Tyre Damage And Mot / Performance Issue

[italiastar]

Not content with posting my problems on this forum, I'm posting my neighbours - he's got a MK1 4year old TDi Alhambra.

 

I've pursuaded him to use my "new" dealer rather than the one who tried to *hag me. The problem is he has one tyre with slight sidewall damage - a triangle of rubber taken out of the sidwall just under 1cm along each edge and say 2 mm deep - does anyone know whether this wll fail the MOT - it midway between the sidewall. If so I've suggested he gets a tyre elsewhere rather than the dealer.

 

The next issue is performance - the car is an automatic (110 BHP - I think) and he said that performance has dropped dramatically recently. Could this be the cambelt on the way out? - the car has done about 40K and is 4 years old, so is due a new cambelt. I ask, because I've read about people noticing a drop in performance for weeks, sometimes a few months, before the cambelt finally snaps - I woundered if this might also be the case with a diesel.

 

Unlike me (and many of us), he's never had an Air con issue, but as he bought the car at 1 year, perhaps the previous owner did.

[Guest j_mchattie]

Its amazing what a new air filter can do. Might be worth a try.

[seatkid]

First suspect for drop in performance is always the dreaded MAF, but first visually check the vacuum piping (and theres quite a lot) before you change the MAF ;) , any leaks and you lose turbo boost. Of course an air filter change won't hurt, but they've got to be pretty well completely made up before the performance drops. The old MAF plug out test might point you in the right direction. Never heard of cambelt causing performance issues, esp at 40K. Remember MAFs are now cheap(ish) at places like GSF.

 

Strictly speaking, any sidewall damage will be an automatic MOT failure, but if the damage is very minor and superficial, the tester may allow it through. Ask him to look before he tests it.

[italiastar]

Thanks for the advice!

 

With regard to the cambelt, I remember reading this and my boss is also adamant that he knows someone who experienced a performance drop prior to one going. Personally I tend to agree with you (and value your knowledge), I'm not going to risk wrecking the engine, whilst I wait for a performance drop - as you said, there could be other issues causing this like the dreaded MAF - something else I can look forward to........

[Topbloke]

the damage to the side wall should only "fail" if it is a deep cut that go's down as far as the cords how ever if a large chunk has been taken out there may be structual damage to the tyre which may fail later

[Dave-G]

I agree with seatkid

 

most likely suspect is the maf

 

and imo the belt either works as it should - or snaps - there is no inbetween, and I suggest your bosses freind had a separate issue with his car

[tim-spam]

And the 110 bhp engine (pre-facelift) does not require a new cambelt until 60,000 miles.

Tim

[johnb80]

I agree with seatkid

 

most likely suspect is the maf

 

and imo the belt either works as it should - or snaps - there is no inbetween, and I suggest your bosses freind had a separate issue with his car

There is an inbetween, the cambelt gets so slack it jumps a tooth, you then get reduced performance until it's replaced or it snaps.

 

Regards - JB

[Bigjeeze]

There is an inbetween, the cambelt gets so slack it jumps a tooth, you then get reduced performance until it's replaced or it snaps.

 

 

Surely the tensioner will prevent that? If it jumps one tooth it can jump loads - I think that the dreaded Maf or vacuum pipework is the kiddy here.

[seatkid]

If the cambelt "jumps" a tooth, you're in big trouble.......

[banjo]

So why is it ford recommend first belt change 60k,but then every 40???,(or 5 years)

My galaxy is ex fleet,all work was carried out at main dealers and first belt change was 60k.