Print

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

[MG]

Hi,

I had the cam belt changed (by Vauxhall main agent) on my 1999 V6 Elite at 40,000 miles. The car has now done 84,000 miles and I am unsure if I should change the belt at 40k intervals or not! There seems to be a lot of differing opinion in manuals and on website etc as to whether it is 40k, 60k or 80k. If the 40k interval is the 'best practice' then I guess I'm due a change!!

I am a reasonably competent DIY mechanic and whenthe time comes, would undertake to replace the belt myself. Have recently had the plenum off to fix an oil leak (the top gaskets had blown filling up the spark plug recesses). I believe that there are some special tools that can be borrowed from the forum to lock up the cam sprockets, what is the possibility/opportunity in borrowing these?
I will be looking for advise from the postings/tips from chaps who have already successfully done this.

Many thanks indeed.

Cheers,

Mel.

[Andy B]

Hi,

I had the cam belt changed (by Vauxhall main agent) on my 1999 V6 Elite at 40,000 miles. The car has now done 84,000 miles and I am unsure if I should change the belt at 40k intervals or not! There seems to be a lot of differing opinion in manuals and on website etc as to whether it is 40k, 60k or 80k. If the 40k interval is the 'best practice' then I guess I'm due a change!!

I am a reasonably competent DIY mechanic and whenthe time comes, would undertake to replace the belt myself. Have recently had the plenum off to fix an oil leak (the top gaskets had blown filling up the spark plug recesses). I believe that there are some special tools that can be borrowed from the forum to lock up the cam sprockets, what is the possibility/opportunity in borrowing these?
I will be looking for advise from the postings/tips from chaps who have already successfully done this.

Many thanks indeed.

Cheers,

Mel.

Your belt needed changing 4000 miles ago, you really need it done ASAP.
You don't have your profile filled in which would give us all a clue where you live, & whether there is a camlocking nearby that anyone would be prepared to leand/hire out to you.
It's not a difficult job if you take your time - I took a week end ......   although a certain moderator can do it in an hour & a half.    

[dbug]

40K intervals bud!!

I done both our V6s - took 4 -4½ hours total for each.

You do need locking kit, 30mm ring, various torx sockets & 5mm (?) allen key.

[feeutfo]

40k or 4 years which ever comes up first. It used to be 80k but vx had a few tensioner fail so they halfed the service life. The belt itself will do the miles its the tensioner that gives up, but the possible failure gives the same result. Effectively a new engine. Autovaux rent out the locking kits if you cant borrow one. Dvd in the club shop. :-)

[MG]

Thanks Chris. I will see if I can get hold of the locking tool and also thanks for the tip for the DVD.

Cheers,

Mel.

[MG]

Hi Andy B

Have updated my profile now.

I live in Worcester Park Surrey.....

Cheers.

[MG]

Hi

I plan to do this Cam Belt change over the next few weeks.

Can anyone help me source the locking kit please?

If I can borrow or hire rather than buy, as I believe these tools are very expensive.

Also how much will a new belt and cam tensioner/rollers cost as a kit and should I buy these from Vauxhall or is there a better source in terms of quality and/or price?

Again Many thanks.

Mel.

[ians]

Try Autovaux - they will sell you a decent kit (Gates, Contitech, SKF are all good) and rent you the tool kit for a week all in.  If you metion the forum they will usually give you another 5% off too.

[dbug]

Try http://www.buypartsby.co.uk/timing-belt-kit-vauxhall.php?pageNum_Recordset1=17&totalRows_Recordset1=313 - bought 2 x Contitech kits for V6s - price now around £60 + VAT.  These are OEM manufacturers and top quality!!

[TheBoy]

DVD - http://shop.omegaowners.com/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=3&products_id=7

[albitz]

Make sure you get the dvd first,its worth its weight in gold.
Btw - in case you dont already know,the leaking cam covers is caused by blocked breathers.If they havent been cleaned,the cam covers will soon leak again. Regular oil changes (3-4000 miles) will help prevent the breathers becoming clogged again.