A question for the gear-heads.

[Bleeh]

I think it should be stated that I've got no knowledge in motors, so you'll have to bare with me.

 

 

 

I've got a vauxhall astra 1.4 merit (1995, yeah, move over loosers.) I started it the other day to a cluncking sound under the bonnet, so I opened her up and part of the large belt attached to the cams on the side of the engine hard started to fray away (About a 5mm thick strip about 15cm long), I know it's not the fan belt so don't say that.

 

I've had a look on the interwebs and I'm guessing it's called a Serpentine belt, but there seems to be alot of names for simular things (timing belt, auxilliary alternator belt, drive belt, etc etc etc), and just to make sure I don't look like a fool using it's American name (Oh to the horror of anyone who ever said 12 gauge so the first thing I'd like to be sure of is this is what this belt is called.

 

Secondly, How long will this last before it breaks? - the nearest car parts shop is about 15 miles away, and is it safe enough to drive on it?, thirdly if it is the belt I think it is, how easy is it to replace (just say easy/hard - there seems to be lots of good info on youtube, so don't write me out an essay).

[fortune82]

I dont have a massive knowledge of engines but I think the belt you are talking about is the cam belt.

 

If it is damaged I would not use the car. If the belt snaps or slips then you stand a very good chance of having your pistons meet your valves!!

 

This would wreck the engins as you tend to bend things like cam shafts, valves etc and on a car of your age the repairs would probably be more than the car is worth. Most car service schedules say change the belt every 60,000 miles or less.

[Paddy Galore!]

I think it should be stated that I've got no knowledge in motors, so you'll have to bare with me.

 

 

 

I've got a vauxhall astra 1.4 merit (1995, yeah, move over loosers.) I started it the other day to a cluncking sound under the bonnet, so I opened her up and part of the large belt attached to the cams on the side of the engine hard started to fray away (About a 5mm thick strip about 15cm long), I know it's not the fan belt so don't say that.

 

I've had a look on the interwebs and I'm guessing it's called a Serpentine belt, but there seems to be alot of names for simular things (timing belt, auxilliary alternator belt, drive belt, etc etc etc), and just to make sure I don't look like a fool using it's American name (Oh to the horror of anyone who ever said 12 gauge so the first thing I'd like to be sure of is this is what this belt is called.

 

Secondly, How long will this last before it breaks? - the nearest car parts shop is about 15 miles away, and is it safe enough to drive on it?, thirdly if it is the belt I think it is, how easy is it to replace (just say easy/hard - there seems to be lots of good info on youtube, so don't write me out an essay).

Hi mate, cam belt will do, usually quite awkward to fix but not difficult, there should be a hole or something in the bottom pulley wheel that locates in the block, that will hold the crank in alignment, you will need to mark where your cam shafts are before you slacken and remove the old cam belt. go on risk it for a biscuit and drive it to the damn shop..

regards, gram..

Edited April 7, 2010 by GRAM71

[JonD]

Hi Mate,

 

I'm no expert but that sounds like the cam belt, timing belt or whatever you want to call it. I'm not familiar with that model but personally wouldn't drive it due to possible engine damage.

 

If it fails it can smash the valves in the cylinder head, some models have machined pistons to prevent this. If it's one that gets damaged if it fails you are looking at having the head pulled, new valves, valve guides, head gasket etc.

 

I would take it to a garage, get them to collect it and at the same time replace the water pump and tensioner if applicable.

 

If you are very handy it's a DIY job, if not get a garage to do it. If you get it wrong the damage could be the same as failure.

 

Jon.

[Bleeh]

Can someone fill in this sentance.

 

 

Hello, I need to buy a ___________.

 

 

I need it's name, what I should ask for.

 

Cheers

[Cookiemonsterandmerlin.]

Cam belts are not normally visable so probley the the auxliary belts .

 

Regards OTH

[Delbert]

I think it should be stated that I've got no knowledge in motors, so you'll have to bare with me.

 

 

 

I've got a vauxhall astra 1.4 merit (1995, yeah, move over loosers.) I started it the other day to a cluncking sound under the bonnet, so I opened her up and part of the large belt attached to the cams on the side of the engine hard started to fray away (About a 5mm thick strip about 15cm long), I know it's not the fan belt so don't say that.

