Hi all. This is probably a bit of a pointless rant as I cannot name and shame and it's too late to do anything about it.

I currently own a 2003 Astra G 1.8 petrol. Purchased from a family member in 2010. They'd owned it since 07/08, full Vauxhall service history. It was only on 60 some odd K when I purchased i,t and SH reveals just one cambelt change in it's life.

Unfortunately the water pump wasn't changed and the bearings in it became shot at 79K, just recently. I'm quite handy with a spanner and although I myself had been putting into the main dealer for servicing the last couple of times (I hate working on cars!) I couldn't stomach the bill for this one so decided to fix it myself.

Imagine my surprise upon removing the cam cover to see the intake cam pulley ring gear cracked and half the toothed ring bent outwards by a fairly large amount! I just couldn't understand how this part failed in service in this way but I've now worked it out-it's broken at the timing mark-when I removed it I can see tool marks on the inside edge and (initially missed) corresponding marks on the exhaust cam around the timing mark.

I suspect that the mechanic used a pair of mole grips instead of the proper cam locking tool last belt change and has damaged the sprocket, and of course has kept quiet about it whilst they turn around and charge my old man nearly £300 for the privilege. Prove it you say? Well there's no way in hell the previous owner went anywhere near the oily bits and if the damage existed prior to the last belt change at vauxhall, they'd have said something!

Be wary of Vauxhall dealers in the Peterborough area is all I can say.

Edited by component part on 05/05/2012 at 10:52