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[Bob G]

Cam sensor change on my 4 pot took me 15 minutes, same code as you same symptoms cured in 15 minutes, that mechanic is talking crap, it is as easy as other people here have said.

Only problem with cam sensor I found was sourcing the old style, my car still had the ones with a short collar on the sensor while the new ones have a deeper collar, to fit new ones VX do a kit but it means splicing leads, which from the sounds of you posts you might not be happy with.  I hunted around and found a genuine GM sensor, and as sais fitted and working, don't let the mechanics con you.  All the help is on here.

[JamesV6CDX]

I reckon this car needs -

- Cam sensor (priority)
- 4 new plugs (not one)
- Check of HT leads for deterioration, damage
- Check for leaking camcover gasket causing HT issues and rectify if needsbe
- Check of breather system, probably a good clear out (including unblocking the metal pipe from crank case to cam cover)
- Clean out of throttle body assembly, (above and below) and clean out of Idle Control Valve along with new gaskets for these

Given what you've said, (neglect) in order to remain reliable and / or roadworthy, it's likely to need:

- Cambelt kit, water pump, and check of correct valve timing. Unlikely it's been done within 40k or 4 years given neglect described
- Check of wishbones and check for uneven tyre wear
- Full, comprehensive service

As said though, start with basics, which for you is the cam sensor.

I have to draw a balance between making jobs worthwhile / not getting overwhelmed, and the spirit of OOF - and given your situation, I'd be prepared to do the  items on the (more basic) top list for a box of stella as realistically they're not that complex, the only barrier really is the distance and the fact you shouldn't drive the car that far if it's poorly

I'm certain a local member will come along soon and offer to have a look. Someone with a little knowledge of the Omega could soon put this right for you, I'm certain

[Andy B]

How've you got on with this Jay? 

[jay99]

Due to a lack of funds I have not bothered with it at the moment as I've had to prioritise. I really need your thoughts on that genuine Siemens cam sensor I found for under £20 (link posted above)

Car is awful at the moment as it won't go up hills without slowing to a stop and drinks fuel and won't start from cold so I've resorted to walking for the time being. Dad will not pay a penny more after that £300 odd for the radiator and fan.

I'll let you know how I get on.
Thanks
Jay

[Andy B]

..... I really need your thoughts on that genuine Siemens cam sensor I found for under £20 (link posted above) .....

I really couldn't say. Just know that the general opinion here is to buy OE because pattern parts fail sooner rather than later .... depends whether you can afford to lose the £20 for the cheap part if you then have to eventually buy OE 

[Sir Tigger KC]

I thought that the cam and crank sensors for the Omegas were either made by Bosch or Siemens and it's just a matter of getting the right one!        

If it's not either of them then it's a Chinese copy and not worth bothering with, unless you're really really skint and you're prepared to change it again in a few days/weeks/months.... 

I might be wrong however..... 

[jay99]

Right today I'm off to the scrappies after finding a good local mechanic who is dirt cheap. He diagnosed the top lead which needs replacing (and said if that wasn't the problem then it would be the coil pack (but I thought there wasn't a coil pack on these engines?)) and found a leak in the top bit of the big rubber air pipe (just above the bulge) which comes from the airbox. There is a massive crack which is where the hissing is coming from. He also said to get a cam sensor from the scrappy (if there aren't any then I'll be ordering the £15 siemens one off ebay (I have luck on my side so should work). I'll also be getting 4 spark plugs. 

He's said if there aren't any omegas then I can get the parts from a Vectra with the 2.0L engine as there basically the same but sideways. (is this right?)

But I have encountered a far more serious and expensive problem. He told me that the cambelt inside the engine was loose and needed replacing. He said he could hear it and links in with the squealing and almost turning off symptoms that I've been experiencing. The service history says it was replaced at 110,000 and I'm only on 125,000 miles and its been about 2 years. Surely this can't be right. The cambelt on the outside looks to be tight and the round things they spin on seem fine and only a little rusted. If this is the case then I might as well scrap the car but after the £330 my dad spent on a rad and fan it would be a shame.