 

 

 

Secondly, How long will this last before it breaks? - the nearest car parts shop is about 15 miles away, and is it safe enough to drive on it?, thirdly if it is the belt I think it is, how easy is it to replace (just say easy/hard - there seems to be lots of good info on youtube, so don't write me out an essay).

 

If its fraying do it now before you do some damage, because I don't know how bad it is I won't say how long it will last

the other bits (just to poke fun) the belt runs round the pulleys (not cams) on the alternator bottom of the engine and the water pump and it is certainly more than 15cm (6 inches) most spares shops will know what you need if you ask for a the alternator drive belt is it is a V profiled toothed belt

in which case you are probably looking at part

[JonD]

Can someone fill in this sentance.

 

 

Hello, I need to buy a ___________.

 

 

I need it's name, what I should ask for.

 

Cheers

 

A timing belt, plus water pump and, belt tensioner & spring (extra cost but if either fails can cause the same damage and not expensive)

 

If you don't know what it's called you also need someone to fit it unless you know what TDC, BDC and own a timing light and know how to use it... oh, and a bottle of Tipex.

 

If you don't know what the Tipex is for you really need to get a garage to do it, should be a 90 min ish job.

[Paddy Galore!]

Can someone fill in this sentance.

 

 

Hello, I need to buy a ___________.

 

 

I need it's name, what I should ask for.

 

Cheers

cam belt for a crappy old astra! give year, engine size and type ie twin cam 16v, or 8v(petrol or diesel) and model.

[Paddy Galore!]

Bleeh, you're not far from me, what you up to tomorrow? need a hand? pm me.

[Imperfection]

Cam belts are not normally visable so probley the the auxliary belts .

 

Regards OTH

 

I agree.Unless the cambelt cover on side of engine has been removed-you shouldnt be able to see it.If it is the cambelt i'd advise getting it sorted before it snaps cos it'll end in tears.Any shop like Halford sell them and just give them the engine number.

 

However,it might just be the belt for the power steering and alternator which is a simple job.Most of the time you just need a spanner and a block of wood to push the alternator out a wee bit to keep it under tension while tightening.Dont get it too tight though cos it will destroy the bearings inside alternator-you should be able to twist the belt half way.

[Bleeh]

Alright. let me be more clear on this.

 

 

Firstly, type 'Serpentine Belt' into google, this is what it looked like, I'm just checking that, that is what it is, and what it is called here in the UK.

 

Secondly, The belt was quiet long, I reckon about 2m long but it's hard to say when it's wrapped around like that. The thing about the 15cm long bit was the strip that came off.

The main thing I'm trying to do here is just to clairfy what part I'm on about, so I can look deeper into the problem.

 

Cheers

 

Andrew.

[Tam]

Has it groves all the way round or cogged teeth

[Imperfection]

Firstly, type 'Serpentine Belt' into google, this is what it looked like,

 

That is an auxillary belt and not hard to fit.Multi-rib belts though arent cheap.

[hodge911]

do the the ribs run across the belt or do the ribs run lengthways if they run lengthways its a muti ribbed aux drive belt if they look like teeth and run across ways its a timing belt but having said that you normally dont see the timing belt without removing timing cover .

if its the aux drive belt its tensioned by a spring loaded automatic tensioner a tip is to make a drawin of the pullies and the route the belt takes around them .

if you want more info i,ll try and get some pics off my autodata disc and post them on here

[stokie]

It would seem to be the auxilulary belt that drives . Alternator power steering and air con . Worse case senario if it snaps Your steering will go heavy and eventually you will get a flat battery .

 

If you really are not a practical person leave it to a garage as the belt will have to be tensioned correctly and will only probably cost about £50 to fix

If you fancy you chances then go to the auto spares shop and ask for the auxiluary belt to fit you make and model a belt will probably be about £15

Then follow this link . If it doesnt work copy and paste it in your search engine

 

 

www.automedia.com/Serpentine_Belt_Replacement/ccr20030801sb/1

[Edward]

As said before the timing belt\ cam belt shouldnt be visable. it sounds like the auxillary belt. not to hard to fit. you should be able to twist the belt 90 degrees. but a new belt will stretch so you will have to adjust it after a while

[SSS]

Has the car got power steering or air con? If it has, it sounds to be your auxilliary drive belt, I guess it used to be called a fan bel, but it is also known as a 'serprntine belt'. If it hasn't got power steering or air con, it may be the cam belt, but they are normally underneath plastic covers.

[MicMac]

I think it should be stated that I've got no knowledge in motors, so you'll have to bare with me.

