Omega Owners Forum

Chat Area => General Car Chat => Topic started by: JamesV6CDX on 04 April 2013, 23:43:35

Title: Nice one, Vauxhall.... (Cam belt)
Post by: JamesV6CDX on 04 April 2013, 23:43:35
Yesterday I went to help a member who had a water pump which was spraying coolant everywhere on a V6.

Upon arrival, I stripped down to the timing belt (Preferable to doing it with the cover on, to allow for mating surface cleaning) and swapped out the pump, and fitted the replacement.

The decision had already been made not to do the cambelt kit whilst in there, on the basis VX dealer had changed it 8,000 miles and only a few monts ago.

However, out of interest, I checked the valve timing.

All cams were at least two teeth too advanced. It was very close to valve/piston contact.

Needless to say it was corrected whilst all apart, and set c0ck on.

The point I'm making though, is that it's totally unacceptable to take a car to a VX dealer, pay top dealer money, and get such a bloody shoddy job...  >:(
Title: Re: Nice one, Vauxhall.... (Cam belt)
Post by: kevinp58 on 05 April 2013, 00:00:30
Squealers have been like that for years.  :y And they wonder why they get a bad name ::) ::)
Title: Re: Nice one, Vauxhall.... (Cam belt)
Post by: kcl on 05 April 2013, 08:38:09
How it ran with two teeth out timing? Must have been a bag of nails...? And also, AFAIK, coolant will destroy the belt when in contact...
Title: Re: Nice one, Vauxhall.... (Cam belt)
Post by: scottambrose on 05 April 2013, 10:57:29
bit like mine then :-[
Title: Re: Nice one, Vauxhall.... (Cam belt)
Post by: Webby the Bear on 05 April 2013, 11:11:11
I could re-run over my bad Vauxhall experience.... so i will.

went in for severe lack of power, got it back with a HT lead replaced.... all fixed mr webb (i knew nowt about motors at this point). all that cost me £285 iirc  >:( >:( >:( >:(

a day later its just as bad again.

took it to dazzle on here. plug wells FULL of oil and one bad HT lead causing the misfire.

how did they miss this? any mechanic knows the HT leads are meant to be dry in the valve cover.... so not only did they not spot the bad ht lead, they also must have popped them out and seeing all the oil completely ignored it and sent it on its way!!!!!!!!!

they closed down shortly after! Good!
Title: Re: Nice one, Vauxhall.... (Cam belt)
Post by: TheBoy on 05 April 2013, 11:46:25
Hang on, Mr JamesV6, it seems every one you do is out.  Can I see a pattern forming :P ;D
Title: Re: Nice one, Vauxhall.... (Cam belt)
Post by: JamesV6CDX on 05 April 2013, 12:02:46
Not biting, you cheeky basket :p the only pattern is garages messing it up, and ood members putting it right!

Actually the last few, bar this one, have been worryingly absolutely perfect.

I always get curious when I take a cover off and see tippex everywhere ;D
Title: Re: Nice one, Vauxhall.... (Cam belt)
Post by: TheBoy on 05 April 2013, 12:06:50
Not biting, you cheeky basket :p the only pattern is garages messing it up, and ood members putting it right!

Actually the last few, bar this one, have been worryingly absolutely perfect.

I always get curious when I take a cover off and see tippex everywhere ;D
Suspect, given the value, most aren't garage serviced, but done by owners or OOFers now....
Title: Re: Nice one, Vauxhall.... (Cam belt)
Post by: TheBoy on 05 April 2013, 12:07:33
BTW, to this day, I still haven't ever done a cambelt on my Silver Bullet ;D
Title: Re: Nice one, Vauxhall.... (Cam belt)
Post by: JamesV6CDX on 05 April 2013, 12:14:33
BTW, to this day, I still haven't ever done a cambelt on my Silver Bullet ;D

Why have a dog and bark :D
Title: Re: Nice one, Vauxhall.... (Cam belt)
Post by: TheBoy on 05 April 2013, 12:20:33
BTW, to this day, I still haven't ever done a cambelt on my Silver Bullet ;D

