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[v6lpg]

Help! Black beauty drove fine until yesterday, when engine warning light came on accompanied by a loud clattering noise like the engine running without oil or with a very worn camshaft.
Switched off immediately. Loads of oil in the sump and still very clear.
Did have a rummage thru' the service history and saw that the belt had been changed about 70 odd thousand miles ago.
Tried to restart and saw the serpentine belt running as the starter churned away unsuccessfully. But the engine still fired albeit on a few cylinders and the clatter got worse, so no more of this until i can get more advice.
IF the belt has snapped then why is the motor still firing?  Why would the  engine check malfunction light illuminate for a MECHANICAL failure if the belt has snapped?

[Timbuk]

Sounds like it may have jumped a tooth or two DO NOT turn the car over anymore, it needs investigating further

[Elite Pete]

Help! Black beauty drove fine until yesterday, when engine warning light came on accompanied by a loud clattering noise like the engine running without oil or with a very worn camshaft.
Switched off immediately. Loads of oil in the sump and still very clear.
Did have a rummage thru' the service history and saw that the belt had been changed about 70 odd thousand miles ago.
Tried to restart and saw the serpentine belt running as the starter churned away unsuccessfully. But the engine still fired albeit on a few cylinders and the clatter got worse, so no more of this until i can get more advice.
IF the belt has snapped then why is the motor still firing?  Why would the  engine check malfunction light illuminate for a MECHANICAL failure if the belt has snapped?

The belt should have been changed at 40,000 miles or 4 years which ever is the soonest. I would say as Timbuk has suggested that the cambelt has slipped which 9 times out of 10 is terminal

[v6lpg]

Hello, just had the news i was dreading- tensioner has broken.
Had a look at the history again and saw that the belt and tensioner were actually replaced 55 thousand miles back. Pretty irrelevant now that i'm looking for a good used engine (x25e).
Anyone aware of garage near the Mitcham / Croydon area who might be able to do an engine swap or rebuild the top end? I have costed the parts at around £220-280. Realistic or not?
Oh and about 11-13- hours labour?

[Lazydocker]

Hello, just had the news i was dreading- tensioner has broken.
Had a look at the history again and saw that the belt and tensioner were actually replaced 55 thousand miles back. Pretty irrelevant now that i'm looking for a good used engine (x25e).
Anyone aware of garage near the Mitcham / Croydon area who might be able to do an engine swap or rebuild the top end? I have costed the parts at around £220-280. Realistic or not?
Oh and about 11-13- hours labour?

Sorry to hear the sad news... AT that sort of price for parts I'd drop an engine in from one of he breakers on here... Or strip it for parts and get another Miggy

[Marks DTM Calib]

Hello, just had the news i was dreading- tensioner has broken.
Had a look at the history again and saw that the belt and tensioner were actually replaced 55 thousand miles back. Pretty irrelevant now that i'm looking for a good used engine (x25e).
Anyone aware of garage near the Mitcham / Croydon area who might be able to do an engine swap or rebuild the top end? I have costed the parts at around £220-280. Realistic or not?
Oh and about 11-13- hours labour?

Has the belt jumped any teeth?

[v6lpg]

Hello, yep about 2 i'd say. RAC man says this doesn't happen often at this kind of mileage (55k not 70k as originally thought).

Anyone with a unconfirmed service history or over 50k since the last belt change, pay now or pay much more later!

[Marks DTM Calib]

Hello, yep about 2 i'd say. RAC man says this doesn't happen often at this kind of mileage (55k not 70k as originally thought).

Anyone with a unconfirmed service history or over 50k since the last belt change, pay now or pay much more later!

You might get away with a 2 tooth jump.....

[MutantCav]

I take it from your id it has LPG fitted?

[Lazydocker]

Hello, yep about 2 i'd say. RAC man says this doesn't happen often at this kind of mileage (55k not 70k as originally thought).

Anyone with a unconfirmed service history or over 50k since the last belt change, pay now or pay much more later!

You might get away with a 2 tooth jump.....

I was just thinking that... For the cost of a kit (£80ish) and a bit of spanner time I think I'd stick a new one on and try it

In fact, if you ask nicely someone may have an old kit they have just changed you could use as a test... If it runs OK fit the new one immediately before use and count your lucky stars, do the lottery (and PM me your numbers ) and enjoy the comfy motoring again

[Elite Pete]

Hello, yep about 2 i'd say. RAC man says this doesn't happen often at this kind of mileage (55k not 70k as originally thought).

Anyone with a unconfirmed service history or over 50k since the last belt change, pay now or pay much more later!

40,000 or 4 years

[Chris_H]

In fact, if you ask nicely someone may have an old kit they have just changed you could use as a test... If it runs OK fit the new one immediately before use and count your lucky stars, do the lottery (and PM me your numbers Wink Wink) and enjoy the comfy motoring again Thumbs Up! Thumbs Up! Thumbs Up!

I've got a set on the drive that came out of mine yesterday if it's the same (X30XE).  Could be enough to run a compression test.

HTH

[Welung666]

In fact, if you ask nicely someone may have an old kit they have just changed you could use as a test... If it runs OK fit the new one immediately before use and count your lucky stars, do the lottery (and PM me your numbers Wink Wink) and enjoy the comfy motoring again Thumbs Up! Thumbs Up! Thumbs Up!

I've got a set on the drive that came out of mine yesterday if it's the same (X30XE).  Could be enough to run a compression test.

HTH

Make sure you mark the rotation direction on it if it is to be re-used, even if just for testing purposes.

[v6lpg]

Yes it does still have the 80 litre LPG conversion, which is the main reason it hasn't been sent to the recyclers.
Been quoted £1100 by Alfa Motors in Westwell road Streatham to rebuild the top end.
Tiny bits of metal found in the exhaust i'm told, which may be valve impact on pistons!

[Robmetaxa]

Sorry to here about your misfortune, thats why when I found out last week that the cambelt now has to be changed at 4 years 40k rather than 8 years 80k as stated in the service book, I rushed out and had mine changed yesterday, mine had done 63k!! hearing horror stories like yours makes the £263 I just spent all worth while!
Rob