Cam Belt Fail

[malagabob]

My sons 53 Vauxhall Vectra developed a loud rattle from the engine, before it broke down. Would you get a rattle prior to a belt fail?
After getting his recovery to get him home Its been found to have a snapped cam/timing belt
Would/could a comppresion test by means of turning the engine over by a spanner show up any valve damage.
I advised him to have a new belt which he had done,when he bought the car 2-3 years ago Looks like the garage took the money and didnt do the job.

[Hymie]

According to Wikipedia, the Vauxhall Victor 1.8L engine produced 88 BHP (admittedly a normally aspirated engine) – todays 1.8L injection engines should easily be producing around 130 BHP, nearly 50% more than the old Vauxhall engine.

[tonyav]

You had to have cubic inches to produce the horsepower in those days, Hymie.

[bednobs]

this has got mr thinking - how could i find out online what the recommended interval was for my car?

[bhg481]

http://www.mytimingbelt.com/

[bednobs]

hmm, my car isn't even on there!

[tonyav]

What car do you own, bednobs ?.

[Zacs-Master]

Better still in a chevette HR.

[bednobs]

mercedes a class

[tonyav]

What year is it, bednobs ?.

[Slapshot]

Ascona 400... Best thing Vauxhall Opel ever made

[tonyav]

Personally I think these were, slappy.
http://wordpress.carthrottle.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/11/lotus-carlton.jpg

[Hymie]

I’m not sure that I believe the info. on the timing belt replacement website.

It lists Mrs Hymie’s Renault as having a change interval of 5-6 years, with unlimited mileage. Whereas I believe that Renault recommends 80k miles or 5 years (whichever comes first).

[sddsddean]

...and I used every one of those 88 bhp hymie!!

[TWR]

Bednobs, I would change at 60000 no matter what, a lot of people think of the cost, obviously we all watch our money but when the dreaded belt goes, you are talking hundreds & in some cases depending on the internal engine damage, Valves hitting the pistons, scoring the sleave ( where the piston rises / lowers within the engine) in a lot of cases you can get away with a rebuild, but I have seen that done but the engine is never the same, if you look at your service book Merc will recommend a Belt change, I would knock 10000 off that but that's me, your car may be chain driven, you need to find this out, chain are very reliable and hardly give problems, you normaly hear when that has an issue with "Slap within the chain casing"

[tonyav]

bednobs, Mercedes engines all have a chain driven camshaft unless your A class is the 1500 diesel version ( it's a Renault engine ) which should be changed at 72,000 miles or 5 years whichever comes first.