We were recently given a 1998 1.6SE Daewoo Nubira (free). It's in generally immaculate condition, save for the odd scratch and thumbnail-sized dink here and there. The engine, gears, bodywork, electrics and interior are all in really good condition, and the car only has 43K on the clock. However I am aware that the value of these cars is pretty much nowt regardless of condition.
What I'd like to know is, how much of an issue is this cambelt/tensioner thing on GM Ecotec engines? The car has a partial service record, but I don't see any evidence of the cambelt ever having been done. The car is going in for its test/service next week, and I'd like to know people's ideas on whether it's worth spending the £200 that it's going to cost to get the work done on the belt. Obviously if it struggles on the test I won't bother (as this is a sure sign of a car that is not long for this world), but if it flies through then it's a fairly safe bet that the car will run for another 2 or 3 years yet, and I suspect that's exactly what is going to happen.
So, (1) is the cambelt snapping issue rare or common on a car of this age and engine model, and (2) is there record of them snapping anyway, even if the work is done? I would guess that any experience of any GM 16V 1.6 would be relevant here, so Daewoo/Opel/Vauxhall.
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sounds like the perfect bangernomics car to me. Get the MOT done and if it passes well get the belt done regardless.
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If the car passes its MOT, then I would put a belt, the tensioners and a new water pump on (the water pump is driven by the belt), and then relax for another 40,000 or so.
Yes, they do fail - typically because a tensioner pulley or the water pump fails, and takes the belt with it.
If you give it a service, the service parts are cheap from the Vauxhall dealer - it's not worth getting spurious service parts for these. Also, their oil is good quality and is good value for money.
Number_Cruncher
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Thanks -- we'll see what happens Monday...
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It may not be comparing like with like but I've just given up a 1996 Astra 1.6 (8v) that I've driven from new with 145k on the clock. The engine was still driving like new when I let it go to a deserving home yesterday - always had an oile and filter change at 10k and the belts renewed at 40k. GM parts have never let me know on this car - even the original battery only gave up at 9 years and 100k.
Sounds as if you've bagged a real bargain for nothing.
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jase , im in the same boat (car) or (either if you live in tewksbury) with my misses lanos, it had a new cambelt at 40k but its just passed the 60k mark i was wondering weather to get the cambelt done as a matter of course to be on the safe side but i wasnt expecting it to be quite so much, dont fancy trying to do it myself even though the camchain i replaced on my fiesta a couple of months ago is still ok, ive had conflicting stats for belt change intervals, one was 40 k then the next one at 60k and the other was every 60k the latter being from a workshop manual cd and the other from the owners hand book !!
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Milkyjoe, most GM petrol engines of that vintage require 40k/4 year belt changes. If 4 years have passed since the last belt change, I'd get it done. Simpler arrangement on an 8-valve engine too (which I assume your Lanos is), so potentially less £££ to cough up.
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thanks for the info gregswain i will look into the cost this week, if i can finish early one day i,ll have a shoofty round the local indies and get a quote from vauxhall as well
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>>get a quote from vauxhall as well
While the price of the parts and consumables is OK from Vauxhall, I can't imagine their labour costs being anywhere near competitive - worth asking though!
Number_Cruncher
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