Print

Please login or register.
1 Hour 1 Day 1 Week 1 Month Forever
Login with username, password and session length

[Tick Tock]

Step-daughter's Astra 2006 engine failed yesterday - got recovered to a garage who have said the timing chain has gone. They're not prepared to quote yet, but any investigative work is going to cost. Not really enough info to go on so far, so just looking for any advice ATM.

Is this an interference engine? IOW would a timing chain failure result in damage to valves / pistons? For the initial price paid (and its age) it wouldn't surprise me to result in this being a scrapper.

[STEMO]

You don't say which engine and whether it's petrol or diesel, but I'm willing to bet, if the chain has snapped, it's kaput.

[Tick Tock]

Petrol. I'm only involved from a distance, but I also suspect it's kaput... age, mileage, history, etc. Just wondered if anyone knew much about them, and how it could be diagnosed without taking it apart.

[Doctor Gollum]

Apparently the belt driven diesel breaks the followers meaning that you don't automatically have to replace the head.

Timing chains jump rather than snap as a result of poor oil maintenance killing the tensioners.

Budget for a new tensioner, guides and chain. But initial investigation may be possible from simply removing the camcover

[dave the builder]

Petrol. I'm only involved from a distance, but I also suspect it's kaput... age, mileage, history, etc. Just wondered if anyone knew much about them, and how it could be diagnosed without taking it apart.

1.4 16 valve is engine code z14xep 1,364 cc
IIRC all other petrols are cam BELT

chains do snap on these ,also cam sprockets can move/spin as they are not keyed

removing the cam cover will show the chain ,or lack of if its snapped

wouldn't spend anything on investigating it , it's a simple DIY job with a set of torx sockets and 10 minutes

bent valves (it's an interference engine) will mean replacement head etc

cheaper to find another astra unless you're prepared to do the work

£500 to replace the head ,probably the same to fit a used engine

I've rebuilt one completely (head and bottom end) and if i was charging labour i'd have advised  myself not to do it 

so unless the garage works for peanuts  then there will probably be a minimum of 1 hour labour plus vat to tell you the bad news 

however, it's not uncommon for AA/RAC and the like too completely miss diagnose a fault 

[Tick Tock]

Appreciate the feedback  will update for those interested when I know more.

[Tick Tock]

Garage whipped cover off to find chain broken - that's now one more Astra consigned to the breakers. 

[Doctor Gollum]

Garage whipped cover off to find chain broken - that's now one more Astra consigned to the breakers. 

Presumably it's an interference engine... 

[dave the builder]

Garage whipped cover off to find chain broken - that's now one more Astra consigned to the breakers. 

My advice ,IF the unfortunate owner wants another Astra ,would be to opt for the 1.6 petrol (z16xep 100+ h.p) or 1.7 CDTi tractor juice edition 
the 1.4 has many problems if not impeccably maintained ,same engine found in the corsa C ,the 1.2 engine with a different crankshaft increasing stroke CC

Presumably it's an interference engine... 

yep, lots of bent valve yumminess and chunks of aluminium will be floating about in the oil from the chain chewing on the timing case  MLS headgasket requires high quality surface finish, sump off to position the timing case or the oil pump is under strain ,waterways pass through the timing case etc etc etc

 interference engine , certainly interferes with spare time or bank balance