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[estaszew]

I know the 40,000 miles or 4 year rule on the cambelts.  What do the broken belts look like visually?  I ask because I'm at 50,000 miles on my belt, but I don't have the money or time to change it.  I took off one bolt on the cambelt cover and it appears to be in great condition without any cracking or signs of heavy wear.  Am I correct in thinking the belts that break will have signs of wear and cracking (most of the time at least)?

[lee4206]

I'm sure others will say the same   Its not the belt that fails its the tensioner and guides that go.    I know you said you dont have the money to change it now  but it would be a lot cheaper than replacing the heads/ engine if it goes.

lee

[Entwood]

It is not usually the belt itself that breaks ..   What fails is the tensioners ....

These "collapse" and all tension on the belt instantly dissapears .. along with the cam timing .. resulting in the valves and pistons hitting each other with considerable force ....

The resulting expense of new valves/heads, possibly pistons, etc etc far outwieghs the cost of a cambelt "kit" which includes the tensioners.

IMHO you should not be driving your car until the kit is changed .. 




EDIT   :  SNAP  .. must type faster ..

[tunnie]

as above, the belts rarely snap, its the tensioner that fails, and given GM's recent cost cutting on parts, they are not lasting.

You really need to find the money to replace the belt, with tensioners, it will be much cheaper than an engine re-build. 

[dbug]

I know the 40,000 miles or 4 year rule on the cambelts.  What do the broken belts look like visually?  I ask because I'm at 50,000 miles on my belt, but I don't have the money or time to change it.  I took off one bolt on the cambelt cover and it appears to be in great condition without any cracking or signs of heavy wear.  Am I correct in thinking the belts that break will have signs of wear and cracking (most of the time at least)?

Broken  :-/

[estaszew]

Thanks for the help everyone.  I have the repair DVD for the 3.0.  So for parts, I found a kit that has the tensioner, 2 idlers, the belt, and a few seals (I'm guessing for the water pump) for $200 (or 130 pounds) - does this seem correct?  I know I'll have to rent the tool, but I may just take it somewhere with the parts to have it done.  I'm not going to change the water pump as it was done during the last cambelt change.

Thanks again guys.

[dbug]

Price sounds about right for dealer retail price.  Cheaper to buy from these people http://www.buypartsby.co.uk/timing-belts-and-kits-final.php?year=1998&Submit=Next&make=Vauxhall&model=Omega&sub=&eng=3.0000  asuming they ship to States.

[Sixstring]

Have just done mine.....the belt looked fine, but after looking closely at the tensioners, I was a lucky boy.

Don't take the chance.

[Marks DTM Calib]

Price sounds about right for dealer retail price.  Cheaper to buy from these people http://www.buypartsby.co.uk/timing-belts-and-kits-final.php?year=1998&Submit=Next&make=Vauxhall&model=Omega&sub=&eng=3.0000  asuming they ship to States.

They ship to most places so I dont see why not.

I know part prices in the US are a little pricey!