Anyone in Dublin (ish) – rescue my holiday

The van accessory belt is starting to disintegrate unexpectedly. We discovered a bit of it hanging down this morning under the van on our campsite. There’s about 80% left and it looks ok…
Breakdown cover is saying ‘you can drive it still, go to a garage’. I’ve managed to pick up a new belt in case from VW in Belfast.
Tomorrow we head to Castlewellan for a couple nights, then into Dublin. Then down to far rural south for 10 days….I would rather not wait on a breakdown.

My plan was to call garages in Dublin on Monday and hope to find one who would squeeze us in on Tuesday or Wednesday.

Anyone know a garage to try on Dublin?

2014 T5.1 2.0tdi/115

How hard is it to fit? Maybe a YouTube tutorial then park at Halfords, buy a couple of spanners and have a go. They are usually pretty easy but some can be awkward. Or a mobile mechanic while you are at Castlewellan

I’d be more inclined to play the stranded tourist card in Castlewellan, tbh. It’s not a massively complicated vehicle iirc ( not taking the p!!!!!) so a local garage should be able to do a belt

costs generally higher in the south, I’d try a local garage in Newry or Newcastle first to see if you could get it sorted before heading across the borderless border and into eurozone

Sorry I can’t help with Dublin garages but if you are still struggling when you hit north cork I can give you the details of the garage we use for the wife’s car.

I’ve used Phillips VW in Lisburn a good few times and found them to be very good. Can usually fit you in at short notice as well. Only 25 mins from Castlewellan then you can hit the A1 down to Dublin. Will definitely be less expensive to get it fixed in NI

EDIT – Kerrs tyres and auto I’ve also used have a place in Newry. I’ve used other branches for servicing

I don’t know these engines but aux belts are usually easy to change, on my 4cars they are spring tensioned.

Generally 15mm spanner required, however they are fairly strong springs so need a bit of extra leverage. Take photos of the belt before you take it off as the routing can sometimes be unclear.

However….. I’d be a little bit concerned at this point. On my Volvo D5 engine an aux belt failure can and often does take out the timing belt destroying the engine – but again I don’t know this engine.

And lastly – why has the belt failed? They are usually long lasting. Take the knackered belt off and spin all the driven components by hand – are the idlers/tensioner/water pump all okay? Does this engine have a one way alternator pulley? These need changing but are often missed on service schedules – my V70 pulley seized and shredded the belt in quick order.

If you’re driving and it goes you will instantly notice you can hardly steer, brake pedal will get a stiffee and hardly slow you down then watch for the temperature gauge shooting to the red

You are then stranded and no idea the belt goes around all the pulleys

I’m describing a 2002 transit where I got on the back of a fag packet a diagram from the too busy garage how the belt goes and the turn of the key will get the belt to jump on for the last bit

It was Feb and so cold couldn’t feel my fingers but after 20 mins it was on

No idea on access which might be an issue but the few i have changed have been easy halfords carpark jobs.

How to deactivate the tensioner varies. I think you one will be a hole you put a pin in to lever against like an eccentric bb

yes I’ve never had problems with Kerr’s here, used them a lot for tyres on my Passat

If you have the belt, I’d bet a lot of mechanics happy to take cash and do on the spot.

Did you get sorted?