How long does a timing belt last?

[Homestar]

So, how long (not how many KM) will a timing belt last? I have just put a car back on he road that has sat around for several years - don't laugh and I'll tell you what it is....

.... It's a 97 Vecra.... (The 2 litre jobbie, so not as bad as the V6 abomination)

Ok, when you stop laughing, it cost me all of $200 and has 170,000KM on it. The PO killed the gearbox and couldn't afford to have it repaired. I've stuck a new box and clutch in it, and with RWC and Rego, it owes me about 2 grand, so a cheap little run about.

The log book shows the timing belt was replaced at 125,000KM, so it's only done 45,000KM, but because the engine was sitting for several years, is this likely to effect the longevity of the belt?

It looks like a PITA of a job, so I'm not about to do it if I don't need to, but I will if I must - I don't want to kill such a sweet running engine.

Cheers - Gav.

[Scouse]

I wouldn't let one go past 6 years on a low km engine but IIRC, the roughly same era Astra had a short belt life of around 60K (not sure on the age limit though).


Is there a date in the log book for the belt replacement?

[Outback 1]

until it breaks lol:D

sorry couldn't resist

[Homestar]

Yeah, it was done nearly 5 years ago.

[Homestar]

until it breaks lol:D

sorry couldn't resist

There's always one in every crowd...:D

[Scouse]

Yeah, it was done nearly 5 years ago.Seeing as it's your favourite car, I'd be changing it quick smart.

[scarry]

My sons girlfriend has a secondhand Astra.No service records at all.She put it in for a service and the mechanic said if the timing belt still had the writing on it,it will be OK for ages.:o

If it was me,yours needs changing,but as said,it is a PITA,but more of a PITA if you leave it and it goes:(

i am sure you know the way Murphy works........

[Outback 1]

YOU NEED TO BE AWARE THESE ARE AN INTERFERENCE FIT SO IF IT BREAKS ITS HEAD OFF NEW VALVES ETC ETC

[Hoges]

90,00km /5 yrs . Time and distance sensitive. I recently did a similar job on SWMBO's 2005 Astra (55,000km/9 yrs ...) For some reason I thought it was a chain driven cam... discovered otherwise while reading a sad (=$$$$) story of one which broke...and the penny dropped...

It's all done via the RHS of the engine. You'll need to remove the front RHS wheel and with a jack under the sump take the weight of the engine (just!) and remove the RHS engine mount. Jack it just enough to take the weight off the mount, any higher and the flex joint in the exhaust breaks...(don't ask:mad:).

You need to set the engine to TDC then insert a plastic extrusion thingo to jam the OHC timing gears in place so as not to stuff the valve timing when you remove the belt. You may as well change the water pump as well. Belts are a very tight fit and there's a bit of a rigmarole to set the tensioner correctly to take account of the inevitable slackening of the belt. You can buy the pump, belt and tensioner as a kit. IIRC "Gates" has a kit which is about 50% of the genuine parts cost. There are several informative forums ...e.g. Opel owners and /or ASTRA owners... The Opel 4 cyl engines share a "similar" architecture.

Once I had all the bits organised it took me about 4 hrs including coffee breaks while I re-read the instructions...:angel: A set of 3/8"drive sockets/extension bars is ample. You might also need a set of Torx bits and Hex keys.

cheers

[Homestar]

Thanks for the input. I'm well aware the engine is toast if it breaks, hence my question. Looks like it is a sooner, rather than later job. I'll get some parts ordered.:)

Cheers.

[Homestar]

My sons girlfriend has a secondhand Astra.No service records at all.She put it in for a service and the mechanic said if the timing belt still had the writing on it,it will be OK for ages.:o

If it was me,yours needs changing,but as said,it is a PITA,but more of a PITA if you leave it and it goes:(

i am sure you know the way Murphy works........

You done a gearbox on one of these - the subframe comes out... Can't get much more of a PITA than that, but yes, I've looked at it, and nothing seems straight forward on these buckets....:D

[scarry]

You done a gearbox on one of these - the subframe comes out... Can't get much more of a PITA than that, but yes, I've looked at it, and nothing seems straight forward on these buckets....:D

Changing fluids and filters is about my limit these days:o:D

If they were nice and simple like the old HZ i would probably have a go,but these days they are just too complicated.

[CaptAwsm]

Mate, pretty sure the 2L would be similar to the Astra motor (Z18XE) and if so fear not. The job is not such as PITA. as you're thinking. Relatively simple in the scale of timing belts, just inconvenient that you have to drop the RHS engine mount and place a trolley jack under the engine.

But other than that, you'll be fine. If you've done a gearbox I feel you're more than capable of doing a timing belt.

Ben.

[Bigbjorn]

I asked about Land Rover rubber bands and was told by a senior person at JRA "50,000 and don't miss".

[Homestar]

Well, some parts ordered, but in true Holden fashion, nothing is easy. Got a timing belt kit ordered and delivered cheap thanks to a mate in the business. It's a Gates kit, which is fine. Went to order the water pump, only to be told there are 2 different pumps for that engine - of course....

Thought I would be smart about it and called Holden parts and have them my engine number and asked for the part number for the correct pump. The reply was 'there's 2 different types for that engine' - I asked if the could determine which mine might have. 'Na, you got to pull it off and check to see if it has a plug screwed in the side of it'.

So, I can't even order the pump until I start the job.... Typical....

[wyll]

ah vectras yeah change the belt now.
they had issues with belts braking and bending all the valves.
water pump for tensioning used to get stuck in the housing and replace the plastic pulleys and idlers. dont realy need any special tools
but were still a nice easy one to replace