I have Vauxhall Astra 1.6, 8v (2001). I have been in touch direct with Vauxhall who advise for this model the cambelt change is recommended at 80,000 miles. It is the 16v version which has been changed to 40,000 miles.
I have been advised that the difference is the tensioner, which is plastic on the 16v and metal on the 8v.
Has anyone had problems/experience with the 1.6 8v version? Should I be waiting until 80,000 as recommended by Vauxhall?
Regards
Crol
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For quite a while now my Vauxhall dealership have an A4 sign on each of the service desks informing that all Vaux cambelts should now be changed at 40,000, and not 80,000 anymore. It applies to all models fitted with a cambelt, with no exceptions.
It's up to you whether you take the advice from whoever it was you spoke to at Vauxhall HQ. But if you are, then I suggest you ring them back and ask for their suggestion in writing, so that you have something to back it up if the belt did snap.
Personally though, I would get it changed at 40,000.
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I have got there recommendation on an e-mail and have saved it. I have subsequently asked what happens if it the cambelt does snap, what warranty will I get if the engine is damaged? still waiting.
thanks for your reply it sounds as though their head office may not know all the facts!
Why on earth do they make cars, that if something like a simple £20 cambelt snaps it can cost a £1000 to repair. Is there any cars out there that this doesn't happen on?
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Why on earth do they make cars, that if something like a simple £20 cambelt snaps it can cost a £1000 to repair. Is there any cars out there that this doesn't happen on?
Well, as it happens, your Vauxhall 1.6 8 valve engine is one of the few engines in modern cars that isn't expensive to fix after a cambelt failure. About the worst that can happen is for a few rockers to snap. These can be changed without any major dismantling.
SWMBO has a 2003 1.6 8v Astra - It will get a cambelt and new tensioner somtime around 40,000 miles, because even though it doesn't cause great damage if it breaks, it is still a breakdown which I would rather avoid.
number_cruncher
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I used to own a 1.6 Astra with an 8v engine (C16SE), I would guess this is pretty similar to your engine. I changed the cam belt myself three times on this car in the belief that a belt failure would have the usual predicable results of bent valves and possible holed pistons, etc. With hindsight I would now also renew the tensioner and water pump too along with the belt which was scheduled at 36K intervals.
I've now got a 2.2 Vectra (Z22SE) with a chain driven cam, supposedly better - except this engine is devoloping a bad reputation for snapping the chain when the lubricator blocks due to dodgy design, but that's another story...
The company I work for runs a 2001 Renault Kangoo van, 1.5 diesel I think, last weekend it snapped it's cam belt at 61K, the scheduled change interval is 72K, so it's failed within it's service life. It has full Renault service history. Renault have offered 20% of the cost leaving a £1700 bill.
Personally, I think the upshot of this is if you want to avoid arguing with manufacturers and want peace of mind, regardless of what the specification says the belt, tensioners and water pump (if driven by the timing belt) should all be replaced at no more than 36K regardless of make, including Ford who I understand say OK for 100K
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number_cruncher
Not knowing much about engines in general, if the rockers snap has this not occurred by the pistons slamming into the valves?
Are these kind of engines likely to continue then? Can they not make them where there's enough gap between pistons and valves, so damage does not occur, or does this affect the performance of the engine in some way?
Crol
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Hi Crol,
With this family of engines, it all depends on compression ratio. The diesels, 16D, 16DA, 17D, etc would always snap rockers upon belt failure. The petrols, 16SH, 16SV wouldn't do any damage at all, except for the higher compression 18SEH.
I don't know what happens with the C16SE, I suspect nothing, but, the worst is that the rockers may snap. The original rockers have a weak section which allows them to fracture and fail in bending (aftermarket rockers don'thave this feature!).
As the valves are vertical, when/if the piston hits them, the valves don't get bent. The weak point in the rocker fails before any serious damage occurs.
Having said all that, I would like to re-iterate, that the vital advice is to change the belt and tensioner at an appropriate interval, rather than speculating about the effects of a failure.
number_cruncher
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Yep, had a pal with the 1.7 diesel Astra 98, his belt went and they just replaced the rockers quite cheaply, and away he went.
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