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[Omega Geezer]

Hi All,

l'm a newbie and have written a bit about my Omega history in the Newbie Welcome Area section.

l have a 2.6 V6 24v Auto Elite 2003 which had some recent work done including both engine heads removed and skimmed and new cambelt kit. l was told that the water pump was okay, so it was not replaced. Problems are still developing with the car and it's too complex a situation to take it back.

When l turn over the engine a knocking noise comes from the top of it. Also water is leaking from the water pump. The AA say it is most likely the camshaft that is causing the problem and in effect the car is a write off. Another person has said similar. Can this work be done and at what cost? Is it worth it? The car has lots of new parts and new Michelin Sports tyres all round. The other biting question is, if l really have to get rid of this car, are there any other trusted Omegas out there at all for sale? Even an Estate?

Any help and advice will be most welcome. Thank you.

[deviator]

I think the best option is to return the car to the place that did the work. You seem to hint this may not be possible? Although the fact they didn't advise you to change a £40 water pump when you are all that way down is not a good sign.

If you know the car and like it, it's worth spending the time and money to bring back up to scratch. Even a replacement engine isn't that much, assuming you can get it fitted cheap enough or can do it yourself. In fact there is a £50 engine here. This is a cheap price, these engines are normally a lot more.

If you replace the car with another Omega, you could have the same issues and be back to square one.

[tigers_gonads]

If you have a receipt but don't trust the garage, phone trading standards 

[jonathanh]

let's not worry about the water pump for now, the immediate issue is the camshaft knock

candidates for me could be slipped cambelt or failure to rebuild the head properly. 

in the hands of someone who knows what they are up to this is all fixable

[Kevin Wood]

Could just be a tired hydraulic lifter.

How long has it run since the heads have been off? Because it can take a good 20 minutes' driving to quieten down the lifters.

[Nick W]

What was the fault that made the work necessary?

[Doctor Gollum]

Fitting a known good engine would be the simplest solution. Probably the cheapest too

[Migv6 le Frog Fan]

Does the engine start and run ok, albiet noisily ?  If so, changing the water pump is quite a cheap, quick and easy job. Tip a bottle of Wynns lifter treatment in the engine and see if it quietens down after running for a while.
Would be interested to know why someone removed and skimmed the heads. Hopefully they haven't skimmed so much metal off, that pistons are making contact with valves, causing the knocking noise. 

[tunnie]

What was the fault that made the work necessary?

This ^^

When read that V6 has had heads off for potential head gasket work wonder what other bodgery has gone on. 

I'd bet a fair bit that the heads did not need to come off!

[Kevin Wood]

What was the fault that made the work necessary?

This ^^

When read that V6 has had heads off for potential head gasket work wonder what other bodgery has gone on. 

I'd bet a fair bit that the heads did not need to come off!

Yep, and that they didn't need skimming once they were off either!
Not to mention that the manufacturer recommends not skimming heads.
.. but the motor trader still living in the 1970's always knows best!

.. anyway, that's water under the bridge. A certain Admin on this site will confirm how terminally unhealthy a rattling lifter can sound like on a V6.  No gravel required.

[dave the builder]

As far as " Is This Really The End Of My Omega?"
you need to consider a few things
has the car got any other issues ? e.g rust that will need resolving to pass MOT
if there is a bad infestation of tinworm or other expensive jobs (other than the engine) it may be the end.
If the rest of the car is in good shape ,no structural rust then it is probably worth he time/cost to resolve the engine issue.

finding another car (let alone a good 15 year + omega ) without issues (people sell cars for a reason) is not easy
"better the devil you know" , unless that devil is rotten as a pear and falling apart ,needs major repair ££££

Finding someone local that knows omega engines that could look for you would be good
the advice you get on this site will be very helpful too 
(because on this site people have owned omegas and gone through it all. unlike the AA man who plugs a scanner in for the answer ,or a garage that may never have done much on an omega engine wise (other than change the oil )

Jm2pw 
 

[TheBoy]

Omega Geezer - there are a few questions posed in replies above that probably need answering before going much further.

No engine fault on the car is terminal if you want to keep the car. Worse case scenario is chuck another engine in, and enough get scrapped for engines to be readily available.

[Dr_Syn]

If the rest of the car is good and the engine is knackered, I'd look at getting a second hand engine, ebay is full of them at quite cheap prices.

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/VAUXHALL-OMEGA-2002-2-6-v6-PETROL-ENGINE-VERY-LOW-MILEAGE-71K-FULL-HISTORY/332603891209?hash=item4d70bc9e09:g:hkEAAOSwH2VaSrY8

[dave the builder]

I've brought off Nigel before , nice chap £ 125  and 80k
https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/VAUXHALL-OMEGA-2-6V6-COMPLETE-ENGINE-SUPERB-RUNNER-ONE-WEEK-SALE-LOOK/332552551355?hash=item4d6dad3bbb:g:hlsAAOSwWxNYoaao

bit early to rush out and buy a block though ,till diagnosed 

[Doctor Gollum]

If going down the replacement lump route, throw a 3.0 or 3.2 in it

Rude not to while you are there...