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Posted (edited)

Just ran into a serious issue that I want to give you guys the heads up on before it costs you a big headache. The last two Subaru timing belt jobs we did used Dayco kit, the tensioner bearing failed. The first one was after 39 miles, the second one only lasted 19 miles. These were sourced through Advance. Looks like the second one may have cost the engine.

 

I'm waiting to hear back on what happened in the manufacturing process that caused the failure. We have installed tons of these kits with no troubles and have two failures in a row now, something has gone sour.

 

Save yourself the headache, skip the tensioner or install OE on this one. Will post back with more details once I get an answer.

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Edited by Junior
Posted

On this note, does anyone know for certain how many degrees the camshaft can be out before valve to piston contact on an EJ253 engine?

Posted

The SOHC 2.5 rarely bends valves. Its listed as an interference engine but I've put about 7 or 8 timing kits In cars that snapped the belt on the highway and they ran fine.

Posted

That is scary because I usually use either the Dayco or Gates kit. We are installing a Dayco kit on a Chevy Aveo today.

Posted

Use OE and you wont have these problems. Worldpac has Aisin which is OE aftermarket

 

 

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Posted

Never had a problem with Aisin kits and I've used a ton of them. In fact, I use them so often I keep them in stock

Posted

Used Dayco hydraulic tensioner on a Pilot timing belt a few years ago and it failed within about 20k. Won't use them again. I'll stick with Gates or Aisin.

Posted

Spent a bunch of time with Dayco rep and engineers on the phone yesterday. They claim an NTN tensioner in the box, which is OE, got a new tensioner from Subaru, it is NTN, so is the Dayco one, but they are clearly different parts, different castings and everything. I can only assume NTN changed something in production or they make a different part for aftermarket. The other pulleys that come in the kit are GMB and they are identical to OE. We put OE tensioners on in place of failed ones and all is well, we got lucky with the motor that went out of time, thankfully Subaru's can be out quite a bit before interference.

 

I have mixed feelings about the product now, this is the only timing component failure we've seen. We switched over to Dayco from Gates only about a year ago. I'm not ready to say I won't use Dayco timing kits but I will certainly scrutinize kit components before install.

Posted

I never had good luck with Dayco when I first started my shop. Use mostly Gates for most vehicles. Continental for some specific makes/models or have a few others I use for very specific make/models.

Posted

Now that i think of it, The last dayco timing kit I bought from AZ the tensioner wouldn't expand after the pin was pulled. It was stuck in the retracted position. I used the old one because it worked better. I rarely do timing belts though because of the liability.

Posted

We installed a dayco belt on a VW beetle two weeks ago. Would not stop setting cam codes, regardless of how we adjusted the cam/crank. Turned out the belt was 1/2 tooth too small, which was just enough to throw the timing off and set a CEL. We threw an OEM VW belt on, and all was good.

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  • Have you checked out Joe's Latest Blog?

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      It always amazes me when I hear about a technician who quits one repair shop to go work at another shop for less money. I know you have heard of this too, and you’ve probably asked yourself, “Can this be true? And Why?” The answer rests within the culture of the company. More specifically, the boss, manager, or a toxic work environment literally pushed the technician out the door.
      While money and benefits tend to attract people to a company, it won’t keep them there. When a technician begins to look over the fence for greener grass, that is usually a sign that something is wrong within the workplace. It also means that his or her heart is probably already gone. If the issue is not resolved, no amount of money will keep that technician for the long term. The heart is always the first to leave. The last thing that leaves is the technician’s toolbox.
      Shop owners: Focus more on employee retention than acquisition. This is not to say that you should not be constantly recruiting. You should. What it does means is that once you hire someone, your job isn’t over, that’s when it begins. Get to know your technicians. Build strong relationships. Have frequent one-on-ones. Engage in meaningful conversation. Find what truly motivates your technicians. You may be surprised that while money is a motivator, it’s usually not the prime motivator.
      One last thing; the cost of technician turnover can be financially devastating. It also affects shop morale. Do all you can to create a workplace where technicians feel they are respected, recognized, and know that their work contributes to the overall success of the company. This will lead to improved morale and team spirit. Remember, when you see a technician’s toolbox rolling out of the bay on its way to another shop, the heart was most likely gone long before that.
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      How To Get In Touch
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