Omega Owners Forum
Omega Help Area => Omega General Help => Topic started by: megaomega123 on 02 April 2007, 09:56:28
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Hi can anyone tell me the normal, visible operation of the timing belt tensioner. When looking at mine, if i open throttle a tad and quickly it jigs a little bit, giving the appearance of being loose also it has a tapping sound.
Over the last week or so I have needed extra revs to pull off, and the idle has been slightly higher than normal.
Is my tensioner about to go? I have just driven from Dundee to Plymouth and am heading back on Sunday. Should I get the cam belt and tensioner done?
Belt last changed @ 49000 miles ago and was 9 years ago.
Thanks :y
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Get it done now, ASAP - 9 years ago! It should be every 4 / 40'000 miles!
Sounds like its about to break up mate..
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That's the aux belt tensioner, you can't see the timing belt. Aux belt tensioners are a common failure too. It sounds like it all should be done relatively soon.
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I certainly woudn't use it until you get the belt and tensioners done. They should be changer without fail every 40,000 miles or I think every 4 years which ever comes first, either way yours is well overdue.
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If you are watching the tensioner action you must have removed the covers so check the tensioner setting while its in bits. The ticking noise could be the tensioner hitting its end stop which suggests it is set too slack BUT it could also be a bearing breaking up so check it out asap.
Belt, tensioner and idler change every 4 yrs/ 40000 miles as stated
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Just to confirm, you CANNOT see the timing belt at all when everything is together - its behind the plastic cover behind the belt that you can see which is the aux belt - drives alternator/aircon etc. I suspect from your message that you have not stripped it down, so its the aux belt and its tensioner (over on the left as you look at it) that you are looking at.
But you need to get your timing belt and tensioner done pronto anyway as everyone has said. Generally recommended to do the water pump and aux belt at the same time - esp. if you get a garage to do it as the cost of strip down far outways the cost of the extra parts.
Cheers
Ian
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(http://i55.photobucket.com/albums/g135/phate123/cf_1_b.jpg)
It looks like this. I presume this is the auxilary belt tensioner. sry to sound stupid but im not too good with the mechanics.
On another note. During my trip down the drivers side fan, in front of rad developed nasty noise. I had a look this morning, gave it a wiggle and a stone fell out. There must be about 3mm of clearance between the fan and the housing and a stone found its way in there ::)
Well I think I should just go and get the whole lot done. After all it sailed through MOT so it deserves a reward.
I am not neglectful, but I only just found the timing belt history today. :-[
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aux belt tensioner
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Power steering has also got noisey. I once again presume this runs off the aux belt and is therefore connected.
I also have no plastic cover. The entire cambelt is visible :'(
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Get the garage to check the aux belt tensioner when they take it off - need to do this anyway when doing the timing belt.
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Auxilary belt, PAS pump... let's not get distracted here, as said by all if the TIMING belt was done 9 years ago it needs doing ASAP with its tensioner, and this is probably far more urgent than whatever problem there may or may not be with the other bits....
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Can you see two different belts then?
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Power steering has also got noisey. I once again presume this runs off the aux belt and is therefore connected.
I also have no plastic cover. The entire cambelt is visible :'(
I sincerely hope thats not the case - that would be lethal to the engine..
You'd be able to see 2 lots of belts spinning, one behind the other.. + wheres your cable tray that runs accross the front of the cambelt cover?!
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If the cam belt cover is missing I'd suggest getting one from a breakers and fitting it, along with new belt and idler pullies and, by the sound if it, aux belt and tensioner pulley ASAP. The belt and tensioners will deteriorate faster if they are exposed to dirt and water and there is also the risk that debris from the road, loose pipes and wires, etc. could snag in the cam belt and destroy the engine.
Kevin
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My mistake. It is the aux belt that has the cover missing. This is the only belt visible. I am getting timing belt done, the aux belt tensioner, the rocker cover gaskets and plugs and leads.
Should all be back in good working order tomorrow.
Thanks for the good advice as always :y
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My mistake. It is the aux belt that has the cover missing. This is the only belt visible. I am getting timing belt done, the aux belt tensioner, the rocker cover gaskets and plugs and leads.
Should all be back in good working order tomorrow.
Thanks for the good advice as always :y
Good, good!
There is no cover for the aux belt, it remains exposed - make sure when you get all that done they do change the cambelt tensioner and rollers, you can get a kit from autovaux for about 90 quid IIRC..
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Well done. and there is no aux belt cover, so its not missing.
