Hi all, I really appreciate you taking the time to read this. When changing the plugs, I decided it might be a good idea to remove the 4 bolts which retain the top cam belt cover. Horror!!!! The inside of the cover is plastered with a Black Fibrous FLUFF and the cam belt is just 12mm wide. Am I correct to assume that it should be much wider than this. Am I a very lucky person indeed for checking this today. Here's a lovely photo! Note the nice wide sprocket and frighteningly narrow belt by comparison.

Hope to hear from you all soon

Why can't I upload my photo? Surely I don't need to get it hosted.

you are a lucky person............i'd get it towed to a garge and get it changed pronto

Depends how big the photo is. If it is more than 750K, then you will exceed your attachment limit. I'm not really sure why the whole attachment limit is so low, as I cannot attach anymore pictures either (i've used my limit up through other posts) and have had to start hosting off site

12mm sounds too narrow to me either way so it would needsorting asap IMO.

sounds to me like it's a Monday morning drive to a Garage job to get a new one fitted asap.
Parts are approx as follows
Timing Belt £25
Tensioner £48
Idler Pulley £48

The idler pulley is optional, but up to you.
Also check the Water Pump for any leaks as to replace it now cost very small labour,
to replace later will cost lots of labour. Again this is up to you if you want peace of mind.
Water Pump part is approx £100

normal width belt is about 2x that - get it changed asap! how old and how many miles have u done??

Thanks everyone for the comments. Its a X reg and just come up to 210,000 miles. Still starts first time and never guves any trouble. The spark plugs had erroded and were running with an 8mm gap. Impressive !!!!

210k!! impressive!

210 - wow thats a lot of miles 30K per year was it a reps car???

have a look in the service book or reciepts and see if u can find when the cam belt was last replaced - i bet it was replaced at the 100K mark which was the old interval - due to wear exactly as u describe the time limit was reduced to 60K.

so in theory it should have been replaced 3 times already, but as u say the plugs were badly eroded it suggests that the services have not been performed properly - i would have a look at the other items such as air filter,oil,gearbox AND diff oil

210,00!!!!!! thats is an impressive mileage but 12mm thats less impressive and more scary!