Astra Timing Belt replacement 30 November 2012 at 12:20PM in Motoring 35 replies 106.1K views

DollyDee_2

Just found the invoice for the key - it was £28!

espresso

DollyDee wrote: »

Just thought I would point out, so you don't all think son is totally useless, when he called Tesco/RAC breakdown out, it was because nobody could get the locking wheel nut off. RAC changed the wheel & put the "get you home" spare on & also told him there was no oil in the engine:eek::eek:.

Son then took it to garage to get new tyre & discovered no locking wheel nut key. Got new tyre fitted & wheels changed over & the mechanic put 3 litres of oil in and didn't charge him for the oil (he had been to garage previous year for 2 new tyres on the front I think). RAC would have charged £13.99/litre.

Sorry but that does prove that he is totally useless, if he can't even be bothered to check the oil and other levels regularly!

If it needed three litres of oil, that is most likely why it is now making strange noises - perhaps he will learn from his silly and costly mistake.

EdGasket

A costly lesson. You MUST check the oil level regularly. When you first get a car, check it daily, then weekly until you are familiar with how much it is using. Of course if it is not using much then you only need to check once a month.

DollyDee_2

Thanks espresso, I'll pass your comments on - we've already had our say.

The point I was making was that the garage didn't charge for the oil & that they seemed decent.

The car has passed the MOT & the mechanic mentioned the timing chain when son went to collect it, he didn't tell him not to drive it. Obviously it's got to be sorted ASAP.

The car has done 71795 miles & it's 6 and half years old. It would need looking at anyway.

TrickyWicky

DollyDee wrote: »

Just phoned the local Vauxhall Dealer, gave him Reg No & he confirmed it's a chain.

See? What did I say eh? Your mechie was trying to diddle you over. Not many people know that most vauxhalls now use chains so quite a few mechanics can get away with scaring you about the cambelt and making easy money from it.

DollyDee wrote: »

I then asked if he could give me an estimate for a timing chain & he said "about £700 off the top of my head"

Back to getting a few more estimates methinks but £450 sounds a lot more reasonable now.

No it's not because that was for a cambelt change. Cam chains are good for at least 150k miles. That means you still have what.. another 80k miles before you even need to think about changing it.

colino

Sorry I missed the part that it needed 3 litres of oil. As it is an Astra H and has been run with half of its oil missing, presumably with a collapsed oil filter too, you really need to step back and assess the total condition of the car. That engine isn't going to revive itself and even replacing the chain and tensioners the damage is already done. The bores will be scuffed it will start drinking oil and the rattle is just the start of a money pit opening up.
Get your friendly, local indie to assess it and take care before spending a penny on it while you perhaps should be thinking of moving it on.

DollyDee_2

Thanks Tricky

Actually the mechanic did say chain but we didn't know for definite if it was belt or chain & couldn't find anything in the owner's manual (although I haven't read it cover to cover).

The service booklet does, however, state timing belt so I used "belt" in my original post.

Sorry for causing confusion.

DollyDee_2

colino wrote: »

Sorry I missed the part that it needed 3 litres of oil. As it is an Astra H and has been run with half of its oil missing, presumably with a collapsed oil filter too, you really need to step back and assess the total condition of the car. That engine isn't going to revive itself and even replacing the chain and tensioners the damage is already done. The bores will be scuffed it will start drinking oil and the rattle is just the start of a money pit opening up.
Get your friendly, local indie to assess it and take care before spending a penny on it while you perhaps should be thinking of moving it on.

Oh God, this just gets worse. The car sounds alright honestly - son gave us a lift last week (before the service) not that I've heard it with the bonnet up. It's just had full service & MOT. The mechanic didn't mention any other problems & he'd just serviced it.

We are going to have to lend him the money to get it done, he can't really afford to change it right now & we can't risk it blowing up while he's saving/looking round.

EdGasket

A chain would make more sense if its rattling. They don't like lack of maintenance (oil changes) and definitely not low oil.

espresso

DollyDee wrote: »

The car has done 71795 miles & it's 6 and half years old. It would need looking at anyway.

Not if the car had been properly maintained.

Unlike timing belts, timing chains do not have regular replacement intervals. However regular oil and filter changes are critical to timing chain service life. When owners miss or delay oil changes, or run with virtually no oil in the sump, timing chain failure is very likely to result as well as other serious engine damage.