My F-Type will require a service in December and I need some advice. The car has only now done 20,000 miles since new (2015). The service schedule indicates to replace the accessory belt every nine years (144 miles) and the supercharger belt every six years (96,000 miles). I have yet to find out whether this was undertaken in 2021. If not then, should I be considering this for its next service. Although the car hasn’t got anywhere near the suggested mileage for the year, will the lack of use and time cause the deterioration of the belt?

 

Yes it will. And, modern belt rubber doesn't always show cracks like the belts of 25 years ago.

So, with rubber belts, it is Good Practice to replace them, especially if you don't have any records.

(Have you a CarFax? Sometimes those show services performed by dealers, FWIW.)

 

You're due for the the serpentine belt (accessories, i.e. everything but the supercharger). Since the supercharger belt needs to come off first, I'd have it replaced too. The only added cost there is the belt itself.

 

Mine is a 2015 and with 18k miles on it (yes, I need to drive it more). I had my belt done a few years ago. Technically, the original one was fine but there is really no point in taking the risk. It's a small price to avoid a larger bill.

 

Although everybody works themselves up in a lather about the incredible amount of information "out there," wouldn't it be nice to have reliable information about things such as the above?

Although it would be considered a miracle to have JLR actually publish a guide that would counsel it's customers when items REALLY needed to be replaced instead of viewing each of us as an annuity that pays off at scheduled intervals. That goes for everybody in the economy who simply sees people as "marks" instead of valuable customers to be treated with respect and dignity.

 

Absolutely! Brake fluid change every 2 years? My indie checks my fluid at each service and only changes it when it needs doing.

 

Pretty sure that's the basic business model of the entire automotive industry...

 

There will be no formula for it which is why JLR and other manufacturers just use a median date. There are too many factors that will influence belt life. The only real way to know if a belt needs changing before it fails is to take it off and inspect it. If you are taking it off, it just makes sense to put a new one back on unless the car is fairly new.

 

My 2024 R-Dynamic 400 came up with a service required at 25 hundred miles. I plan on changing the oil at 3,000 miles. I have no idea why service is required keeps popping up. I just ignore it.

 

Our "Service Required" indicator starts a month or so before the YEARLY service checks are due. Nice that it triggers both on TIME and MILEAGE.

Yes, I replace oil & filter yearly so it's OK. (~3,000 miles)

 

There's an in-car service reset procedure - it's been documented on here a few times.