How often should cam belts be changed

Many are doing it every 5 years. Its not the belt that goes but the tensioners and bearings that fail. Get the Hill Engineering bearings and drive knowing that it isnt going to blow up. Doing the major every 3 years is a waste of money. If you take care of your car and keep your hands on the pulse of these babies then you can even go a year past 5 years. But doing it every 5 years gives you a chance to look at everything else while the engine is out and many of those items should not be ignored past 5 years.

 

Its the "everything else" that can get you. All aspects of the cam belt system need to be inspected including the bearings on the main driven shaft for the cam belt system. If the rear bearing goes out on that driven shaft it doesn't matter how new your belt and tensioners are, you will take out at least one head. No need to ask me how I know.

Now if you really want to know how many times this has been discussed use the Search function and search this forum for "cam belt interval".

 

Yup, what he said. This has been debated ad nauseum. Opinions on belt change intervals are just like navels . . . everyone has one. Do a quick search and there are plenty of threads to read through. Good luck and welcome to the 348 brotherhood!

 

The thing you should know is that your 348 only has ONE timing belt, (other V8s have two) so don't push it past its life or it will destroy BOTH heads at one time!!

Welcome and enjoy your car!

They do have that effect, when they are running properly.

We normally shoot anyone who starts a new thread on this time worn subject, but the Season has us all glowing with inner peace....

 

+1

add on a side note seriously.

I was hoping for the world to end and no more belt threads but sadly didn't get either. that proves it to the end of time. Belt threads.

 

Have you seen that wooden F50?

 

Same time as I get a haircut, once every 4-5 years or so

 

I am going for 7 years. My last major was five years ago but only 1000 miles were driven. I have done over 2500 more miles since that point. Just my opinion but my Audi also used a single timing belt and that was changed at the ten year 75,000 mile mark. Actually most cars use a single timing belt. Granted the 348's is much longer.
I just did a quick search and for Hondas it is based on mileage not time. Personally I feel as long as you are actually driving your car you can go a little longer. But if you let it sit and just collect dust then I would say 5 years. Cars need to be used. Otherwise you wind up replacing everything when you really didn't even get to enjoy it.
My main advice is to learn everything you can about your car and get to really know it back and front so if things aren't right you'll be aware of it. This is strictly my opinion.
Ferrari used to recommend what was it 52,000 miles or something for the 348? Then all of a sudden it became every three years regardless of miles. Yet rarely if ever does anyone say something catastrophic happened. So why the change? I am sorry but I smell $$$ is why. Audi 1.8 motors are notorious for timing belt failures around the 75000 mile mark even though Audi was recommending every 105,000 miles. Now obviously there were many more audis sold than ferraris but Ferrari owners are a very small community. If engines were self destructing I am pretty sure we would know it.

 

Wow....another timing belt thread, who'd have thunk?

My in-expert opinion is that any period beyond the factory recommended 3 years is a crap shoot. Up to you how much risk you can accept. I have been following a 5 year interval, though the previous owner did the first major on my car at 6 years. So 6, then 5, 5 (I just picked my car up last night from the most recent major service). I personally know of a 355 owner who had a belt shred some teeth at the 7 year point. It was an expensive.

The thing that surprises me at each major service, is all the other stuff found by the experienced eye of a technician. Many potential issues were caught during each of my major services that prevent future breakdowns or failures. As others said, the belts and tensioners are only a small part of the overall picture of a major service.

 

All this talking about belts when do I change my suspenders ?

 

First of all, welcome to Ferrarichat, and to the 348 Brotherhood.
Second, fill out your profile. We like knowing who we are talking too.

Now for a serious answer to a never ending question, have a read of a post I made earlier this year. -> http://ferrarichat.com/forum/showpost.php?p=141790205&postcount=159 It will also explain why a lot of posts are sarcastic.

My opinion is 5 years/ 50k miles.

 

+1. Ah, ernie, how much time is on your belt?

 

+1 Too funny Tex

 

Not to mess the thread up...but how about the 355. Are they more forgiving since 2 belts ? anyone gone past the 5 years....say 7 years ?

 

My belt done in 2003,and the car has only put on 6k miles since,I am going to have the next service done this spring,still driving ,I was told not to be reving it up past 5k rpms,when driving,

 

A month short of 9 years and about 30,000 miles. I still haven't hit the 50k mark yet. Hahahahaha. I have all the stuff to do the belt, I've just been lazy about getting around to it. That and I still need to pass smog.

 

In a nutshell:

3-years or 30,000, whichever comes first is Ferrari mandate

4 or 5 years is what several people go by

 

Should hijackers be included in this amnesty even if they apparently haven't seen any of the similar relevant threads since they joined several years ago !

 

Welcome includes the Ferrari hazing, no matter self inflicted or not.

congrats, and you are welcome

 

The hell with the belt question. I just hope that I'm driving my Ferrari when I'm 78! Congratulations brother. Guess it's never too late, eh?

 

Yeah I was thinking 4...that came and went, now maybe 5

 

+1

 

Congrats adnd welcome! As others have said, the search function on this forum is fantastic. There are a lot of guys that have really good advise and are generous enough to offer it.

True story: I bought my first Ferrari, also a 348 ('91) in '08 with 34k miles. My mechanic thought that the timning belt and tensioners were original. So I guess the interval is 17 years or 34k miles. I knew it was overdue a mojor, but holy geez!