Hi everyone,
I bought a V40 2.0 CD Auto (1997, on a P reg - United kingdom) a few days ago and I love it! I did have a 1994 ford fiesta before, and I'm loving the step up in looks/quality already.
The thing is I have a couple of questions I would like an honest opinion about, and have found this site through google.

Alright here go's;

1. The car has fsh, the cam belt (timing belt) was changed at 85'000miles in 2002. It has now done 130'000miles. Do you think it needs changing? The dealer I bought it from told me it should be done every 80'000 or 8years (whichever comes first), and as it has been 8years it will need doing. I don't know weather to believe him or not, because he was trying to get me to book it in to his garage at a cost of £500. Was he being honest and looking out for my best interests, or was he just trying to get more cash out of me?

2. I have noticed that the head lights are very dim (single headlight model), Is this a normal problem on this model/year? I have already changed the bulbs for some "uprated" ones, packaging said they are up to 100% brighter, but they are just as bad.

3. I am getting about 26.7mpg average out of it so far (have covered 150miles some motorway, some local). Is this normal? Is there any way of improving mpg? Would using cruise control or a steady foot produce best mpg on motorway driving? Do aftermarket airfilters (K&N ect.) improve or decrease mpg?

Thanks very much to any one reading/replying to this post.
Any help or advice will be greatly appreciated.

 

i have replied to this once lol

 

Yeah, sorry. I originally posted this in the V40 section, but I thought if i put it here more people mite read/reply to it.

Anyway, is the 8 year cambelt change rule correct, even if its only been 45'000 miles since last change? That is the main thing I'm worrying about.

Any help/advice with my other questions would be very much appreciated though.

Thank you.

 

From my experience cambelts normally are changed with use (distance) not time, so i would opt for changing it at the next 80k miles point, most big chain garage workshops (eg nationwide auto services) would look at it for free and give you better advice, they are currently doing a free 15 vehicle check at all their centers, i think it includes the cambelt

 

Cheers,
Now you mention it, I'm sure I remember seing something like that "Free 15 point check" on the wall in ATS a few weeks ago. I will go and see them tomorrow.
You mentioned on the other thread that you adjusted your head lights up a bit, how do you do that? Could I do it myself without specialist tools?

 

Cam belts should be changed at a time in service OR mileage interval, whichever comes first.
They are made predominantly of rubber and it hardens, as do the seals that should be replaced at the same time.
The reason so many cam belts fail is because people put replacing them off. If people replaced the belts on time (whether time in service or mileage) cam belt failures would be extremely rare.
No one is trying to shake you down, they're trying to look after your best interests and the car.

Regards, Andrew.

 

Yeah, I agree with you. I'm booked in for a check up on tuesday, and if it needs doing, it will be done.

Thanks for the advice every one.

Any advice on adjusting the lights up? I dont like paying a garage to do little jobs like this if i can do it my self.

 

Adjusting headlights is usually a simple matter of turning an adjustment **** somewhere on the headlight body. Your owner's handbook may contain the information, otherwise most all service departments will do it for free if you are spending decent coin there (timing belt) as a courtesy.
Some cars will even have up/down or left/right on the various ***** you need to turn.
It's a 5 minute job.

Regards, Andrew.