I've also encountered another problem, the engine temp rises slightly over 100 and only then will the cooling fan kick in and take it back to 80c/90c. It will go back up again to over 100 but never overheats. Is this ok? The expansion tank also seems to boil sometimes.

Thanks
Jay

[05omegav6]

Temp gauge normal(ish) as they vary from car to car if the fans kick in and the temperature drops then I wouldn't worry too much. Try leaving the aircon on all the time, as that runs the front two fans permanently

Cambelt depends who changed it... Vauxhall had a nasty habit of changing the belts and not the tensioners/pulleys. Being a four pot, you'll need to do the water pump as well, but all service related items scrapping an otherwise working car for servicing related items is short sighted, expensive and futile, because every car you buy will need something doing and you end up buying £5-600 cars, spending £500 sorting them only to scrap them once the next thing happens, often tax/mot/insurance. Next car, and the cycle starts again... Better to fix one car properly once and run it for avyear or two

[TheBoy]

Take the timing belt cover off yourself and investigate.  I have a sneaky suspicion your mechanic is talking out of his arse, unless there is no compression (easily checked, so would have thought he would have done that)...

...oh, and avoid Ebay "genuine" sensors, as you'll find that invariably they are not.

[jay99]

Well today I've got the leads and spark plugs. I'll get the cam sensor and the pipe thingy tomorrow.
Looking through the service history the last owner was quite meticulous in maintaining his car. He did everything by the book and its a real shame that the car is now in awful owner. I think he may have been a member here.
For example

8 March 2011 - New cambelt, water pump, auxilary belt, oil+filter, Antifreeze, door strap on drivers door  - (Daz's stoke OMEGA MAN) Mileage 106130

3 may 2011 - Track rod end o/s New cat and MOT - 106650

30 September 2011 - Oil+filter and breather system cleaned - 107777

January to July 2012 - Pollen filter, Oil+filter, Anti freeze, rear brake pipes renewed with copper and heavy duty drop links fitted

The guy has owned it for 5 years and there is a proper service history, and before that there all vauxhall stamped.

Seeing that all the belts/pumps were done in 2011 and I'm now on 125250 miles I think I'll leave that for now and ignore the mechanic. What a shame.

Theres a massive dent on drivers side rear door and the passenger side rear light is all smashed. I will not rest until this car is perfected.

[cnj]

steve, at omega spare parts nr heathrow for your parts, and I believe that you get a discount as a member of the forum, assuming that one of the breakers on here can't assist !

[jay99]

I have done a very very stupid thing tonight. The wipers were parking in the wrong place and I decided to fix it by moving them when the wipers were operating, hoping that they would move back into the right position.

I pushed too hard and snapped something. The wipers don't work anymore and move freely and the motor seems to be working fine, I can hear it clunk.

DAMMIT 

How do I fix this and how much will it cost. I must remember that I am not a mechanic.

[albitz]

Pop the plasti scuttle panel off and have a look at the linkage.Hopefully you have just caused one of the arms to pop off its balljoint.

If Daz changed the cambelt, waterpump etc. its unlikely theres a problem in that area.Sounds like the mechanic is either an idiot,or is trying to rip you off.

[jay99]

Pop the plasti scuttle panel off and have a look at the linkage.Hopefully you have just caused one of the arms to pop off its balljoint.

If Daz changed the cambelt, waterpump etc. its unlikely theres a problem in that area.Sounds like the mechanic is either an idiot,or is trying to rip you off.

How do I remove one of these? I can remove the passenger side one as it clips off but the drivers side is fixed in position. Theres a funny looking screw holding it down I think?

[albitz]

Its a torx screw.You need the tools to do the job to be honest.Whereabouts in the country are you ? There may be an OOFer nearby who could give a bit of help.