The Dispatch | Expert | Scudo Hub

Fab advice.

Bought my van at 125k, second timing belt snapped at 144k. Bit of a mess.

Just assume the interval is 70k max and if you're buying a van that you can't confirm has had it changed, factor in the £200-300 cost when you make your decision.

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https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/0WWLu … 58-h643-no

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https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/R-leU … 12-h643-no

Joe's is a 59 though - are they same setup?

Welcome Joe :-)

... and the dimensions in the image above are for SWB.

I will get round to this at some point - annoys the hell out of me too ...

I like - post a pic when you've got it hooked up to the van

Ha! I've actually seen a couple of these .. both touring way up the very north coast of Scotland. How weird would it be to be in that familiar wee cab knowing you had all that gear behind you!

You're pretty much risking your engine. I had a timing-belt disaster last year.

To hugely over-simplify (I'm not a mechanic!), if your timing belt goes, the moving parts within your engine's cylinders instantly become out of sync and start smashing each other up.

In my case, if I remember right, I had to replace all the valves and several rockers (stop me if I'm using wrong terms here anyone!). This requires removing the cylinder head which (on the HDi engine at least) means that the whole engine has to come out the van. The head then needs to be reskimmed, new parts bought and fitted and then it all has to be put back together again.

Add to this a full service, buying and fitting of a new timing belt kit inc water pump, and in my case the ancillaries belt (which runs the power steering / alternator etc) which had got mangled in the process.

I think I did pretty well to get the whole job done by an out-of-town grease monkey for £700, the garage I'd been going to up until then wanted £1200 just to open it up and assess the damage.

Be interesting to hear others experiences too.

Bottom line I'd say if you're in doubt, just get it done 

Yep my van has done this since I bought it 3 years ago.

Fairly occasional. More frequent when cold but can randomly happen any time. Clutch & some extra revs sees me past it.

I always assumed it was the clutch itself. I believe when there is moisture / condensation on them they can cause this effect. Also assume my clutch is getting on a bit.

Doesn't seem to have got any worse over the three years.

Due to timing belt catastrophe last year my engine's been out & back in so I know the engine mounts are ok.

T

Hi Solvemon & welcome!

This is what I use - and is almost certainly what you'll need as well:

https://www.dynamicsounds.co.uk/autolea … lPuxNLbN8F

There's a thread here that covers some of these issues - but ultimately that adaptor should sort it all for you:

http://dispatchexpertscudo.org.uk/forum … c.php?id=7

Let us know how you get on!

tee_cee - can I ask what kind of results you got with the flexible 100w solar panel?

I can honestly say I've never met a barky border terrier. Not yappy in the slightest. You must wind them up Casper

Moniaive it was indeed. Can't recommend it enough. £12 to camp for 4 nights. Bonfires allowed. Free music. £2.50/pint. And best of all, no Bob Dylan!

They do a bluegrass festival in September. Same deal. Also brilliant.

I was given the table by a friend so not sure where it came from. There were a few more kicking around the festival campsite though.

Hiyah Frans and welcome!

Not something I have any experience of I'm afraid.

Searching the part - Amazon tells me instantly that it will fit my van (2006 Dispatch RHZ).

I'm sure one of the other guys will have experience with these and will chip in at some point.

Let us know if you have any luck.