 

 

 

I've got a vauxhall astra 1.4 merit (1995, yeah, move over loosers.) I started it the other day to a cluncking sound under the bonnet, so I opened her up and part of the large belt attached to the cams on the side of the engine hard started to fray away (About a 5mm thick strip about 15cm long), I know it's not the fan belt so don't say that.

 

I've had a look on the interwebs and I'm guessing it's called a Serpentine belt, but there seems to be alot of names for simular things (timing belt, auxilliary alternator belt, drive belt, etc etc etc), and just to make sure I don't look like a fool using it's American name (Oh to the horror of anyone who ever said 12 gauge so the first thing I'd like to be sure of is this is what this belt is called.

 

Secondly, How long will this last before it breaks? - the nearest car parts shop is about 15 miles away, and is it safe enough to drive on it?, thirdly if it is the belt I think it is, how easy is it to replace (just say easy/hard - there seems to be lots of good info on youtube, so don't write me out an essay).

 

 

First post on this forum and its nothing to do with pigeons.

 

hi mate cam belt is the best thing to ask for without sounding like an anorak when you take it to the garage. pretty sure the cam belt on them old astras runs the water pump so like someone has said its not worth havin it done without changing that. wouldnt attempt it yourself if you dont know what your doing if you get it wrong its expensive. your lookin between £100 to £150 ish on the price depending on parts

 

hope this helps

[Mungler]

Couple of questions:

 

1. do you like the car?

2. how many miles on the clock?

 

If your car is nearing the end of its MOT, has a load of miles on the clock and has / is developing other problems then I would just get yourself some AA cover. There's no point spending any money if it's not going to last, you don't like it or it's got other issues.

 

If the car's got over 85k on the clock and you know the cam belt / chain has never been done then it's going to need doing if you are going to keep it.

[Markio]

A timing belt, plus water pump and, belt tensioner & spring (extra cost but if either fails can cause the same damage and not expensive)

 

If you don't know what it's called you also need someone to fit it unless you know what TDC, BDC and own a timing light and know how to use it... oh, and a bottle of Tipex.

 

If you don't know what the Tipex is for you really need to get a garage to do it, should be a 90 min ish job.

 

With all due respect if you don't know what your looking at how do you know how to replace it, and even that you've diagnosed the problem correctly? Take it to a garage.

[ME]

Can someone fill in this sentance.

 

 

Hello, I need to buy a ___________.

 

 

I need it's name, what I should ask for.

 

Cheers

 

 

 

...suspender belt :blink:

[Bleeh]

Couple of questions:

 

1. do you like the car?

2. how many miles on the clock?

 

If your car is nearing the end of its MOT, has a load of miles on the clock and has / is developing other problems then I would just get yourself some AA cover. There's no point spending any money if it's not going to last, you don't like it or it's got other issues.

 

If the car's got over 85k on the clock and you know the cam belt / chain has never been done then it's going to need doing if you are going to keep it.

 

 

1. No, but I'm not too bothered, it's till october for the MOT, then it's either Scrappaged (if that's still about) or I'm going to shoot it with a semi-auto .22.

2. It's on 149,300 miles, I know this because I'm excited to see it flip over to 150k. - Hurrah.

 

 

I've got the part, it was the Alternator/Serptentine belt. I'll be having a go at it as I'm pretty practical person, who just happens to know nothing about cars. It seems like a pretty simple job.

 

Alright, thanks for everyones help, I'll let you know how I get on,

[Paddy Galore!]

hello mate, i should be free tomorrow afternoon, if you need some help give me a bell and i'll drive over.

[Cookiemonsterandmerlin.]

I've got the part, it was the Alternator/Serptentine belt. I'll be having a go at it as I'm pretty practical person, who just happens to know nothing about cars. It seems like a pretty simple job.

 

Alright, thanks for everyones help, I'll let you know how I get on,

 

Bleeh

 

This post goes show how a well intended question asking for help could if you listern to some of less knowledgeable car mechanics you would have been buying a cam belt.

 

It was clear from your description of the belt that it was not the cam belt so for all who think they know it all this is stark warning that ill informed advice could cost another forum member money or worse still if you was given advice about brakes etc or somebodys life.

 

I am not trying to start a war just pointing out giving good advice over the forum without really knowing what your on about is not that good.

 

Kind regards OTH

Edited April 8, 2010 by Over the hill