Make sure without fail that the garage changes the timing belt tensioners as well as the belt. and I recommend you get them to change water pump while doing the job.
Cheers
Ian
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My mistake. It is the aux belt that has the cover missing.
OK. We can all relax a little bit ;)
I'd still get the cam belt done ASAP as 9 years is really pushing it.
Kevin
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9yrs is really pushing it.
If anyone tries telling you that v6 cambelts are 80k/8yrs, they are lying. It was at one stage, but Vauxhall changed it to 40k/4yrs.
Ensure cambelt kit goes on, not just cambelt, as its the bearings in the tensioners and pulleys that fail, not the belt. Also ensure that the garage has a GM V6 locking/timing kit - whatever the garage may try to say, these v6 units cannot be done properly without one.
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While your doing the belt do the water pump - cos if it goes it will all need to come off again
only about £25.00.
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I am getting these parts. Thumbs up if ok pls.
1. http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&ih=014&sspagename=STRK%3AMEWA%3AIT&viewitem=&item=330105215881&rd=1&rd=1
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http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&sspagename=STRK%3AMEWA%3AIT&viewitem=&item=4637040891&rd=1&rd=1
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http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&sspagename=STRK%3AMEWA%3AIT&viewitem=&item=4611420262&rd=1&rd=1
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Ensure cambelt kit is correct for your car - there are 3 different types for v6 depending on age.
Ensure the gaskets are genuine Vauxhall ones, not pattern. Also ensure they come with the o rings. If you are doing both banks, you will need 2 sets (4 gaskets in total, with 16 orings).
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I am getting these parts. Thumbs up if ok pls.
1. http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&ih=014&sspagename=STRK%3AMEWA%3AIT&viewitem=&item=330105215881&rd=1&rd=1
2.
http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&sspagename=STRK%3AMEWA%3AIT&viewitem=&item=4637040891&rd=1&rd=1
3.
http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&sspagename=STRK%3AMEWA%3AIT&viewitem=&item=4611420262&rd=1&rd=1
1. You need to call them with your engine number to check its the right one. Won't be funny if the garage strips your car down and finds its the wrong one. If they don't know why you are asking I would go elsewhere.
2. Don't know if there is any variation. Maybe someone else can confirm.
3. When you call them ask if this is genuine Vauxhall /General Motors - ie does it say GM on the packet? If not go elsewhere. You also need to make sure the garage use the right sealant - known as the black stuff as opposed to the green snot! The part number is on the How to if you need it. (I believe the green stuff sets hard and is designed for metal to metal joints).
and in case you haven't got the message CHANGE THE WATERPUMP while you are at it ;) as iggy says they are only 25-30quid for genuine GM and if it needs doing later you will have to duplicate about two hours of labour that your guys are already doing for the timing belt job.
Cheers,
Ian
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If anyone tries telling you that v6 cambelts are 80k/8yrs, they are lying.
'Lying' is a bit harsh TB. The service booklet with my car ('98) says 80k , as does Haynes (and Haynes only mentions the belt, not tensioners), so anyone not knowing better would still think it was 80k (as I did until a couple of months ago :-[). In fact I have a Vauxhall service schedule with the car paperwork I inherited dated 2000 where it still says the cambelt interval is 80k.
Presumably you only find out it changed by taking them the broken head to fix :'((or paying them more than the cars worth to service regularly >:()..... or by joining omegaowners.com ;D ;D
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If anyone tries telling you that v6 cambelts are 80k/8yrs, they are lying.
'Lying' is a bit harsh TB. The service booklet with my car ('98) says 80k , as does Haynes (and Haynes only mentions the belt, not tensioners), so anyone not knowing better would still think it was 80k (as I did until a couple of months ago :-[). In fact I have a Vauxhall service schedule with the car paperwork I inherited dated 2000 where it still says the cambelt interval is 80k.
Presumably you only find out it changed by taking them the broken head to fix :'((or paying them more than the cars worth to service regularly >:()..... or by joining omegaowners.com ;D ;D
All dealers and Vauxhall authorised specialists would have been sent the update to 40k/4yrs, so it is fairly common knowledge....
Lying = not telling the truth. If anyone says 80k/8yrs, they are not telling the truth (whether intentional or through ignorance). I have had main dealers tell me 8yrs/80k, which is very worrying.
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Yes that is worrying. Maybe they were eyeing up a juicy head rebuild job >:(
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i would strongly recommend getting it done before you head north mate..........