Serpentine belt change interval

[Sunny43.5]

Can anyone tell me what would be the expected time frame for changing Serpentine belt 2012 T5.1 7EA engine 2.0 litre 103 . I had ours changed along with timing belt at 125000 kms in October 2022 now on 155000 kms and the serpentine failed last night . Managed to drive home from Bribie Island Qld to home southside Brisbane around 11pm , no power steering made sharp turns a wrestling match . But as there was no charge going to battery most of the drive was with parking lights only , luckily we slipped in behind a big semi and we drafted him most of the way so no headlights were needed . On arrival home I turned the van off and tried to restart and yep almost dead flat , whew made it by the skin of our teeth .

[BrianJ]

I can't answer your question as I still have the 2006 AXD engine, but I am impressed by your ability to get home in such conditions. Not sure if you saw my thread about my recent breakdown also at Bribie Island, there must be something about that place. Mine busted the high pressure fuel line from the tandem pump to the injectors, and spewing fuel everywhere. Its the first time I ever had to be brought back home on a truck, most times we have hobbled home like you did. Luckily you did not need spark plugs working or you might not have made it.

[Sunny43.5]

Yes the old school mechanics knowledge kicked in when it went , I wasn,t sure about how much draw on the battery diesel engines and the DSG would cause in comparison to my old school petrol cars I had in the past so I just went for it . Admits I left the party we were at fairly sort of tired but this sure kept me alert !! , I turned the lights on a couple of times when there were no street lights, especially along the Bribie connection Rd . Once I saw the semi I thought this my ticket home so we managed the 99.7 kms without incident . I was sort of hoping we would get pulled over by the police but because we had our daughter in her wheelchair in the back I was sure they would have understood the situation . Any way job now done , Repco had the Gates ones in stock so up on ramps and ten minutes later all done . Back many long years ago I had a Toyota Hi Ace van that I shoe horned a Holden 186 motor into { don,t ask how that was done but it worked } any way again at Bribie the mongrel dropped a conrod . So in true bushman style got underneath unbolted the sump removed the broken conrod hacksawed the part that was no longer attached to the piston off and bolted the part with the bearing back onto the crankshaft to maintain oil pressure . Then removed the tappet cover and loosened off the tappets for inlet and exhaust valves and disconnected the sparg plug , yep we made it home again all though it was a bit rough only firing on 5 instead of 6 pots . That van was doozy but we always managed to get home despite some shocking temporary mods on the roads side LOL . Blew out front brake line outside Gympie one night , unbolted the junction pipe and fitted a 5 cent coin in to block off the leaking pipes , a bit sketchy pulling up on rear drums only .

[BrianJ]

The good old days LOL You reminded me of an incident I had many years ago on a weekend trip from Brisbane to Rockhampton in a 1959 VW beetle, and around Miriam Vale I noticed the brakes were dragging a lot, so stopped under a big mango tree at the south end of the main town street, and found that one back wheel bearing had collapsed due to the plastic between the balls had disintegrated and all the balls had gone over to one side of the bearing race so the axle wasn't in the middle. I didn't have much with me except an old thick rubber washing tub plug so I cut it into small squares of rubber to put between the balls and keep them spaced correctly. I happened to have a large spanner that could get the back wheel nut off and fitted the plug rubber, put it back together and we were on our way.

[Sunny43.5]

Yes being ingenious these days is almost unheard of in the computer world .

[Lucas_R]

Not sure what the expected service life should be, but it should definitely last longer than 30,000km. For instance, my car has done 100,000km and still has the original belt fitted and it still appears to be in good condition.

You did well to get home in that situation. Perhaps keep a spare in the boot incase it happens again one day?