Taxi Driver Online

Water pump went on the motor last night and took the timing belt with it. I can feel an empty wallet coming on.

what cab Nigel??

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IDFIMH

Vectra Skip. I thought they were chain driven but according to the AA who pulled me in they changed them back to belt a few years ago.

Aww that's cr*p I hope it doesn't hurt too much I don't really understand what's happened other than the vehicle is no poorly and needs a car doctor, that's one of the reasons I only keep my vehicle for 3 years. I don't suppose that'd help you tho cos you probably still do over the milage allowed to stay within the warranty

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Note to self: Just because it pops into my head does NOT mean it should come out of my mouth!!

If you have bent some valves, you may as well get an exchange head. I did mine on my vectra and it cost me around £250 for the head and the new belt and stuff and took about 4 hours to change it myself. Remember, it is only nuts and bolts not rocket science.

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Grandad,

That would be near a grand at the stealer's
Would it be better just to get a low mileage engine out a scrappy and swap the whole unit, then you can check the clutch at the same time, and fit new belts

It's looking that way Skip, all the valves have bent so it looks like a big job could be a week before I get back on the road.

Try these.

http://www.megavaux.co.uk/Default.aspx

This is where I got my exchange cylinder head from. Honestly, it is not that difficult to do it yourself.

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Grandad,

The head is OK it's the valves, belt, water pump that have committed suicide.

Overhead valves rule ok?

there are many OHC cambelt engines that can take a snapped belt with no valve damage, years ago my 1600cc montego belt went, just needed a belt fitting

theres a magic garage book that details many jobs and says what damage can occur, and how long each 1 takes

if the head comes off it needs skimming before refitting

the old transit 2.5di could lose a belt and often just need a £25 cam follower kit

progress? what progress?

The valves are in the head. If you take your head off and take it to megavaux they will give you a nice shiney new head complete with the valves, cam shafts and gaskets. You then fit this along with a new waterpump and belts and away you go.

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Grandad,

Mmmmm might give them a go. I've emailed them for a price I'm waiting for them to get back to me when they open.

We'll have to wait and see when the head comes off in the morning. The AA said when the belts go on the Vectra's it's a massive job to fix them.

You want to hope the valves have not taken a dislike to the pistons