might be looking at a s reg ink black 20vt 73000 miles this weekend @ £3000 pounds ( because the cam belt needs changing ) found a guy who is also a coupe ownner who said he can change this, pulleys and v belts for £450 . this price dosent include the water pump as he says they are strong and dosent really need doing. is this a good idea? if its not can anyone recomend someone in the basingstoke area that will do this if its important?

thanks
ross

Take it to Rog at powerfiat, not too far away from you i would say.

And yes, i would definately get the water pump done if you are having the cambelt changed.

He should do the water pump while he's there - not a lot of extra work. Rog at Powerfiat will do the job properly for less than £450.

My old coupe had had all the belts and tensioners changed but for some reason the previous owner did not get the water pump done.

It always worried me but I did 30k in it no problem and took it to 92k before selling. You can take the gamble if you like - but for the sake of not much cash it's really not worth it. Get it done for peace of mind by someone who won't cut corners...

As for someone in that area closer than Powerfiat, Auto Integrale are near Reading and seem to be the best option.

Good luck.

auto integrale is very close (only 10 miles or so)also doing a pretty cool coupe at the mo as a project !.one more question. Being at 73000 miles is it ok to drive ?? or is it a bit risky

Should be fine if it's got decent history - plenty of high milers running on here.

But if it's been run low on oil at any point it may be a different story.

Again, if you can get it checked out by a specialist it could save a lot of cash and heartache...

doe you mean risky as in its 1k over the recomended cambelt change interval?? personally i wouldnt drive it... or as little as possible until the belt etc is done

Doh - read that wrong!

Peter's right - get it sorted ASAP, make the next journey you do the trip to get it all done...

this is what i was thinking . might even even get a mate to toe it to aldermaston for me

Personally I WOULDNT DRIVE IT AT ALL!!!
If it goes on you you will kick yourself BIGTIME.

I wouldnt even consider NOT changing the waterpump as i dont believe in doing things half cocked and knowing my luck if i didnt change the waterpump at the same time a few days later the damn thing would start to leak but then again i know my luck - tis up to you i guess :-)

I am sorry but these comments are making the coupe sound like a fagile little thing an s plate is likely to be 98 ish so is WAY overdue on age anyway, never mind the 1k over mileage. TBH most of the forum members on this site would have had the belt done at 40-50k due to the age, not mileage. BUT i would not worry unduely about something just breaking. Just don't go driving like a nutter....I might be wrong, but i can only think of one failure of belt, which was in fact the belt juming off the idle wheel somehow? The belts are always fine, just the idle wheels go bad

AJG We are just pointing out to him what COULD happen, if he was under the impression everything was COMPLETELY ok and then it snapped as he was driving it to a garage he would hate both himself and some of us.

Water pump is only £30 ish, you would be a fool not to change if your spending several hundred IMHO.....
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