Cam Belt Change Astra 2001

Discussion in 'Astra' started by Demon, Apr 19, 2004.

  1. Demon

    Demon Guest

    Any tips or pointers with regards to changing the cam belt on a 2001\ 1.6
    Ecotec Astra?

    Cheers
    (º·.¸(¨*·.¸ ¸.·*¨)¸.·º)
    «.·°·. DEMON .·°·.»
    (¸.·º(¸.·¨* *¨·.¸)º·.¸)
     
    Demon, Apr 19, 2004
    #1
  2. Demon

    mike Guest

    do the tensioners water pump & rollers too>
    if its done more than 40k since last one.
    do it now.

    mike
     
    mike, Apr 19, 2004
    #2
  3. Demon

    Demon Guest

    Thanks for the reply , is there a kit available or is it a trip down to the
    dealer for a ripping off?
     
    Demon, Apr 19, 2004
    #3
  4. Demon

    Alan Guest

    I am biased being a main dealer but I would always use a genuine cambelt
    regardless of the make of the car.

    Vauxhall do a kit for your car. It isn't cheap (around £110 incl VAT?) but
    it is cheaper than buying the belt, rollers and tensioner separately.

    --

    Alan


    New & used Vauxhall cars & vans, servicing, repairs & parts
    www.steeles.co.uk
     
    Alan, Apr 19, 2004
    #4
  5. Demon

    Windy Guest

    Most motor factors can supply a kit of parts, The one I purchased for my
    Omega 2.0 16V was manufactured by Gates. Who I beilieve are a Vauxhall OEM
    suppler as the original belt I took off was marked up with gm logo, part
    number and Gates logo.

    This cost me £70.00 from my local factors and included belt, tensioner and
    two rollers
     
    Windy, Apr 19, 2004
    #5
  6. Demon

    Tony Bryant Guest

    Or he could try autovaux.co.uk, I was recently quoted £55 for a water pump
    for my Astra Diesel estate from a Vauxhall main dealer.
    I paid £19 for one from autovaux, yet their pump looks identical and appears
    to be as well made as the original one.
    I also paid £45 for a RH engine mount from my main dealer, which I later saw
    advertised on autovaux's web site for £16. In your honest opinion Alan are
    these products grossly inferior to the original Vauxhall parts?
     
    Tony Bryant, Apr 19, 2004
    #6
  7. Demon

    mike Guest

    no they do the kits at the dealers (as another msg just said..hehe same
    subject)

    all in id expect to pay 175-225 (maybe cheaper if you supply parts)

    mike
     
    mike, Apr 19, 2004
    #7
  8. Demon

    Alan Guest

    From our experience, the problem with non-genuine parts is the
    unpredictability of the quality.

    I am not saying always buy genuine, only that it is worth checking the
    genuine price, quality & availability rather than just buying non-gen
    automatically.

    There are a lot of good quality non-gen parts out there and there are also
    people supplying parts from the same people who supply the manufacturer.
    Furthermore, there are also people selling off surplus/obsolete genuine
    parts.

    Unfortunately though, for every proper supplier there are plenty of cowboys
    & crooks as well.

    Does anyone remember front wishbones breaking on Cavaliers/Astras? It turned
    out to be non-genuine parts being passed off as genuine. ie fakes. They were
    cheaper though!

    Most people here prefer using Bosch quality wiper blades to something picked
    up off a market stall. That one is easy to tell and it is not a major
    problem if the part differs slightly in size/fit to the original one.

    The question is though, how do you tell with (say) a set of pads and discs?
    Will they last as long? Will they stop the car as well in an emergency? Will
    they fade after excessive use?

    I know I am biased but I value my life and the life of my family and I
    cannot afford to replace the engine on my car when the cambelt snaps early!

    --

    Alan


    New & used Vauxhall cars & vans, servicing, repairs & parts
    www.steeles.co.uk
     
    Alan, Apr 20, 2004
    #8
  9. Demon

    Tony Bryant Guest

    Point taken I will always buy genuine manufacturers cambelts and oil
    filters, like you say it's not worth the risk for the sake of a few pounds.

    Having said that is not totally unknown (if some of these news groups are to
    be believed) of manufacturers having serious problems with things such as
    rollers and tensioners disintegrating well before the specified mileage or
    time for a belt change has elapsed, the remedy usually appears to amount to
    downgrading the period at which the belt and associated components should be
    replaced!

    I also have mixed feelings about alternative replacement parts, especially
    having been in the domestic electronics service industry for many years, it
    was not unusual to find instances such as original video heads wearing out
    in some VCRs after only two or three years, with a OM replacement cost of
    around 50 quid trade, yet a pattern replacement costing around a tenner
    would in many cases outlast the life of the machine!, although other
    components such as clutches and idlers IMO never appeared to be as good as
    the originals. I suppose it's a question of getting to know which parts one
    can use and maintain (and in some circumstances maybe even improve on)
    reliability.
     
    Tony Bryant, Apr 20, 2004
    #9
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