have most the parts you want.

[Transitwalla]

mmaddock wrote; Has a diff whine, and am glad to read that it is normal! Will be keeping an ear on it to see if it gets worse.

It wont get any worse it will only get better as after a while you'll get used to hearing it and it wont be there anymore untill some bright spark asks what the noise is.
If you have problems getting the right part for your van . .if possible take along the original offending part and ask 'can I have another one of these?' Works especially if you want to get a part thats not common . . or the bright spark behind the counter doesn't have clue what one is....

Welcome by the way

[mmaddock]

Oh, one other thing - how often are you supposed to change the cam belt?

Cheers,

Matt

[Transitwalla]

Oh, one other thing - how often are you supposed to change the cam belt?

Cheers,

Matt

40k miles or 3 years according the the manual I have . . If you do less than 10k miles a year change the cam belt every 3 years. Good engine maintainance should be practised and regular checks on the cam belt condition will be as good an indicator as anything. Busted cam belts are devastating and can be expensive to repair the damage that occurs, I change the cam belts on my engines every two years, maximum, or just prior to MOT time if I remember.

[mmaddock]

Thanks for that - better get it done than as the last time it was changed was 40k ago!

I don't seem to have much luck with belts - I've had one cambelt snap (on a V6 Audi - ££££!) one water pump (etc) belt go, and three alternator belts over various cars in the past cople of years alone! All not long after I bought the vehicles I may add - I am paranoid about changing belts now when I buy a vehicle, will do the accessories belts on the tranny myself, but I think I'll leave the cambelt to the garage as I've never done one before myself.

Cheers,

Matt

[Transitwalla]

Thanks for that - better get it done than as the last time it was changed was 40k ago!

I don't seem to have much luck with belts - I've had one cambelt snap (on a V6 Audi - ££££!) one water pump (etc) belt go, and three alternator belts over various cars in the past cople of years alone! All not long after I bought the vehicles I may add - I am paranoid about changing belts now when I buy a vehicle, will do the accessories belts on the tranny myself, but I think I'll leave the cambelt to the garage as I've never done one before myself.

Cheers,

Matt

If you have the basic tools then follow the directions in the Haynes manual [for once they dont lead you astray] time for a novice will be about 90 minutes.... correct size drill bits will do for locating pegs

[pce-hq13]

@Transitwalla, any idea what size drill bits needed as my timing belt needs changing also ...

...Paul...

[MrMPuk]

@Transitwalla, any idea what size drill bits needed as my timing belt needs changing also ...

...Paul...

Try a search as this has been posted a few times already with full details.

[Transitwalla]

@Transitwalla, any idea what size drill bits needed as my timing belt needs changing also ...

...Paul...

Off the top of my head came half a dozen hairs seriously . .Crank I think is 13mm, camshaft 8mm then you have a choice for the fuel pump lucas / bosch 6mm/9mm and can't for the life of me remember which way round they are . . essentially you're looking at a 13,9,8 and 6 mm dia drill bits or if you are handy with a lathe you can always make some blanking pegs to just the right length. . .

A cautionary note... If you use drill bits when changing the cam belt put them in shank first, that is to say pointy end out, and for gods sake be careful what your doing as the drill bit ends are BLOODY SHARP.

'Why not put them pointy end in?' I hear you shout, well the sharp end of a drill bit is not round and has edges that can break off and present a problem further down the line.

[pce-hq13]

Cheers Transitwalla

Thanks for help

...Paul...