Omega Owners Forum

Chat Area => General Car Chat => Topic started by: dbug on 21 August 2010, 17:21:41

Title: Awkward V6 jobs
Post by: dbug on 21 August 2010, 17:21:41
Done most of the "jobs" on V6s incl. replace a/c compressor, oil cooler, cambelts and tensioners, abs ecu, brakes and discs, rear calipers, hbv, plugs (all 6!), a/c condensor, radiator, heater matrix, breather cleaning, crank sensor, autobox swap as well as servicing.  Just done the most awkward job to date on the Estate - passenger side cam cover gasket - getting enough clearance to get cam cover back into place without disturbing rubber gasket - took a couple of goes before I was satisfied and bolted it down.  Went on a 150 mile round trip - and now all the oil has finally burned off the exhaust/heat shields - no more leakage and no more smell of burning oil!!  Got the cam covers on the saloon to do next week - more bad language no doubt. 

Hats off to someone like Daz who is doing this job all the time.

Do other OOFers agree?  Or is there an easy way of getting enough clearance to do this job simply?
Title: Re: Awkward V6 jobs
Post by: Welung666 on 21 August 2010, 17:30:32
Anything head related on the 246 bank is a nightmare due to the un-movable section of bulkhead. It always takes me 2 or 3 goes to get the cam covers back on so I'm happy they haven't moved.
Title: Re: Awkward V6 jobs
Post by: dbug on 21 August 2010, 17:34:32
Quote
Anything head related on the 246 bank is a nightmare due to the un-movable section of bulkhead. It always takes me 2 or 3 goes to get the cam covers back on so I'm happy they haven't moved.

So its not just me then  :y
Title: Re: Awkward V6 jobs
Post by: Varche on 21 August 2010, 17:38:13
Quote
Done most of the "jobs" on V6s incl. replace a/c compressor, oil cooler, cambelts and tensioners, abs ecu, brakes and discs, rear calipers, hbv, plugs (all 6!), a/c condensor, radiator, heater matrix, breather cleaning, crank sensor, autobox swap as well as servicing.  Just done the most awkward job to date on the Estate - passenger side cam cover gasket - getting enough clearance to get cam cover back into place without disturbing rubber gasket - took a couple of goes before I was satisfied and bolted it down.  Went on a 150 mile round trip - and now all the oil has finally burned off the exhaust/heat shields - no more leakage and no more smell of burning oil!!  Got the cam covers on the saloon to do next week - more bad language no doubt. 

Hats off to someone like Daz who is doing this job all the time.

Do other OOFers agree?  Or is there an easy way of getting enough clearance to do this job simply?


Blimey I thought i had done most jobs but haven't done half that list. I have the ABS ECu to do (second one) yippee. I wish I had only put four of the six bolts in now!  Your car, Dbug, can't need anything else doing. Best sell it and get another one now you know how to.....!
Title: Re: Awkward V6 jobs
Post by: Elite Pete on 21 August 2010, 19:00:00
Practice makes perfect ;), the more you do the easier it gets :y
Title: Re: Awkward V6 jobs
Post by: geoffr70 on 21 August 2010, 22:49:21
I did my cam cover gaskets and cleaned the breathers the other week through the night at work. I couldn't get the passenger side cam cover off so left it for later, just haven't got round to attempting it again!  :-/ It was very awkward
Title: Re: Awkward V6 jobs
Post by: Andy B on 21 August 2010, 23:25:16
Quote
.... and cleaned the breathers the other week through the night at work.  .....

I used to have a job like that. I washed & polished mine one night before Tatton Pk show. :y
I can't get my car anywhere near inside the gates here.  :(
Title: Re: Awkward V6 jobs
Post by: Steve 1564 on 21 August 2010, 23:27:36
Engine bay is not the best layout I've seen.. although it's not as bad as some -
helped my mate change an alternator on his daughters KA - would you beleive Headlight out!!! and the new one in was like a chineese puzzle  ;D

Taking the Plenum off is now down to 5mins.... got so fed up with the oil leaks (warped over-tightened covers) I've now fitted the vectra ones - Bone dry even with OEM gaskets  :y

Just changed the ABS ecu on mine (2 screws missing!) and my hands look like i've stuck them in a bag of cats :o
Title: Re: Awkward V6 jobs
Post by: 24_Valve on 21 August 2010, 23:32:02
If there's an OOF member that knows his way around a V6 n/s rocker cover gasket it's definately Razzo (omega knight)  :y   Did mine (both sides) and made it look easy (when it's really not!)  ;)
Title: Re: Awkward V6 jobs
Post by: feeutfo on 21 August 2010, 23:48:36
246 bank not tooo bad IMO  :-/

Dis PAC and getting the plug leads correct on 2.5 3.0 is my personal pita.....that and fitting carlton rear bushes, which don't fit btw

Drilling cat bolts, removing breather box....? :-/

Jobs I dread, manifold gaskets, any auto box issue in the drive, hand brake cable replacement possibly?
Title: Re: Awkward V6 jobs
Post by: 24_Valve on 22 August 2010, 00:09:36
just had handbrake cable (whole unit) replaced yesterday... took 3 hours including adjustment & full strip down of discs, drums & shoes... :y V6 h/b cable £45+vat without labour.
Title: Re: Awkward V6 jobs
Post by: dbug on 22 August 2010, 02:12:13
Quote
Quote
Done most of the "jobs" on V6s incl. replace a/c compressor, oil cooler, cambelts and tensioners, abs ecu, brakes and discs, rear calipers, hbv, plugs (all 6!), a/c condensor, radiator, heater matrix, breather cleaning, crank sensor, autobox swap as well as servicing.  Just done the most awkward job to date on the Estate - passenger side cam cover gasket - getting enough clearance to get cam cover back into place without disturbing rubber gasket - took a couple of goes before I was satisfied and bolted it down.  Went on a 150 mile round trip - and now all the oil has finally burned off the exhaust/heat shields - no more leakage and no more smell of burning oil!!  Got the cam covers on the saloon to do next week - more bad language no doubt. 

Hats off to someone like Daz who is doing this job all the time.

Do other OOFers agree?  Or is there an easy way of getting enough clearance to do this job simply?


Blimey I thought i had done most jobs but haven't done half that list. I have the ABS ECu to do (second one) yippee. I wish I had only put four of the six bolts in now!  Your car, Dbug, can't need anything else doing. Best sell it and get another one now you know how to.....!

Not one V6 - have 2 V6s mate  :y
Title: Re: Awkward V6 jobs
Post by: 377 on 22 August 2010, 23:07:26
Awkward v6 jobs.... hmmmm, yep changing it for a S6 diesel, is a bit of a job...  ;D (Nearly there though  :D)
Title: Re: Awkward V6 jobs
Post by: tunnie on 22 August 2010, 23:35:20
any job on a V6 is a pig, just an oil change is messy, give me an I4 engine anyday. I don't even have to jack it up for an oil change!
Title: Re: Awkward V6 jobs
Post by: WGoins88 on 23 August 2010, 03:49:10
I just did the Saab Valve covers today... man... keeping those gaskets on the covers while installing them was a PAIN IN THE BUTT!!!! So I got peeved and held them in with a little RTV silicone.

Then, I did the thermostat....nothing like fighting the tube while trying to thread the bolt in for it.
Title: Re: Awkward V6 jobs
Post by: kcl on 23 August 2010, 09:27:29
Cam cover gaskets have small "teeth" (or what you'd caal them...) aling the sides to keep it in the cover when assembling... So I wonder why it is difficult?

Not too much room on 2-4-6 bank but when I did my cam covers the most difficult thing was to release the connector for fuel injectors...