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MG MGF Technical - TF VVC Cam Belt

Hi,

How often should a 2003 TF VVC cam belt be replaced ?

Is it 4 years / 48000 miles or 5 years / 60000 miles ?

The service manual is useless in saying what needs replace at service. Is there a list of what should/shouldnt be in carried out ? . Ive had various quotes from local garages, none of whome are consistent in what they'll do - apart from charge a fortune

Thanks in advance
Jim
Jim

They changed the sequence to 4 years / 48000 miles from what I heard of.

Anyway, I'd go for the old spec:
5 years / 60000 miles

Mind you, it's an _or_.
Either 5 years, or 60k miles, whatever appears first.

To be changed at an 2003 TF 160:
Both cam belts and immidiately the cam belt tensioner.
Also the alternator belt and if your car has aircon, then I'd also change the alternator belt tensioner roll. (A/C only)

HTH
Dieter
Dieter

Thanks Dieter, I was oblivious to this until i got quotes for £550+ for an annual service. Its age rather than mileage thats causing me to ask although as you say its an OR. Even more of a concern is the variability in knowledge across garages, they were all a bit reluctant to say what was entailed, and some were old MG garages, hopefully its just lack of knowledge from the guy on the phone & not the mechanic. Armed with what you said i'll double check
regards
Jim
Jim

ive got mgf trophy with 50k on it i got my cam belt done for £169 all in very good price if you live near hartlepool
pd dixon

There's a lot of confusion about the cambelt change interval. My understanding is that early cars with 12,000 mile service intervals have the cambelt change at 60,000 or 5 years (whichever is earlier). Later cars with 15,000 mile service interval have the cambelt change at 60,000 or 4 years (whichever is earlier).
Ralph Gadsby

Whilst I don't dispute that might be the recommendation, does anyone know WHY a belt which is recommended for replacement at 60k miles regardless of age suddenly needs changing a year earlier if that mileage isn't reached?? Are the belts or tensioners any different between the 12k and 15k service interval cars?

Cheers,
Tim
T Jenner

The VVC is particularly hard on cambelts due to the natural spring imbalance of the split VVC inlet cams, if it were me I would change the belt at 30,000 or 3 years. I have seen far too many VVC engines failed due to belt or pulley problems. Changing the belt also affords the opportunity to review the bolt torque on the pulleys. Shedding of the bolts is another common mode of failure.

Dave
Dave Andrews

I have preached that 5 years or 100000km are the maximum, I have changed belts at 5 years and 24000km but my regular driv a VVC the belts get changed at 80000km and the time is 4 years. I'm the same as Dave seen to many belts that have given out even at 36000km and 3 years that was a TF 160. To hell with the cost just change them plus belt tensioner, the waterpump and altinater belt.
Andrew W Regens

This thread was discussed between 10/09/2007 and 04/10/2007

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