Omega Owners Forum
Omega Help Area => Omega General Help => Topic started by: terry paget on 15 November 2016, 09:41:00
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Having run 6 Omegas for 10 years for my family, I can happily report they have proved very reliable. The only times I have been stranded are when the auxiliary belt pulleys have seized, shredding the belt and depriving me of the services of the alternator and water pump, without which I can only proceed another 10 miles or so.
When a crank sensor fail engine usually fails, but after cooling often restarts and gets me home.
I have read on this site that I should grease the aux belt pulley occasionally. I have just removed one to do exactly that. As I feared, it is a sealed unit. The car has covered 170,000 miles and is 16 years old, and I imagine the pulley is original. How should I grease it? When shaken it rattles satisfactorily. It is labelled 'TURKEY', I imagine country of origin.
Nick W's link offers me a new item for £10 including postage, I have ordered a new one.
At that price it sounds worth replacing with the cam belt change.
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You gently pry out the rubber seals with a small screwdriver or pick. If the bearing feels a bit gritty, I treat it to a small squirt of brake cleaner. When that has evaporated, work some grease into the bearing and push the seals back into place. That takes less time than writing this post. It's such a quick job I do it whenever I have to remove the bearing.
Crank sensors are a common fault on modern cars, but their failure life is impossible to gauge. Replacing them when they do fail is the only sensible approach.
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Aux Belt, Pulley and Crank Sensor should really be spare parts of the breakdown kit in the Boot.
Aux Belt and Pulley 10 min job, plus 15mm spanner (from memory), Crank Sensor well do able, assuming you can safely get under the Car, if not, still gets you out of trouble to give to the Breakdown Man when he arrives.
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You gently pry out the rubber seals with a small screwdriver or pick. If the bearing feels a bit gritty, I treat it to a small squirt of brake cleaner. When that has evaporated, work some grease into the bearing and push the seals back into place. That takes less time than writing this post. It's such a quick job I do it whenever I have to remove the bearing.
Crank sensors are a common fault on modern cars, but their failure life is impossible to gauge. Replacing them when they do fail is the only sensible approach.
Thanks Nick. Job done. Of course the mounting and front washer hold the seal firmly in place so no risk of it falling out.
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Aux Belt, Pulley and Crank Sensor should really be spare parts of the breakdown kit in the Boot.
Aux Belt and Pulley 10 min job, plus 15mm spanner (from memory), Crank Sensor well do able, assuming you can safely get under the Car, if not, still gets you out of trouble to give to the Breakdown Man when he arrives.
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Aux Belt, Pulley and Crank Sensor should really be spare parts of the breakdown kit in the Boot.
Aux Belt and Pulley 10 min job, plus 15mm spanner (from memory), Crank Sensor well do able, assuming you can safely get under the Car, if not, still gets you out of trouble to give to the Breakdown Man when he arrives.
Good thinking Zirk. Aux belt and pulley easily changed at the roadside.
Crank pulley tricky on V6, impossible on a 4 cylinder Omega. On a V6 it is feasible, especially if it has been changed before and the connector is accessible, not hidden under the scuttle. As you say, the breakdown man would carry the necessary kit to get under the car, then if I was carrying a spare sensor he would soon have me on my way. I could carry a hydraulic jack and 2 axle stands, but am not sure whether it's worth it.
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Aux Belt, Pulley and Crank Sensor should really be spare parts of the breakdown kit in the Boot.
I still can't see the point of buying a new part and carrying it as a spare. Fit the bloody thing, and if you're paranoid about it keep the old one as a spare.
But when we say that these are 'common failures' we mean that they happen often enough to comment on. Not that they happen every 783 engine starts or 67 months whichever comes first.
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IME, all petrol manual omegas are quite reliable.
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Aux Belt, Pulley and Crank Sensor should really be spare parts of the breakdown kit in the Boot.