Why have a dog and bark :D
Its overdue. I should order one.  Maybe when the weather is warmer ;D
Title: Re: Nice one, Vauxhall.... (Cam belt)
Post by: Webby the Bear on 05 April 2013, 12:24:51
I'm going to do my second ever cambelt in August. I asked you (TB) to supervise but TBH I feel confident following Mark's video guide.

only issue is... am i right in thinking new belts dont have the cam lines/marks on? how are you meant to know youve got it on the right tooth?  :-\

 :y
Title: Re: Nice one, Vauxhall.... (Cam belt)
Post by: tunnie on 05 April 2013, 12:31:33
BTW, to this day, I still haven't ever done a cambelt on my Silver Bullet ;D

Why have a dog and bark :D
Its overdue. I should order one.  Maybe when the weather is warmer ;D

MotherT's is due too, once it warms up a tad needs to be done. Good excuse for curry i think  :y
Title: Re: Nice one, Vauxhall.... (Cam belt)
Post by: Andy H on 05 April 2013, 12:41:06
I'm going to do my second ever cambelt in August. I asked you (TB) to supervise but TBH I feel confident following Mark's video guide.

only issue is... am i right in thinking new belts dont have the cam lines/marks on? how are you meant to know youve got it on the right tooth?  :-\

 :y
Because the timing marks line up.

It does get easier with practice. The hardest part is removing all the bits that are in the way (eg bag pipes). With the cam locks in place (and the crank locking tool wound back slightly to remove the tension) taking the old one off and slipping the new one back on correctly isn't difficult.

The bit I seem to spend too much time on is getting the torque settings 'just so'
Title: Re: Nice one, Vauxhall.... (Cam belt)
Post by: Webby the Bear on 05 April 2013, 12:46:00
I'm going to do my second ever cambelt in August. I asked you (TB) to supervise but TBH I feel confident following Mark's video guide.

only issue is... am i right in thinking new belts dont have the cam lines/marks on? how are you meant to know youve got it on the right tooth?  :-\

 :y
Because the timing marks line up.

It does get easier with practice. The hardest part is removing all the bits that are in the way (eg bag pipes). With the cam locks in place (and the crank locking tool wound back slightly to remove the tension) taking the old one off and slipping the new one back on correctly isn't difficult.

The bit I seem to spend too much time on is getting the torque settings 'just so'

Sorry Andy, what marks do you mean? i didnt think the belt had any on at all (well new belts)
Title: Re: Nice one, Vauxhall.... (Cam belt)
Post by: TheBoy on 05 April 2013, 12:46:48
I'm going to do my second ever cambelt in August. I asked you (TB) to supervise but TBH I feel confident following Mark's video guide.

only issue is... am i right in thinking new belts dont have the cam lines/marks on? how are you meant to know youve got it on the right tooth?  :-\

 :y
You can di it here, if you want someone looking over your shoulder :)
Title: Re: Nice one, Vauxhall.... (Cam belt)
Post by: Webby the Bear on 05 April 2013, 12:53:59
I'm going to do my second ever cambelt in August. I asked you (TB) to supervise but TBH I feel confident following Mark's video guide.

only issue is... am i right in thinking new belts dont have the cam lines/marks on? how are you meant to know youve got it on the right tooth?  :-\

 :y
You can di it here, if you want someone looking over your shoulder :)

Thanks TB. Really appreciate that. I think I'll be fine though... but if i get stuck ill give you a bell.

i'm fairly sure that just after i did the cambelt on ralf they brought out the belts that werent marked so unsure as where to place them on the cam sprockets.... other than that im pretty confident about it all ;)
Title: Re: Nice one, Vauxhall.... (Cam belt)
Post by: Andy H on 05 April 2013, 13:14:49
I'm going to do my second ever cambelt in August. I asked you (TB) to supervise but TBH I feel confident following Mark's video guide.

only issue is... am i right in thinking new belts dont have the cam lines/marks on? how are you meant to know youve got it on the right tooth?  :-\

 :y
Because the timing marks line up.

It does get easier with practice. The hardest part is removing all the bits that are in the way (eg bag pipes). With the cam locks in place (and the crank locking tool wound back slightly to remove the tension) taking the old one off and slipping the new one back on correctly isn't difficult.

