- Edited
As above. I recently posted some pics of an accessory belt that was just 1900KLMS old on my C30 R- design (to the D5, maintenance you must do thread).
To follow up that belt shredded and snapped due to a minor impact on the engine "skid plate". A small hole maybe the size of a beer can on the plastic skid plate allowed debris / rocks to interfere with the accessory belt / pulley which in turn snapped wrapping around the crank pulley and apparently destroying the motor!
NRMA have concluded it was an incident and approved the replacement of the engine at 9.5K plus various other costs adding up to 13.5K!
TBH, it's likely that replacing the TB and other bits the engine would be OK without bent valves but NRMA approved a new motor so that's what's happening.
So that leads back to the title. The skid plates, particularly on R-Design cars are inadequate as are the stupid plastic timing belt covers. Both should be alloy on an interference engine.
IPD make aluminium skid plates for about $180 USD. Problem is freight for just 2 units is $1053USD!!!!! Clearly this is not viable and IPD are yet to offer a better freight option.
Does anyone on here have any thoughts about using an IPD unit and getting a local company to duplicate their design or some other way of maybe getting a bulk order of these to Australia? I think every C30 / V50 / S40 must have one (especially R-DESIGN).
To follow up that belt shredded and snapped due to a minor impact on the engine "skid plate". A small hole maybe the size of a beer can on the plastic skid plate allowed debris / rocks to interfere with the accessory belt / pulley which in turn snapped wrapping around the crank pulley and apparently destroying the motor!
NRMA have concluded it was an incident and approved the replacement of the engine at 9.5K plus various other costs adding up to 13.5K!
TBH, it's likely that replacing the TB and other bits the engine would be OK without bent valves but NRMA approved a new motor so that's what's happening.
So that leads back to the title. The skid plates, particularly on R-Design cars are inadequate as are the stupid plastic timing belt covers. Both should be alloy on an interference engine.
IPD make aluminium skid plates for about $180 USD. Problem is freight for just 2 units is $1053USD!!!!! Clearly this is not viable and IPD are yet to offer a better freight option.
Does anyone on here have any thoughts about using an IPD unit and getting a local company to duplicate their design or some other way of maybe getting a bulk order of these to Australia? I think every C30 / V50 / S40 must have one (especially R-DESIGN).