I need to do my timing belts on the disco (and the fuel pump belt). Is this a fairly easy job for a competent DIYer? Done belts on my Tdi and other vehicles but not sure why I feel more trepidation about this one!
No more difficult than any other timing belt. But I am a time served "master tech" mechanic for what that's worth. Access to the fuel pump belt is a bit tight. Buy the proper locking tools and the tool for removing the viscous fan. Are you planning on changing the oil pump? There was issues with the early ones breaking where the tensioner bolts on.
It's an easy enough diy job, I've done a couple myself.
Genuine belts and tensioners and followers was over £300 from the dealers but if I remember rightly it's draco parts?
Check the big sprung tensioner for the auxiliary belt as well (or spend another ££ and replace it) as that's been hanging apart on the ones I did.
To do it properly you need to remove the starter motor to get under timing pins in to the flywheel.
Most people pin the cams mark the crank and change the belt i.e. they do not remove the starter motor to pin the crank.
You will need the two big spanners to remove the viscous fan as it can be bloody tight, They are only about 25 quid
The oil pump casting was modified as the Cambell tensioner is mounted to the oil pump casting and the early castings used to crack when people tightened the belt tensioner.