Aux Belt and Pulley 10 min job, plus 15mm spanner (from memory), Crank Sensor well do able, assuming you can safely get under the Car, if not, still gets you out of trouble to give to the Breakdown Man when he arrives.
Good thinking Zirk. Aux belt and pulley easily changed at the roadside.
Crank pulley tricky on V6, impossible on a 4 cylinder Omega. On a V6 it is feasible, especially if it has been changed before and the connector is accessible, not hidden under the scuttle. As you say, the breakdown man would carry the necessary kit to get under the car, then if I was carrying a spare sensor he would soon have me on my way. I could carry a hydraulic jack and 2 axle stands, but am not sure whether it's worth it.
Agreed, I sometimes carry a small'ish Trolley Jack if Im away with the car, but yea no way Im getting under a car just using the Spare Wheel Jack, accident waiting to happen. Absolute worst case I'd lift a corner with Jack and plonk one of the wheels on top of the Spare Wheel if I was desperate. ;)
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I have spare crank sensors, belts and pulleys, all off cars I have scrapped. I reckon I could raise the car on the wheel jack, then prop it on a stand, place brick under the jack and raise the car higher until I could get under the car on the stand. I do not plan to do this in my usual travel, but if touring Europe I might do so. I understand TB has changed a crank sensor at the roadside, I wonder how.
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I have spare crank sensors, belts and pulleys, all off cars I have scrapped. I reckon I could raise the car on the wheel jack, then prop it on a stand, place brick under the jack and raise the car higher until I could get under the car on the stand. I do not plan to do this in my usual travel, but if touring Europe I might do so. I understand TB has changed a crank sensor at the roadside, I wonder how.
Oh Dear, are you suggesting that TB is a bit on the Tubby side, Mr Paget, currently with 2295 post counts ;D
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I have spare crank sensors, belts and pulleys, all off cars I have scrapped. I reckon I could raise the car on the wheel jack, then prop it on a stand, place brick under the jack and raise the car higher until I could get under the car on the stand. I do not plan to do this in my usual travel, but if touring Europe I might do so. I understand TB has changed a crank sensor at the roadside, I wonder how.
Oh Dear, are you suggesting that TB is a bit on the Tubby side, Mr Paget, currently with 2295 post counts ;D
Not at all. I merely wonder what tools he was carrying to enable him to change the crank sensor at the roadside.
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At a guess a 1/4" ratchet and either a 6mm or E8 socket... ::)
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Oh Dear, are you suggesting that TB is a bit on the Tubby side, Mr Paget, currently with 2295 post counts ;D
Not at all. I merely wonder what tools he was carrying to enable him to change the crank sensor at the roadside.
It only take a small socket.
If you've laid off the donuts for a couple of days, parking the N/S on a high kerb should give enough room to change the sensor. But again, it isn't a bad enough problem to spend any time worrying about it.
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I don't know whether TB has changed crank sensor at roadside or not-but I have,however it does help that I'm built like a biro refill ;D ;D
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I don't know whether TB has changed crank sensor at roadside or not-but I have,however it does help that I'm built like a biro refill ;D ;D
How did you raise the car securely? A high kerb is fine if you can reach one without engine power.
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Didn't raise car at all.Turned steering to full lock to give a bit more clearance and then I can reach bolt that holds crank sensor.Hardest bit is turning steering without the engine running!
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Congratulations! It never occured to me it could be done with wheels on the ground.
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But again, it isn't a bad enough problem to spend any time worrying about it.
Both times mines failed away from home, its been game-over - its not viable to do 2 miles every hour when you're 500 miles from home.
Certtainly worth carrying a £45 sensor in boot, along with an e8 socket ;)
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But again, it isn't a bad enough problem to spend any time worrying about it.
Both times mines failed away from home, its been game-over - its not viable to do 2 miles every hour when you're 500 miles from home.
