Timing belt slip :(

Smiley Man · 17 Apr 2006 at 21:41

F355 said:
You are right, but Mickey_D was just illustrating a point.

oh ok

sorry didnt mean to sound picky

M0T · 17 Apr 2006 at 21:51

blueboy2001 said:
Which engine is it?

1.8 Ecotek I think.

The reason he said it was the tensioner was because the belt was still on the engine and was still tight so he started it up. It ran like a dog and there was a loud clanking every 3 seconds or so. + He pulled what looked like a bit of metal out of the belt cover.

blueboy2001 · 17 Apr 2006 at 22:02

The timing belt interval on these was reduced to 40k (from 80k) due to poor design of the whole timing belt system. The tensioners are prone to failure, but the waterpumps also sieze and throw the belt off and from looking at Honest John there is also an issue with the oil pump as well.
If you do go for a repair or a recon engine, make sure the waterpump gets changed or you could end up in the same situation in the not too distant future.

Its a longshot given the age, but if the car has Vauxhall service history it might be worth pursuing a claim for goodwill.

djbenjo · 17 Apr 2006 at 22:16

It may have bent a full set of valves, but I don't quite understand why people are suggesting new engine time?

Head off, new valves and seat work, head on - job done, surely?

energy · 17 Apr 2006 at 22:51

Smiley Man said:
idle at 600rpm? nearly all cars ive seen idle at about 900 (not that ive seen many but i have been in a zafira )

True, but Mickey_D is probably used to his big old lazy V8s which probably idle quite low

Third Opinion · 17 Apr 2006 at 22:56

djbenjo said:
It may have bent a full set of valves, but I don't quite understand why people are suggesting new engine time?

Head off, new valves and seat work, head on - job done, surely?

No this happened to my mates Renault. The head was covered under warranty and repaired like you said. Unfortunately the force of the Piston often damages the crankshaft bearings.

Initially all is good until 10-12k down the road the you start getting big end knock. Happened to my friend just as it went out of warranty.

Only do the head if you want to get rid of the car quick.

Fulcrum · 18 Apr 2006 at 01:04

Its had the cambelt changed in the last 7 years I hope or you cant really blame Vauxhall for that even though the belt didnt snap a new one might have shown other problems up.

I know someone with a zafira, think I'll pass the info on just in case. Doesnt someone on the forum have one with 130k, cant be that bad then..

Tappits · 18 Apr 2006 at 03:33

More than likely it will just have broke a cam (inlet cam) and done the valves in.
Bit of TLC and a bit of £££ will fix it.
Going the new engine route will be a no no, a 2nd hand X18XEV will set you back a lot of ££££, just get that one fixed

Mickey_D · 18 Apr 2006 at 07:52

energy said:
True, but Mickey_D is probably used to his big old lazy V8s which probably idle quite low

Actually, I was reffering to 4 bangers. My Toyota factory idle is 700RPM, the Neon factory is 600. My old Chevrolet L.U.V. pickup (Isuzu engine) was 650, and my RX-7 was 600. My nephew's Suzuki Samurai is 700, and my borther's '56 Land Rover is 550. My 2001 Neon was computer controlled to 550 as well.

So a total mix of "fat lazy american" engines and some high strung jap wheezers with a UK clunker thrown in there.

Funny thing is, my old 5.0L V-8 Chevy pickup's idle is 850RPM!!

900RPM idle for a 4 cyl (to me, as a mechanic) is rather high. That's generally what I set the high idle on choke to!! :eek:

Unless you're talking about a superbike......

M0T · 18 Apr 2006 at 09:22

My Rover idles at 900rpm +- 50rpm

The Zafira idles around 850 I think.

On the autochoke the rover raises to 1250, but the car warms up in about 3 minutes so its not that high too long.

Dogbreath · 18 Apr 2006 at 11:07

Third Opinion said:
No this happened to my mates Renault. The head was covered under warranty and repaired like you said. Unfortunately the force of the Piston often damages the crankshaft bearings

Most unlikely if the timing slip is so small that the engine is still running. There is even a small chance that the valves are fine, a new cambelt, tensioner and a compression check will confirm this pretty quickly.

M0T · 24 Apr 2006 at 18:16

The repair bill is going to be £1040 but the AA are refusing to pay because despite the service plan with the car saying 80,000 miles or 8 years we should have known by telepathy that it was changed to 4 years.

Any ideas about what we can do about this?

blueboy2001 · 24 Apr 2006 at 18:19

Complain to Vauxhall about the poor design of their belt drives.

4T5 · 24 Apr 2006 at 18:31

M0T said:
The repair bill is going to be £1040
Any ideas about what we can do about this?

I was only 40 quid out then. :cool:

Anyways how long you had the car where did you get it and who does the servicing. Also what make belt was fitted last time and check the receipts to see if they changed the tensioner when they last did the belt.
Answer these questions and i will try to help.

Kamerad · 24 Apr 2006 at 18:32

M0T said:
The repair bill is going to be £1040 but the AA are refusing to pay because despite the service plan with the car saying 80,000 miles or 8 years we should have known by telepathy that it was changed to 4 years.

Any ideas about what we can do about this?

Thats the problem with third party warranties, they find any way to get out of paying up.

Vertigo · 24 Apr 2006 at 18:56

M0T said:
The repair bill is going to be £1040 but the AA are refusing to pay because despite the service plan with the car saying 80,000 miles or 8 years we should have known by telepathy that it was changed to 4 years.

Any ideas about what we can do about this?

Maybe mention to them that the service guy started the engine up again probably causing even more damage, so they ought to contribute?

The_Dark_Side · 24 Apr 2006 at 20:14

find a new mechanic.
7-800 quid is about right.

M0T · 24 Apr 2006 at 20:43

The_Dark_Side said:
find a new mechanic.
7-800 quid is about right.

Might have been able to get it done cheaper, but we would rather use someone who we can trust and has done well for us in the past.

The_Dark_Side · 24 Apr 2006 at 20:46

M0T said:
Might have been able to get it done cheaper, but we would rather use someone who we can trust and has done well for us in the past.

fair do's mate.

Third Opinion · 24 Apr 2006 at 21:08

Get it done and get rid IMO.

Or risk a similar bill if the bottom end goes.