#1: Why you should change your cambelt! Author: rob_1990, Location: Cambridge UKPosted: Thu Feb 24, 2011 4:02 pm ---- Well as some as you know by now i have been having problems with my car for the last month or so... It's been at my local garage for the last 2 weeks as it developed into an almost non running state.
The last time i drove it, it lost loads of power and sounded noisy which made me worry. So i slowly managed to make it home. The next day i went to run it up to the garage so they could tell me whats wrong with it when it made a horrible clangy noise and started running on 2 cylinders. A week later they found time to get the head off of it as it failed a compression test.
Once the head was off they noticed a few bent valves! It was then discovered that the cambelt has skipped a few teeth on the cam shaft and put the timing so out the pistons have hit the valves. So as replacing the valves on the engine is a very involved job the garage now have sent the head to an engine specialist to fit the valves. On their inspection it turns out that the valve seats are damaged and the head needs re-conditioning or replacing. Turns out most valves are bent some more than others.
I think they said the pistons and bottom end seem fine, which in a way is good news. They say the cause of the problem is that the water pump may have seized and caused the cambelt to fail.
The horrible thing for me is i had the car booked in for a cambelt change a few days after it went.
Now im faced with a huge bill rather than just a slightly expensive bill for a new cambelt and water pump
Good news is that hopefully the engine will be as good as new when its all back and running. The garage will replace the cambelt, waterpump and the head gasket. Also as i know them well they are doing all the bits at cost price and making it as cheap as possible.
I shall keep you updated on any advances.
#2: Re: Why you should change your cambelt! Author: Seabook, Posted: Thu Feb 24, 2011 4:16 pm ---- sorry to heard that but as far as i know some 180Gti slip their belt as early as 30K!
so you only get the head re-cond?
to be fair it would be safer to check the bottom as well
#3: Re: Why you should change your cambelt! Author: rob_1990, Location: Cambridge UKPosted: Thu Feb 24, 2011 4:21 pm ---- I think they have had the pistons out aswell, i just went and had a cheaky look with the spare key and all 4 pistons are at the same height?? it needs a new head or re-conditioning. i think they will make it like brand new and polish it.
#4: Re: Why you should change your cambelt! Author: macca1411, Location: Westhoughton, LancashirePosted: Thu Feb 24, 2011 4:28 pm ---- I take it the pistons are half way down the cylinder if they are at the same height. It is unlikely that the con rods or the crank will be damaged. I have known valves to leave indentations on the piston crowns, but thats nothing serious. It's amazing how much damage can be caused by the timing being a few degrees out.
#5: Re: Why you should change your cambelt! Author: MrrNoName, Location: UKPosted: Thu Feb 24, 2011 4:49 pm ---- just out of interest, how many miles does the engine have on it? and whats the age of the car ?
#6: Re: Why you should change your cambelt! Author: rob_1990, Location: Cambridge UKPosted: Thu Feb 24, 2011 5:03 pm ---- It has 62k and is a 2004 53 plate.
#7: Re: Why you should change your cambelt! Author: bellevuespares, Location: ManchesterPosted: Thu Feb 24, 2011 5:40 pm ---- whats the cost of repair?
#8: Re: Why you should change your cambelt! Author: Lee., Location: Blackwood, South WalesPosted: Thu Feb 24, 2011 6:40 pm ---- I had my 53 plate done at 49k, just peace of mind I guess. Sorry it went though fella, but could've been sooo much worse!
#9: Re: Why you should change your cambelt! Author: ExoVyper, Location: Waiting for the tugboats to push me into port (Whitehaven)Posted: Thu Feb 24, 2011 7:31 pm ---- just so you know this will jsut be the valves and head as for a valve to damage a piston ( apart from marking the top of the piston) is practically unheard of.
i've known one drop a valve right into the bore and the piston battered the hell out of it but didn't bend the con rods or anything
#10: Re: Why you should change your cambelt! Author: rob_1990, Location: Cambridge UKPosted: Fri Feb 25, 2011 1:56 am ---- Yeah i think the valves took the lot of it, i doubt the bottom end will be a problem. Cost of repair will be about 750 quid. The head is costing £450 to recondition and the garage are only charging me for around 4 hours labour instead of 6-7.
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