Certtainly worth carrying a £45 sensor in boot, along with an e8 socket ;)
Agreed, also would say the same for a HBV, bit more fiddly to fit at the roadside and sometimes you can keep the coolant from escaping by running on full heat or full cold but a fix at the side of the road is far more preferable than on the back of a recovery truck - especially if your a hundred miles or so from home, which I am pretty much every day.
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But again, it isn't a bad enough problem to spend any time worrying about it.
Both times mines failed away from home, its been game-over - its not viable to do 2 miles every hour when you're 500 miles from home.
Certtainly worth carrying a £45 sensor in boot, along with an e8 socket ;)
Agreed, also would say the same for a HBV, bit more fiddly to fit at the roadside and sometimes you can keep the coolant from escaping by running on full heat or full cold but a fix at the side of the road is far more preferable than on the back of a recovery truck - especially if your a hundred miles or so from home, which I am pretty much every day.
I know you love your Omegas Andy, but surely if you were genuinely that worried, you would be driving a shiny new lease car...
I always work on the basis that recovery can get the car home and I can then fix/torch it as appropriate. Hasn't failed yet :D
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But again, it isn't a bad enough problem to spend any time worrying about it.
Both times mines failed away from home, its been game-over - its not viable to do 2 miles every hour when you're 500 miles from home.
Certtainly worth carrying a £45 sensor in boot, along with an e8 socket ;)
Agreed, also would say the same for a HBV, bit more fiddly to fit at the roadside and sometimes you can keep the coolant from escaping by running on full heat or full cold but a fix at the side of the road is far more preferable than on the back of a recovery truck - especially if your a hundred miles or so from home, which I am pretty much every day.
I know you love your Omegas Andy, but surely if you were genuinely that worried, you would be driving a shiny new lease car...
I always work on the basis that recovery can get the car home and I can then fix/torch it as appropriate. Hasn't failed yet :D
Recovery is all very well, but it can take a while to arrive. Happily all Omegas come with full size spare wheels and wheel changing kit, so punctures don't bother us. Crank sensors usually recover on cooling and allow us to proceed, but 16 year old aux pulley bearings can seize without warning and then we are stuck.
I appreciate one can get carried away preparing for unlikely breakdowns, but popping into the boot an old belt and a spare pulley adds little weight. I already carry an extensible wheel nut tool, all I need is a 15mm socket and I can be on my way in less time than a wheel change takes.
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.... Happily all Omegas come with full size spare wheels and ....
Almost full size ;) ;)
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I always work on the basis that recovery can get the car home and I can then fix/torch it as appropriate. Hasn't failed yet :D
That's always been my approach; even when running 20 year-old £25 cars as daily drivers(600 miles a week) for several years, I've never found any need to carry tools or spares beyond new points and condenser - and only from the early '90s when the quality dropped through the floor and failure rates rocketed. I did once use the AA patrol's tools to refit a Pinto cambelt, rather than have it towed home, but I was on my way to a party. The only reason my large socket set is now in the car is that I no longer need it for work and have nowhere else to keep it. I have always fixed stuff as soon as it presents a problem, whether it was a funny noise due to a failing drive belt or buying some new bellhousing bolts when changing gear on roundabouts became impossible.
13 years driving a recovery truck actually reinforced this opinion. I'm not buggering about with my car at the side of the road. I can just about accept keeping a working when it was removed(the real definition of known good) crank sensor, but a HBV/alternator belt/tensioner pulley? Those fall into the same category as holed sumps or suddenly leaky radiators - possible, but not common enough to worry about.
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.... Happily all Omegas come with full size spare wheels and ....
Almost full size ;) ;)
Matching alloy and 235/45 17" tyre in my wheel well 8)
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.... Happily all Omegas come with full size spare wheels and ....
Almost full size ;) ;)
Matching alloy and 235/45 17" tyre in my wheel well 8)
Alot to be said for having an estate...