The bit I seem to spend too much time on is getting the torque settings 'just so'

Sorry Andy, what marks do you mean? i didnt think the belt had any on at all (well new belts)
The marks on the engine cam sprockets and timing tool.
With everything locked in the correct place (eg cams locked and crankshaft backed off slightly) you start by fitting the belt to the crank pulley then run up the kerb side of the engine and the cambelt teeth should just drop in to the teeth on the bank 2 cam pulleys.
You then have to get the belt on to the bank 1 cam pulleys at the same time as (loosely) fitting the top idler and then fit the spring tensioner.
You should now be able to wind the crank backforward to TDC and adjust the idler(s) and spring tensioner to take out all the slack. If you can't then you are a tooth out.

It is harder to write about than it is to do (if you have the right instructor).

TB/TFS will see you right :y
Title: Re: Nice one, Vauxhall.... (Cam belt)
Post by: Webby the Bear on 05 April 2013, 13:24:08
I'm going to do my second ever cambelt in August. I asked you (TB) to supervise but TBH I feel confident following Mark's video guide.

only issue is... am i right in thinking new belts dont have the cam lines/marks on? how are you meant to know youve got it on the right tooth?  :-\

 :y
Because the timing marks line up.

It does get easier with practice. The hardest part is removing all the bits that are in the way (eg bag pipes). With the cam locks in place (and the crank locking tool wound back slightly to remove the tension) taking the old one off and slipping the new one back on correctly isn't difficult.

The bit I seem to spend too much time on is getting the torque settings 'just so'

Sorry Andy, what marks do you mean? i didnt think the belt had any on at all (well new belts)
The marks on the engine cam sprockets and timing tool.
With everything locked in the correct place (eg cams locked and crankshaft backed off slightly) you start by fitting the belt to the crank pulley then run up the kerb side of the engine and the cambelt teeth should just drop in to the teeth on the bank 2 cam pulleys.
You then have to get the belt on to the bank 1 cam pulleys at the same time as (loosely) fitting the top idler and then fit the spring tensioner.
You should now be able to wind the crank backforward to TDC and adjust the idler(s) and spring tensioner to take out all the slack. If you can't then you are a tooth out.

It is harder to write about than it is to do (if you have the right instructor).

TB/TFS will see you right :y

cheers andy, that's wehere i'm going wrong then cos I went up the left hand side and placed on bank 1. I actually got it a tooth out to start with and the idler wouldn't move the cam sprockets as much as I needed so I knew I was a tooth out.... bloody awkward though. why cant they just put the belt marks back?  :-\
Title: Re: Nice one, Vauxhall.... (Cam belt)
Post by: Andy H on 05 April 2013, 13:38:48
Oops. Just realised that both your idlers are probably adjustable.

If so then I don't think you need to wind the crank back - fit the idler loose then use it to take up the worst of the slack before moving on to bank 1.
Title: Re: Nice one, Vauxhall.... (Cam belt)
Post by: YZ250 on 05 April 2013, 14:39:19
BTW, to this day, I still haven't ever done a cambelt on my Silver Bullet ;D

Why have a dog and bark :D
Its overdue. I should order one.  Maybe when the weather is warmer ;D

Mines well under mileage but over on years by .......errr......I'm not telling you as I should no better.   :-[ :-[ ::)
Doing it this month.......yep..... definitely this month.......ish.  ::)
Title: Re: Nice one, Vauxhall.... (Cam belt)
Post by: terry paget on 05 April 2013, 17:19:17
In the last three years I have found Vx kits very basic; no lines on belts, no instructions, plain boxes. I prefer SKF kits, these come with lines on the belt, new bolts, and instructions in 20 languages; they are cheaper too.
Title: Re: Nice one, Vauxhall.... (Cam belt)
Post by: TheBoy on 06 April 2013, 09:37:18
In the last three years I have found Vx kits very basic; no lines on belts, no instructions, plain boxes. I prefer SKF kits, these come with lines on the belt, new bolts, and instructions in 20 languages; they are cheaper too.
The lines and instructions don't bother me, but even on tradeclub, the GM ones are too dear. So I tend to use Conti or Gates kits.