Just change the cambelt on 1.4 Astra or cambelt and tensioners etc?

UOcUK Poopscoop · 23 Mar 2006 at 12:52

99 reg Astra 1.4 16v, 80,000miles.

Going to have cambelt changed soon.

Guy reckons all the pulleys/ adjusters should be changed at same time as the belt.

Is this so, or is it ok just to change the belt?

Any advice appreciated.

Firestar_3x · 23 Mar 2006 at 13:09

Not sure about the pullys, it might be worth getting the waterpump done, also you can get cambelt kits, this should include the tensioners which i would replace.

ajgoodfellow · 23 Mar 2006 at 13:12

I hope that's the second belt you're on!

When I had mine done they recommended to do the tensioners at the same time. I just did it as it wasn't much more for my own peace of mind

I also had the water pump replaced at the same time as they said that the old one was packing up - turned out to be rather expensive though (about £350 odd for the whole lot)

You might need to have your brake pads/discs and wheel bearings done too as I was advised to do these every 40,000 miles and mine were wearing quite badly (they wanted to do it at the same time as the service but I ran out of money!)

UOcUK Poopscoop · 23 Mar 2006 at 13:33

Thanks lads, will tell him to change the whole cambelt kit.

osc89er · 23 Mar 2006 at 15:43

My zafira (W) which is based on the 1.6L engine is recommended to have the tensioners done at the same time as the cambelt. I had it done at 42k. The water pump failed at 45k.

It's well worth it getting both done as you have to take the cambelt apart to get to it. I got it done by a friendly mechanic for a whole lot less than 350, 210 for parts, oil change and labour.

ajgoodfellow · 23 Mar 2006 at 15:46

That's main dealer prices for you

Mind you it did include the Water Pump and they charged for a 1/2 hour inspection

geiger · 23 Mar 2006 at 16:06

Depends on the worth of the car, all my cars are old usually so I just do the belt - the bare minimum but water pump can seize in theory and tensioners can go and if labour is your biggest expense then it pays to do it all at once I guess.
Tensioners would start squealing beforehand I would have thought and never had any trouble with water pumps myself so I 'd just do the belt unless its a known issue

Nedved11 · 23 Mar 2006 at 20:29

Just forked out £400 to get the cambelt, tensioners, rollers and waterpump done on my Xsara VTS. Also an oil/filter change and coolant flush. Had to be done as it should have been done at about 50K, its on 68K at the moment. Running much sweeter now.

M0T · 23 Mar 2006 at 21:36

Pulleys shouldn't need changing ever, but the water pump and tensioner should be done with the belt really.

After all a tensioner is £20, a water pump is £50 and when changing the belt the extra labour is negligable.

I know someone who had the belt changed and 2 months later the water pump went, which would have been annoying, paying for the same job twice.

Dogbreath · 23 Mar 2006 at 22:53

geiger said:
Tensioners would start squealing beforehand I would have thought and never had any trouble with water pumps myself so I 'd just do the belt unless its a known issue

I guess you never heard of the infamous plastic tensioners/idlers in Vauxhalls early Ecotec engines? They used to simply break up with litle or no warning...