Mechanic issues warning over 'unfixable' problem that could make your car 'worthless'

A top car mechanic has warned every car built after 2017 could be left "unfixable" if one crucial component in petrol and diesel vehicles is damaged. Dave Harrison, an expert at 911 Auto Repairs based in Sheffield, warned the issue stems from the "wet belts" that are fitted on all cars produced since 2017.

Wet belts are lubricated by the engine's oil, differing from the traditional "timing belts" which were exposed to air. The new system is designed to reduce friction, but the part is actually more at risk of degradation. Experts stressed that damaged "wet belts" can make models "basically worthless" in a major blow to owners of some of the newest second-hand cars on the market.

Dave previously explained: "The next big scandal - wet belts. They replaced timing belts with wet belts on a lot of models after 2017, supposedly they're more efficient.

"But the wet belt is a big problem because it only has a 10-year interval and then it breaks. It deteriorates and it can stop your brakes working. But if it breaks after nine years, they don't want to know.

"And when it does [break], it's very difficult to fix. It takes twice as long as a normal belt to fix and it costs more to replace.

"That's one that makes your eyes roll when you see it - oh god, it's got a wet belt. They say it's better but it ends up costing double to fix or it's unfixable and makes the car basically worthless."

Parts of the rubber can flake off from the belt, increasing the chances of the key component snapping. This can then cause the camshaft and crankshaft to go out of sync, which could ensure the car fails to fire and can cause severe engine damage.

Mark Barclay, head of Ecommerce at My Motor World, has stressed problems with the part can be an "engine killer" and urged drivers to regularly maintain their models to try and avoid issues.

The expert said: "Without regular inspections and proper maintenance, wet timing belts can be an engine killer. To avoid costly repairs, owners of cars with this type of belt really have to be on it with their maintenance schedule.

"It might be annoying and expensive to keep checking and replacing the timing belt and changing the oil, but it's still cheaper than a new engine - or even a new car."