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[CyNick]

Hi Guys..

Car visited by AA late at night - "there's no compression - that's going nowhere tonight mate, sounds like the cambelt has gone"

Relay collected the vehicle and dropped her off.. Not looked at it yet..

What are the chances of the belt or tensioner failing 600 miles after fitting a complete new kit and water pump?



Is there anything else that may have caused this and what should I do first to check?   :-/

[Jimbob]

595 miles more than i got.....

[Welung666]

First job would be to remove the timing belt cover and check the condition of the belt/tensioners. If they look OK then check the timing marks to see if it has jumped any teeth.

[JamesV6CDX]

Hi Nick

I have a very distant memory that this cambelt had previously slipped 3 teeth - and we just managed to save it...

I remember after that - there was a leak around the crank - did you ever do the crank seal?

[JamesV6CDX]

Yes I remember the one now - April 2008 - old belt had slipped three teeth.

I remember how part of the old belt had got crunched up in the crank seal, and we spent ages cleaning it all out from around the sprocket  and I recall thinking how much of a lucky escape it was.

I remember that we got it going, and running OK afterwards, but belching oil all over the floor - from that suspected crank seal?

Can you give us some more info mate about the circumstances that led to it not running?

Did it just fail to start - did it die on the move?

Were there any noises - and what were the engine revs when it died?

Did you ever do that crank seal?

Let us know, and we'll do what we can to offer advice 

[pscocoa]

Mine went within 2 miles following  change. The tensioner bolt had snapped. VX dealer claimed faulty bolt (took it to metallurgist), VX Luton claimed wrong torque on bolt -between them they fitted new engine - fortunately at no cost to me.

[JamesV6CDX]

I would be surprised if the belt has Broken due to any fitting issue. Nick and I worked together on this particular one, and I remember us both going through and checking all torque, tension and timing, using a calibrated wrench...

I am not sure it's cambelt kit, in this case - but if it is, I wonder if it's either a) oil contamination from the crank seal (awaiting info from OP on that one) or a faulty part...

[guncharmer]

Check the engine earths.

[JamesV6CDX]

And the fault codes...

[CyNick]

I am not sure it's cambelt kit, in this case - but if it is, I wonder if it's either a) oil contamination from the crank seal (awaiting info from OP on that one) or a faulty part...

The vehicle didn't move anywhere after the kit was fitted.. Just to Mum's garage, where it awaited the seal being fitted  ..  it has been sitting there ever since.. It's been started and run regularly, with one short trip last year to get the oil seal changed..

Some pillock reversed into me in a Gloucester car park and wrote off the car I was using in replacement of miggy.. So decided the time was right for her to come back on the road.. (Mid March this year)

Oil changed.. Wheels changed.. Oil removed from spark plug wells (only a very small amount in 2 wells).. Passed MOT after failing for the colour of 1 rear indicator  ..   has been running very smoothly for 2 weeks on short trips..

I ran her gently to Glasgow over easter with not a murmour and the engine failed on entry to Hilton Services Car Park southbound.. Low speed/revs.. I coasted her for about 200 yards and came to rest in front of an AA patrolman - how lucky was that!!

[CyNick]

And the fault codes...

Thanks.. These I'll try to do this afternoon..

[JamesV6CDX]

Hiya mate,

Can you confirm that the oil seal was changed, before the (suspected) belt failure?

[CyNick]

Check the engine earths.

Thanks.. But I'm not sure where these are.. Could someone let me know where to look.. I'm sure there must be more than 1?

[CyNick]

Can you confirm that the oil seal was changed, before the (suspected) belt failure?

Yes, the seal was done a long time ago, but the car has only been back on the road very recently..

But you're right James, at this stage we've no idea what is wrong with the car.. "AA Relay" might just have just been the easy option?  

[JamesV6CDX]

Absolutely, Nick, there is no clear evidence of that diagnosis, at this stage.

If the car's not running, I would do these things -
1) Check for any fault codes (expecting a code 19!!)

2) Check for fuel delivery, at the rail

3) Check for a spark, at the plugs

4) Check Compression on all cylinders

Chances are that will help you pin it down 

I understand that, albeit a long time ago, I didn't get back to you about assisting with the oil seal. I should have been more upfront about the stuff I had going on and the time restraints - so all things considered, I apologise for keeping you waiting

Asusming (and hoping!) there are no sour grapes, then I would be happy to drop by and have a look - but realistically, I'm not about for a couple of weeks, and then on hols till the 26th - so it'd be worth you trying a few of the above first, if you can