[capn sparkle]

Here's a tricky one!! Thought I knew the answer to this question, surely always better to have a cam chain (never have to replace them) rather than a cam belt (replace when service interval says 100,000 miles or so).

But.... on my 2008 ex AA Vivaro .. brilliant van up until last Friday .. the bloody cam chain snapped (for the mechanics @ 1600 rpm out of gear)

What sort of engine / valve damage can I expect?? (how longs a piece of string)

Actually!! My real question is!! How much is it gonna cost? And how long will it take to fix?? 



HELP!!!

[Soupy]

Never had a cam chain snap, have seen them slip though (round one cog on one cam). Engine fooked.

[Michael Peterson]

Seen a couple snap normally they rattle first get tightened about every six years cam belts when changed rant really a problem most are around 70k some are more, both chain and belt are fine as long as you service and look after the vehicle

[capn sparkle]

I had a 2ltr Primera 150hp EGt for 8yrs and thrashed the &^%$ out of it no probs...

Been gentle with me vivaro n this happens

[Michael Peterson]

Your valves you must assume will be bent, I would look for a complete second hand engine first, then if not the top end will need replacing timing belt etc you MIght aswell replace the turbo as well while the engines out, head will get sent away to be skimmed.
I would say you will pay a good garage around 2000 maybe 2500 which is a nightmare but the van is worth more than that

A new engine will be fitted in a day
Reconditioning the engine a week maybe two depending on how quickly the head comes back to you

[Michael Peterson]

You also have to consider that something might have been blocked or seized and made the chain jump a cog and snap make sure this isn't the case because it will happen again get someone to diagnose what happened and sort it as well check water pump oil filters

[Michael Peterson]

There seems to be loads of affordable engines on ebay

[Lee GLS]

The problem with the ex recovery vans is that they may say they have only covered a certain number of miles of the clock, but they also spend an awful lot of time left running on tickover which is still the equivalent of doing mileage. They should do all the service items before the manufactures recommended mileage as they spend a lot of time in tick over.

As for the damage to your engine, they will not know the extent of the damage until they take the head off, it may just be a couple of bent valves, or it could be all of them.

I spoke to a mechanic when I get work done on my transit and asked him about the vivaros, and one of the common problems apart from the injectors was the cam belt/chain failing on them.

[Lee GLS]

http://www.vauxhallownersnetwork.co.uk/index.php?threads/cam-chain-fail.363310/

[capn sparkle]

Lee GLS and Micheal P

Thanks for that - Pretty much where I am now!

Luckily a mate owns a garage (not that I don't trust him) 

When it went I just heard a 'click' nothing more...

If I'm lucky and no valves have been clattered does the head have to be skimmed after every removal or just new gaskets fitted??

[Lee GLS]

No the head does not need skimming, just new gaskets.

[Clever Forum Name]

I think you will have about a 98% chance of a total FUBAR engine.

Having had my chain go and snap in April I was talking to the vauxhall mechanic and he said the way the engines are designed. The pistons AND rockers break.

When we took mine apart I could literally pick parts of the head out from within the head.

My new van has a chain and will be done at 50k.

[capn sparkle]

I'm 'quite' mechanically minded Lee..

A diesel ticking over when the engine is warm (AA in lay-by) no real discernible wear, would surely be better than one that's been thrashed from cold by a numpty on his way to work?

Actually that's what I used to think - not so sure now  

[capn sparkle]

Thanks Pure - that's what the mechanic said

Over n Out

J.D time

 

[Lee GLS]

I'm 'quite' mechanically minded Lee..

A diesel ticking over when the engine is warm (AA in lay-by) no real discernible wear, would surely be better than one that's been thrashed from cold by a numpty on his way to work?

Actually that's what I used to think - not so sure now  

It's not so much the wear, it's the fact that the oil does get changed according to the mileage, so the quality of the oil is breaking down, and does not have the lubricating qualities or should do, and in turn leads to wear.

With some of these cam chains the are a wet chain and use the engine oil as a lubricant, so if the oil has gone past it's best then it's will not be lubricating properly.

The other thing is even on tick over the chain is still in operation so it is still being used.

It may not be this that has caused the failure, it does seem like a common thing on the 2.0 vivaros for the chain to fail

[dave0123]

The main wear is when you start your van in the morning and drive off straight away! before the oil has had time to get around the engine properly. Sometimes you will hear a rattle in the morning before the oil has got up to the chain tensioner, i always let mine tick over for  a good 5 minutes before i pull away as your supposed to anyway.

[Clever Forum Name]

The main wear is when you start your van in the morning and drive off straight away! before the oil has had time to get around the engine properly. Sometimes you will hear a rattle in the morning before the oil has got up to the chain tensioner, i always let mine tick over for  a good 5 minutes before i pull away as your supposed to anyway.

If you drove the van it would get up to temp far quicker and actually do less damage. It's been proved time and time again. It's better to get the engine up to temp as quick as possible. Obviously not thrashing it. But just driving it. 

[dave0123]

If you drove the van it would get up to temp far quicker and actually do less damage. It's been proved time and time again. It's better to get the engine up to temp as quick as possible. Obviously not thrashing it. But just driving it.

I am not talking about leaving it ticking over for ages! just a couple of minutes otherwise your driving it when the oil may not even be around the chain.. how is that good for it?engines warm up fairly quickly anyway these days.  The 2.4 transit duratorq engine is big on this problem because the chain tensioner is is crap! spring is rubbish wares really fast and there's no force there on engine switch on  and then the chain rattles and jumps a cog.

[Diamond standard ltd]

The main wear is when you start your van in the morning and drive off straight away! before the oil has had time to get around the engine properly. Sometimes you will hear a rattle in the morning before the oil has got up to the chain tensioner, i always let mine tick over for  a good 5 minutes before i pull away as your supposed to anyway.

If you drove the van it would get up to temp far quicker and actually do less damage. It's been proved time and time again. It's better to get the engine up to temp as quick as possible. Obviously not thrashing it. But just driving it. 

Each to there own  but I would sit on tick over for a few minutes to let the oil pump to the top of the engine.

[Michael Peterson]

different vehicles different pumps some instant some not