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I always work on the basis that recovery can get the car home and I can then fix/torch it as appropriate. Hasn't failed yet :D
That's always been my approach; even when running 20 year-old £25 cars as daily drivers(600 miles a week) for several years, I've never found any need to carry tools or spares beyond new points and condenser - and only from the early '90s when the quality dropped through the floor and failure rates rocketed. I did once use the AA patrol's tools to refit a Pinto cambelt, rather than have it towed home, but I was on my way to a party. The only reason my large socket set is now in the car is that I no longer need it for work and have nowhere else to keep it. I have always fixed stuff as soon as it presents a problem, whether it was a funny noise due to a failing drive belt or buying some new bellhousing bolts when changing gear on roundabouts became impossible.
13 years driving a recovery truck actually reinforced this opinion. I'm not buggering about with my car at the side of the road. I can just about accept keeping a working when it was removed(the real definition of known good) crank sensor, but a HBV/alternator belt/tensioner pulley? Those fall into the same category as holed sumps or suddenly leaky radiators - possible, but not common enough to worry about.
This works for you, so fine, but, for me, if I am on holiday touring in Scotland or Europe, I have no wish to be recovered to home for something as simple as those described above. :y
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I always work on the basis that recovery can get the car home and I can then fix/torch it as appropriate. Hasn't failed yet :D
That's always been my approach; even when running 20 year-old £25 cars as daily drivers(600 miles a week) for several years, I've never found any need to carry tools or spares beyond new points and condenser - and only from the early '90s when the quality dropped through the floor and failure rates rocketed. I did once use the AA patrol's tools to refit a Pinto cambelt, rather than have it towed home, but I was on my way to a party. The only reason my large socket set is now in the car is that I no longer need it for work and have nowhere else to keep it. I have always fixed stuff as soon as it presents a problem, whether it was a funny noise due to a failing drive belt or buying some new bellhousing bolts when changing gear on roundabouts became impossible.
13 years driving a recovery truck actually reinforced this opinion. I'm not buggering about with my car at the side of the road. I can just about accept keeping a working when it was removed(the real definition of known good) crank sensor, but a HBV/alternator belt/tensioner pulley? Those fall into the same category as holed sumps or suddenly leaky radiators - possible, but not common enough to worry about.
This works for you, so fine, but, for me, if I am on holiday touring in Scotland or Europe, I have no wish to be recovered to home for something as simple as those described above. :y
Agreed, I work all over the country and nothing is worse than having to endure a return journey from places such as Newquay or Aberdeen to Solihull in a recovery truck or multiple recovery trucks. I try to look after my cars and ensure all the essentials are checked regularly but even so I also carry the items above plus some oil and water (cars with HID's and washers seem to drink 5L of washer fluid in no time this time of year!). It's no big deal weight wise as the car is always loaded up with kit for my job anyway.
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Yep, heat setting on full helps get you home when the hbv throws a wobbly.
Battery terminal is another gremlin , but only needs doing once.
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Abs unit. phone gps app with speed helps with that ;D
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I don't like the idea of a brick under the jack. Bricks can crumble. A piece of hard wood is better and probably lighter to carry in the boot.
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Having read all that what is the part no for an aux belt pulley for a 2003 V6 2.6.
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Having read all that what is the part no for an aux belt pulley for a 2003 V6 2.6.
Gates 6PK2020 will cross to whatever your favourite supplier stocks. That's a 6 rib belt, 2020mm long. A part number that makes sense - almost as if it's part of a universal system!
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If you're worried about this, spend another tenner on a new tensioner pulley and fit it with the new belt. They ought to outlive the rest of the car.
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Sorry Nick but I am confused .It was the pulley that I needed the part no. for. I agree that a belt should go with it.
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Sorry Nick but I am confused .It was the pulley that I needed the part no. for. I agree that a belt should go with it.
Er, good point.
You want something like THIS (http://www.vauxhall-car-parts.co.uk/acatalog/9157962---Vauxhall-Drive-Belt-Tensioner-Pulley.html)
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Thanks Nick that's cheap.