What Car? Q&A - When should I change the cambelt?

Q: I’m looking to buy our son his first car. I’ve found a 1998 five-door Fiat Punto with a full service history and 46,200 miles on the clock. When should the cambelt be changed?
Tony Marriott

A: New cambelts can be expensive, so you’re right to check when it should be done. Fiat recommends that it be replaced when the car reaches 72,000 miles or is five years old, so this car should have had the work done in 2003.