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[Field Marshal Dr. Opti]

Have just bought a 2.6 Omega an a 51 plate. Cam belt last changed at 41,000, so its now done just 90,000, so I think it needs a change ASAP.

Telephoned the dealers this morning, quotes from £300-£400. Don't want to pay this much, can I get it done by an independant dealer, and how much should I expect to pay?

Do you know of any people in the South Lincolnshire area who could do it for substantially less?

Would be grateful for any advise on this

Thank you

[JamesV6CDX]

It's 9k overdue... you're on dangerous ground!

Worth doing waterpump while in there, it's a matter of minutes extra work when it's stripped.

I have all the gear and on occasions offer a mobile cambelt kit changing service... I wonder how far you are from Cheltenham or Cardiff?

[dbug]

Try JamesV6CDX - guess he will be able to do this soon

PM him.

[edit]Whoops posted too late![/edit]

[Field Marshal Dr. Opti]

It's 9k overdue... you're on dangerous ground!

Worth doing waterpump while in there, it's a matter of minutes extra work when it's stripped.

I have all the gear and on occasions offer a mobile cambelt kit changing service... I wonder how far you are from Cheltenham or Cardiff?

So what sort of price are we looking at then to do the cambelt tensioners and if necessary water pump?

[JamesV6CDX]

It's 9k overdue... you're on dangerous ground!

Worth doing waterpump while in there, it's a matter of minutes extra work when it's stripped.

I have all the gear and on occasions offer a mobile cambelt kit changing service... I wonder how far you are from Cheltenham or Cardiff?

So what sort of price are we looking at then to do the cambelt tensioners and if necessary water pump?

If you don't have a tradecard, you can borrow mine and get all the bits direct from Vx for I suspect about £120 - maybe a tad more if you do the pump too...

[JamesV6CDX]

It's 9k overdue... you're on dangerous ground!

Worth doing waterpump while in there, it's a matter of minutes extra work when it's stripped.

I have all the gear and on occasions offer a mobile cambelt kit changing service... I wonder how far you are from Cheltenham or Cardiff?

James, mine is overdue too; I didn't get my car until 5 days after the last cam-belt party . Would you be prepared to do my 3.2 with me learning from you as we go? I'd be prepared to drive to you for the day, but I would have to ask if it could be a weekend.

I have a Trade Card and would get the kit and water pump here in advance 1st.

More than happy to pay you for your time mate, I just want it done by someone I trust and you come highly recommended.

Yep we can sort this out mate, rather than risk driving it down if it's overdue, I can also travel your way if the fuel is covered

[JamesV6CDX]

Oh, I have a miggy now, so it'll be more like 35mpg than 15 in the V8

[JamesV6CDX]

Would you really do that? I'd more than happily cover the price of the fuel too; no problem. You do know I'm in Bedford don't you?

Can I switch to PM to sort out details?

Or course, and of course.

I may not reply until road/street wars has finished and I've eaten my Domino's, though

[tmx]

My mv6s is due soon in a few months the mileage isnt up but it was changed in sept 04 at 98k when it snapped cars now on 115k

[Albatross]

My mv6s is due soon in a few months the mileage isnt up but it was changed in sept 04 at 98k when it snapped cars now on 115k

Ouch, sounds like it was expensive!

Is the risk when you hit 40k or 4 years really that sudden a jump? Surely there's a risk at any time? It all sounds as though there is a self-destruct mechanism in there somewhere. Surely it can't be tht abrupt a change of risk, there must be some sort of contingency built in?
Should I really stop driving my car at the exact point I get to 40k, or should I be changing it before? How much before to be really safe?

[tmx]

The car has a full service history and the belt Just the belt was changed no tensioner or water pump at 80k


98474 miles there is a recipt from Inchape Vauxhall with the complaint of Vehicle Cut out towing caravan at motorway speeds customer reported loud band and total loss of power!

as vauxhall messed up by just changing the belt there is a bill for £2840 for a top end rebuild 2 pistons and a conrod which was billed to vx warrenty services lol

oh and at 98k they actually changed the tensioner and water pump

to answer your question albatros i reckon its the tensioner that fails as i believe its plastic type tensioner correct me please if im wrong!

a good friend of myn had his 2.5 vectra v6s snap at just twenty seven miles past 80k lol poor bloke

[Entwood]

The change point USED to be 80K/8 years probably to keep fleet managers happy, but was changed to 40K/4 years due to a high number of tensioner failures.

I'm no expert but I believe a "belt failure" on its own is actually rare, usually the tensioner fails and the belt gets chewed.

Unless you have POSITIVE proof of a belt + tensioner change I would be very concerned.

[Albatross]

Would the concern lower slightly for a 3.2 which doesn't have a tensioner?

[Entwood]

AFAIK they ALL have a tensioner .. early ones had 2 ....  

[JamesV6CDX]

They all have tensioners and idlers