It's an open forum Dave ,and the seemingly stupid question held no relevance to the initial post, more to belittle a subject previously answered.

So on that note I have more right to comment as a paid fccuk member and coupe owner as anyone.

John how is this a stupid question how does it belittle somthing previously answered? I asked Nigel as I'm intrested

Come on guys, let's all be nice.

It's bad enough Nigel loosing an engine while Dave was driving so let's keep this relevant to the thread.

This issue is what has kept me below 350Bhp for so long.

Didn't Flea go through several repeated cambelt failures when his coop was running around 450Bhp?

I think all the top powered coupes in the day suffered belt issues.

I have been lucky enough not to have had any this far despite having 2 shred.
Expensive nightmare.

Aux belt failures. Not Cam.

it can happen at any time.
i was lucky to catch mine at the right point.
it already started going round the the crank pulley.
had to cut it off and remove each bit, one strand at a time.

scray stuff.

and that was a new belt only 6 / 9 months old.

A friend at work asked me to look at his car (Skoda Fabia) last week and to my horror his aux belt was frayed to hell - and about half the thickness it should be. He said it had been like that for about 6 months

The aux belt was very wide though, maybe 1.5 inches.

Sorry to here about the belts Nigel. Hope the new head and headwork doesn't cost to much.
I recall reading something about the 2.4 engine having a slightly different design on the belt system? can some one enlighten me to the specifics and why its not possible to move over this factory part

Stilo system Sam is different but coupe with the stilo engine must remain the same as the ancilliaries and bracketry are different.

You could mount a dynamic tensioner to the original mounts as opposed to a static tensioner.
However the downside is you would also need to run an inertia alternator to stop the belt "bouncing" on lift off.

So the 2.4 stilo alternator and 20vt one are different then If I understand correctly

Yes the mounting points vary considerably but the engine block mounting point remains the same.

Thanks Johny, so it doesn't seem like a cheaper easier option over a guard then. I just have not run across the same aux belt eating issue with the 2.4 stilo, seems limited to the coupe.

So far the option I offer seems to of saved numerous engines .
Nothing's guaranteed but every precaution helps.

So there is a cheap solution at the moment.

I'm looking at a redesign of either the crank pulley or the aux tension side over the winter so watch this space.

As it would happen Sam, we have just completed a top end rebuild on a Stilo 2.4 with... yes you guessed it, aux belt failure that resulted in 15 bent valves.

I had a belt go last week on a Punto GT 20vt conversion, ironically the belt split all the way down the midddle with one half shooting out through the rear view mirror and the other seconds away from wrapping itself around the crank pulley. Luckily I stopped the engine just in time, so it lives to fight another day. However, it will be receiving an FC belt guard upgrade, something I am proud to say remains undefeated!

The last bit isnt strictly true Flea.

That IS lucky.

Bad luck Nigel. Sorry to see this happen to your lovely car.

As always, you'll be back - stronger.

I think Barbz now fits a slightly shorter belt with he's guards so they are tighter and have less chance of jumping?

Barbz did mention that he could supply a different belt which reduces the chance of failure - I will be taking his recommendation

What grieves me is that this engine has done a quarter of a million miles, the last 200,000 of which have been in my hands. Its had a pretty hard life in this time, without any belts issues.

It was simply my slight lack of attention that's caused the problem - if I'd replaced the belts annually, we wouldn't be reading this thread (or at least we wouldn't be reading it about my car....)

My opinion is that a correctly fitted, aligned and tensioned belt that is in good condition simply doesn't come off. However, one or more problems, such as poor condition, slackness, or an alignment problem caused by a tensioner or pulley is enough to leave the belt vulnerable, with a 50/50 chance of engine damage, depending on which way the belt decides to travel when it comes off

Flea, were the belts with in there service schedule? Also seems a fact that the Stilo isn't a car that's looked after particularly well sadly.

I wouldn't beat your self up Neil, changing AUX belts on a yearly bases is not something you should really need to do.

I think I know what you mean but who is Neil, has he lost a belt too?

I think that's the standard iPhone spell corrector.

Darn it, sorry Nigel

LOL - I've been called a lot worse....

Glad to read you're sticking with it Nigel. Good luck in getting it running again.

Marco....

As it happens, yes, but it was a long time ago, in a far country, and besides, the wench is dead.



There *are* lots things worse to be called; 'tis true.

Update

Mmmmm - shiny

Pistons are out and have been checked - all fine

Big end shells are out - No1 shells were slightly worn, but all the rest were fine - any ideas? All are being replaced as a precaution

It should all start going back together next week, along with some non-standard valve timing devised by Barbz

Then, it's off to Leighton for some 630cc injectors and a remap session