Cambelt or Chain driven how do I find out?

[jalz]

Hi Guys,

Asked Seat for a quote on a Cambelt replacement as the car has hit the 40000 mark and its on an 03 plate and Im not sure whether its been replaced or not. To my surprise I've been told its chain driven so I won't need one, however im "sure" the service manual says I need to get the cambelt changed (I have not looked at this for a while and could be mistaking it for my Audi which I changed recently). I'll look at the manual again when I get home but what is the difference between chain driven and cambelt and can I tell easily if I look underneath the bonnet (not sure what I'll be looking for in all honesty)? I'd rather change something now then leave it idle and wait for something to go wrong. Its a 1.2 Petrol on an 03 plate.

Many Thanks

Jalz

[kenney]

the 1.2 AZQ, BME and BXV engines are chain driven

[jalz]

Hi Kenney, thanks did some research on the net and it sounds like 1.2 and 1.4 models came with a timing chain, which is known to snap around the 50,000 miles region. I always thought you never needed to replace chains (well I didnt for my Nissan)...that’s a shame was thinking I’d saved a few quid then. I guess I’ll need it replacing anyway after reading what could happen. Do you have a 'rough' ball park figure how much an independent would charge for this as well as main dealer. Is it as involved as changing a cambelt?

Thanks

Jalz

[kenney]

the job takes ca 4 hours,It's not so much the chain which has been the problem,it is the tensioners and guides