Omega Owners Forum

Omega Help Area => Omega General Help => Topic started by: Field Marshal Dr. Opti on 30 May 2008, 12:02:26

Title: 2.6 V6 Cambelt Confusion
Post by: Field Marshal Dr. Opti on 30 May 2008, 12:02:26
Just bought 2.6 V6 with service history. Cambelt changed at 40,000 car now just done 90,000.

Thinking its belt change is 10,000 overdue, ringing Vauxhall main dealer today 30th May 2008 (2 of them) who both tell me why bother changing it they go for 80,000 miles, its in the service book.

So my question is....are Vauxhall Omega owners more paranoid than other car owners? Or do they have an excess of money that they wish to pay for extra servicing? Or............Is there another reason for this ambiguity.

The point I'm making is Vauxhall don't appear to have changed their servicing schedules. :-/
Title: Re: 2.6 V6 Cambelt Confusion
Post by: JamesV6CDX on 30 May 2008, 12:05:47
Dealers are muppets, it's 40k.

the belt is good for 80k no problems - BUT the tensioner will collapse and fail, causing the belt to slip/shear - LONG before this!

your call ;)
Title: Re: 2.6 V6 Cambelt Confusion
Post by: Elite Pete on 30 May 2008, 12:10:18
Orignally it was 80,000 but because of the amount of tensioner failures it was revised to 40,000.  :y
Title: Re: 2.6 V6 Cambelt Confusion
Post by: Richard A on 30 May 2008, 12:34:12
Please believe the recommendations of the OOF members, change the cam belt and tensioner every 40k or 4 years, while your there change the water pump. My local Vauxhall dealer also agrees 40k or 4 years.  ;) ;)
p.s. very, very expensive when they break.
regards
richard a
Title: Re: 2.6 V6 Cambelt Confusion
Post by: mkaminski100 on 30 May 2008, 13:50:59
As said – it’s not a cambelt, it’s a tensioner that fails. You can go for a cheap belt but don’t go for a cheap tensioner. I would recommend INA as Vauxhal is using their tensioners  as “Genuine Patrs” (same with tappets – take original out and check inside – it’s INA).
I've heard about people that changes only tensioner but I wouldnt recomend that .
Title: Re: 2.6 V6 Cambelt Confusion
Post by: tomoco on 30 May 2008, 14:16:46
As said above vauxhall revised the interval to 40,000 miles due to premature tensioner failure (your dealers should know this). If the belt fails then the cost of repair to the engine would probably outway the price of the whole car. Are you able to have a go at doing it yourself, loads of help on this forum if you fancy having  a go.
Title: Re: 2.6 V6 Cambelt Confusion
Post by: mkaminski100 on 30 May 2008, 15:18:09
Quote
If the belt fails then the cost of repair to the engine would probably outway the price of the whole car.
I bought a 4 POT Omega where cambelt snapped just around 74k (changed at 40k). Guy was so lucky, because only second piston hit 2 intake valves. They replaced 2 valves with guides, and cambelt kit. It “only” cost him £950 ;)  As I said he was lucky and with V6, cambelt failure might end up at £2-3k
Title: Re: 2.6 V6 Cambelt Confusion
Post by: OhmyOmega on 30 May 2008, 21:19:07
I've had a tensioner collapse at 70mph on the A74.  Car recovered home and head removed.  All inlet valves bent.  Piston 1 holed and 3 and 6 severly damanged.  New engine needed.  Investigated replacement but told that they are in short supply becuase boy racers shoe horn them into Astra's (I think).

So it's your call.  Me - I'm paranoid now - cost me a 2.5 cdx.  Hate to see it happen someone else
Title: Re: 2.6 V6 Cambelt Confusion
Post by: albitz on 30 May 2008, 21:23:26
ask them to put it in writing with acceptance of liability. :y
Title: Re: 2.6 V6 Cambelt Confusion
Post by: jonathanh on 31 May 2008, 07:56:03
Quote
Just bought 2.6 V6 with service history. Cambelt changed at 40,000 car now just done 90,000.

Thinking its belt change is 10,000 overdue, ringing Vauxhall main dealer today 30th May 2008 (2 of them) who both tell me why bother changing it they go for 80,000 miles, its in the service book.

So my question is....are Vauxhall Omega owners more paranoid than other car owners? Or do they have an excess of money that they wish to pay for extra servicing? Or............Is there another reason for this ambiguity.

The point I'm making is Vauxhall don't appear to have changed their servicing schedules. :-/

Cambelt changed? Were the tensioners changed as well.

If it were me I would change the belt and tensioners now.  Cost of doing so is 2 tanks of fuel and your new purchase will not go to the scrapheap!

As long as you are comfortable with spanners: do it yourself.  It is not difficult and you will take more care than a garage.  Update your profile as there is probably a member nearby that could lend a hand if you get stuck or you need to borrow/hire a locking kit
Title: Re: 2.6 V6 Cambelt Confusion
Post by: andyc on 31 May 2008, 09:49:33
belt are listed as 80,000 but Vauxhall say change @ 40,000 as best practis.

We will alway tell a customer that the belt is due @ 40,000 (if its due of course) and then its down to the customer.

Another reason for the 80,000 mark is manufractures have to try and keep the service times down because of lease companies.

If a lease company is looking to buy as fleet of 1000 cars and they go to manufracture A and there belts require 40,000 changes and manufractur B says there belts belts will go for 80,000 then where does the lease company go!!!  (that just my personal take on things)

Do the belt at 40,000

Andy
Title: Re: 2.6 V6 Cambelt Confusion
Post by: Field Marshal Dr. Opti on 31 May 2008, 11:44:36
All you Guys seem so insistent on 40,000 that you'll be pleased to know I've booked it in for Monday morning.

Short notice, so unfortunately its a main dealer which will cost between £300-£350.

But, the 2.6 is virtually unmarked on a 51 plate, and I paid just over £1100 will a full MOT and service history. So even with the repairs I'm only looking at about £1500 in total.

Not bad for a car I saw Gordon Brown getting into the back of outside No 10 recently.

Beware of full service history stamps though, mine had one at 83,000 at a main dealer (TRUE) I assumed therefore the cambelt had been changed (FALSE), which is why I'm doing it now.