Cam belt change - problems

xSamii

Purchased a new cam belt kit and water pump last week and took car (Astra H Mk5 1.8 2004) into garage to have it fitted.

Mechanic called - all done, car is waiting. OH goes and picks it up and on the drive home realizes something is very wrong. Car drives fine but when it is idle (when stopping at lights etc) you can feel the car shaking, so much that you're literally almost bouncing in your seat.

Drove it back to mechanic, he had a quick peek but insisted it can't be the timing because apparently on this car it can only be fitted in one position and it's impossible to get wrong? Anyway, he won't look at it again until weds but insists it is fine to drive in the mean time.

Had AA come take a look, he plugged it into diagnostics but no faults, said he didn't know what was wrong and to take it to Vauxhall for their diagnostics check.

I am just wondering if anyone has any ideas so we can go back to the mechanic with some idea as to what it is and whether he has caused it with the cam belt replacement? Worked fine before we took it to him!

OddballJamie

Engine mounting not tightened?

Strider590

There's a "leap of faith" with the cambelt on the 1.8 VX engine.

You have to fit the belt into the teeth on the one cam and then leave it sitting on top of the teeth on the other, when the engine's started it shifts the belt into the correct position. If you don't do it this way, you end up with the time being slightly off.

londonTiger

Strider590 wrote: »

There's a "leap of faith" with the cambelt on the 1.8 VX engine.

You have to fit the belt into the teeth on the one cam and then leave it sitting on top of the teeth on the other, when the engine's started it shifts the belt into the correct position. If you don't do it this way, you end up with the time being slightly off.

bloody hell

EcoR1

Strider590 wrote: »

There's a "leap of faith" with the cambelt on the 1.8 VX engine.

You have to fit the belt into the teeth on the one cam and then leave it sitting on top of the teeth on the other, when the engine's started it shifts the belt into the correct position. If you don't do it this way, you end up with the time being slightly off.

Rubbish. Anyone fitting a cambelt like that is a blithering idiot.

Strider590

EcoR1 wrote: »

Rubbish. Anyone fitting a cambelt like that is a blithering idiot.

That's how it's supposed to be done on that engine........

I agree it's pretty shocking, but the new belt won't sit on both cam wheels.

jobdone1

See if you can move the engine from the top with your hand if you get alot of movement it might be that the engine mount is loose. On the other hand as op as said belt not fitted correctly.

spacey2012

Ha ha leap of faith.
The pulleys are on chamfered shafts, lock the cams and crank with the pin kit.
take out the bolts, knock the pulleys clear so they spin free, run the belt round put two new bolts back in hand tight so the pulleys still spin, tension the belt, tighten bolts to torque and take the pin kit out.

Much more reliable than a leap of faith.

Strider590

espresso wrote: »

It didn't take you long to realise that Strider590 posts complete rubbish and should be ignored.

Whatever.....

I've just told you I don't like the concept myself, it's the ONLY reason why I didn't change my own cambelt. But i've read this either on an owners forum, a service guide or a Haynes manual. Along with images showing exactly what i've said.

Despite me telling you it doesn't agree with me, you choose to troll the forum anyway........

tedted

there is no cambelt that is fitted as you describe it,if there is please provide a link to that particular vehicle

facade

According to Haynes, on the 1.8 you simply align the timing marks on the cams with the pips in the top cover, set TDC at the crank, and slip the belt on, then fiddle with the tensioner, and do the 2 turns then check + tension routine. (No need for keys on the x18xe)

You generally fit a new waterpump and tensioner at the same time.

On my late father's 2 litre vectra, the tensioner failed and the engine buzzed and rattled at idle, but it kept going for quite some time before I heard it (he was partially deaf)