9 replies to this topic

[Garry.L]

Anyone know if the above lump (circa 2000) is cam belt safe, ie will the valves hit the pistons if the belt went? I know earlier Vaux lumps were 'safe' but not sure about the above. TIA

[Zoobeef]

Picked 2002 to look at and the Y16XE, Z16SE and Z16XE are all interference engines so most likely to strike the valves. Is yours one of those or do you have the engine code?

[two4oneuk]

I'm sure they were safe at a low rev break. Done a few years back when in astar's and cavaliers. Try a new belt and do a compresion test before running to give you an idea.

[Zoobeef]

Try a new belt and do a compresion test before running to give you an idea.

May be lucky and will save you alot of work

[Garry.L]

Cheers Guys.... Not an engine problem as such.... I've just bought a realy nice 99 plate 1.6 Astra for our son, car is very tidy with one owner and only 60K on the clock, it has full history but nothing in actual writing to say the belts been done - hence the question. I remember many years ago having the previous model Astra to the above with the 8 Valve OHC engine and this one was 'safe' as such. Thanks again.

Edited by Garry.L, 13 June 2010 - 01:39 PM.

[two4oneuk]

Astra ('98-'04) Part Number Retail Trade Trade Club Cam belt kits 1.6 8v 93188126 £43.90 £39.56 £37.19 Cambelt 1.6 8v 90531677 £18.65 £15.88 £12.06 Prices for cambelt and kit from vauxhall all +vat

[soupdragon]

The XE engine numbers above are 16v Get a cambelt kit, it's not worth doing the belt without replacing the tensioner etc in the kit The Vaux trade club kits are cheap and easy to fit if you know one end of a spanner from the other

[slindborg]

in my experience with the 1.6 8v (and its great experience ) I would get the NON auo tensioner kit and get just the belt (shorter one), and a waterpump with new seal. The auto tensioners, even when new make the belt flap around like a whores undies

[soupdragon]

Not had any probs with the std Vaux kit myself, though mostly 16v stuff to be fair

[slindborg]

the tensioner stuff works well on the 16v kit, but on the 8v its just rubbish Watched the cam belt dance all over the 8v cam pulley on many engines with NEW autotensioners.... feck knows what it would have been like with the cam belt cover fitted chewing up the belt