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Astra Timing Belt replacement
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Many thanks, looks like you tube weekend for me, awsome DIY car maintence vids :T
Tesco CC: £1200 0% Until March 2014
HSBC CC: £384 25%APR - TARGET to make GREEN ASAP
I am going to phone Vauxhall dealer & find out for sure whether it is a belt or chain & then phone a few independent garages in the area
I know my son should be doing this but hey-ho cars go forever - don't they? Service once a year, never check anything in between.
Appreciate everything posters have said.
With regards your garage, if they seem to be doing you a solid then I wouldn't question. There's not much in your post that makes me wonder and people always wonder when there's a big bill involved.
You can guarantee that the Vauxhall main dealer will tell you that a whole lot more needs changing and charge appropriately.
http://www.vauxhall.co.uk/owners_services/parts_servicing/fixed-price-repairs.html
He's on about changing it now instead of getting the timing belt/chain done - don't you just love'em?
Its an 2006 astra H on 55 plate it'll be a chain if its a Astra G it'll be a chain drive
Astra G
Astra H
Timing chain recommended changes is 10years or 100,000 miles but most do it around 70,000. A timing belt won't rattle, but does need doing early usally about 40,000-60,000 or 6 years but I'm not sure for that exact car again its wise to do early.
You can't normally tell. They're are changed by age and/or mileage. Many manufacturers will say every 5 years OR 70,000 miles - which ever comes first. That varies from car to car. For some cars it may be 100k miles.
Some cars (though not many) will let you inspect the belt without dismantling half the engine bay. Most cars though will require at least an hour of work to get down to the belt and inspect it thus most people will tell you "if in doubt, switch it out". The reason for this is purely that cambelts are hidden under a plastic cover that usually has other parts in the way to make it harder to get to. Very few cam-covers actually allow you to inspect the belt (there are a few that have spy holes but they are rare for some stupid reason).
@EdGasket the Corsas do rattle. It's not the timing belt but the tappets i think. Those engines are known for being rattly but I think they also have cam chains on some of them - my neighbours corsa has one.
Word of warning though, if you do go ahead, get the waterpump and tensioners / rollers done too. If you don't and one of those fails then your new cambelt was a waste of time because your engine is dead anyway. Likewise to replace them, you have to take off the cambelt and you're not supposed to recycle them once removed.
I then asked if he could give me an estimate for a timing chain & he said "about £700 off the top of my head":eek:.
Back to getting a few more estimates methinks but £450 sounds a lot more reasonable now.
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. Then had to buy new locking wheel nut key @ £21 - the breakdown cover only cost £26. Don't know who "lost" the key.
Thanks everyone for your help.