Ask an expert

I own a 1993 Holden Barina travelled 50,000km's.

At what distance should the cam belt be replaced and what is the degree of difficulty?

I was a motor mechanic years ago.

Colin

From the "Ask Jack" archives - 28 August 2009

The Barina has a lower cam belt replacement period in comparison to the majority of similar cars, particularly the Japanese brands.

The recommendation from Holden is to replace the cam belt every 60,000km's or four years whichever comes first.

It is not a job I would recommend you do at home unless you have all the tools required to do the job properly. The bottom crankshaft pulley for example can be very hard to remove if the bolt is tight but more importantly it needs to be refitted correctly to avoid working loose, and damaging the crankshaft surface it sits on.

The correct timing of the cam and crankshafts is also critical to avoid engine damage.

Also, a lot of repairers will not undertake these jobs without replacing the water pump which is driven by the cam belt.

A Holden dealer I rang estimated approx $750 to do the job to their standards.