Mk3 Cavalier Owners Club | Vauxhall Cavalier Dot Com

Robsey wrote:Which lends more weight to my cynicism.

These cars usually need to be neglected or abused to blow the gasket... although any gasket can fail after a lengthy period or moderately high mileage.

It had crossed my mind to be honest. I'll know if it's been bodged soon enough

Phone call from mechanic confirms it's NOT bad news.
No cracks and head is only slightly warped so all is good
In a way it's done me a favour as the timing belt crumbled when he took it off so new timing belt kit is going on as well as a manifold gasket.

Good news on the head.
Lucky the belt didn't fail in service, otherwise it would have needed a replacement engine.

Hopefully you'll be doing what you should be doing in the Cav by the weekend.
That is - getting some cruising done.

Robsey wrote:Good news on the head.
Lucky the belt didn't fail in service, otherwise it would have needed a replacement engine.

Hopefully you'll be doing what you should be doing in the Cav by the weekend.
That is - getting some cruising done.

I'm just grateful it will be sorted by the weekend as it's my daughters 21st on Sunday so I'll have the "Dad Taxi" back in action to pick her up from her drunken night out at 3am Sunday morning

Ewww!!
Could get messy - best get some protective seat covers.
Unless she is good at upholstery cleaning.
Soon find out if she is a quick learner - ha ha.

Robsey wrote:Ewww!!
Could get messy - best get some protective seat covers.
Unless she is good at upholstery cleaning.
Soon find out if she is a quick learner - ha ha.

Hahaha!

She's a good drunk to be fair and so are her mates.
3 years of playing taxi and no accidents.
Lucky sod doesn't even suffer hangovers.

IT'S ALIVE
Had it back at 10.30 this morning and all is good.
Can start on the rest of the little issues now

Nice one been looking forward for an update on this one nice find by the way I bought mine for £600 with 45K miles on the clock.

Steven715 wrote:Nice one been looking forward for an update on this one nice find by the way I bought mine for £600 with 45K miles on the clock.

Cheers.
Mine has cost me that now. I thought I was getting an absolute bargain when I knocked him down to the purchase price.
Still, I'm happy with what I have for 650...I still class it as a bargain

Well...It's officially been pronounced dead

Damn ... what happened ...

Mazza wrote:Damn ... what happened ...

Timing belt snapped whilst driving
I'm hoping it's going to be salvageable but gotta wait for the mechanic to look at it

Oh dear.
Let's hope there aren't too many bent valves.

James McGrath wrote:Oh dear.
Let's hope there aren't too many bent valves.

I hope not as can't afford another car yet and rely on my transport to get out and about as I'm disabled

Oh bugger!!

The thought makes me cringe.
Typical Cavalier - one hassle after another.

I'd be gutted if mine snapped.

Hopefully the damage is minimal...and nothing more than the odd bent valve.

That way, not much more expensive than a head gasket replacement with the price of a few valves thrown in.

Robsey wrote:Oh bugger!!

The thought makes me cringe.
Typical Cavalier - one hassle after another.

I'd be gutted if mine snapped.

Hopefully the damage is minimal...and nothing more than the odd bent valve.

That way, not much more expensive than a head gasket replacement with the price of a few valves thrown in.

I'm hoping it's nothing major as I've only had it since January and it's already cost me £600
I'm afraid if it's more than £100 this time around it's getting sold as scrap and I'll have to go without a car for a few months as I'm not working so can't afford to spend any more on it

That's a damn shame

Did you replace the water-pump with the timing belt kit ?
The only time I've had the head gasket blow (18 yrs x20xev) was with a water pump that seized up and damaged the belt. Bent a lot of valves that day!
Ended up getting a head from the scrappies for £50, cheaper than new valves alone (also let me clean up & grind valves indoors- it was a January- luxury!)

I do find it strange a new belt would snap when correctly fitted if the pump's ok.......

I hope it all works out for you

Have a word with the mechanic who did the head gasket back in January.
He should have replaced the belt at the same time. If it was fitted incorrectly then it's his fault.

Mechanic has just left...it is the belt that's gone but he says that the tensioner has also seized solid. Would this have caused it?
He showed me the tensioner and it's knackered.
Also the mechanic who came out is a family friend and nothing to do with the original fitting of the belt so has no reason to say it's not the belt at fault

Sounds like the belt has been replaced but not the "kit" i.e. rollers and tensioner. Does the seized tensioner look new?
If so I'd say manufacturing fault possibly, if not then it's just been a belt change. Did the mechanic say he'd fitted the kit?
I'm surprised he didn't suggest changing the water pump too, it's only 3 small bolts and there's easy access when the flywheel's off
I'm with James on this, seems like you need a word with the mechanic

I'm waiting for him to call me back. I only seem to be able to get his voicemail at the moment

Ok....been told it could be the water pump that's caused this so which pump would I need to get?
There's 2 showing up on euro car parts and both look different to each other

ITS NOW BEEN PRONOUNCED DEAD.
ITS UP FOR SALE NOW AS SPARES OR REPAIRS SO ILL LIST IT IN THE CLASSIFIED SECTION

That is really sad news.



I am assuming it is going as a whole, as I cannot see you being physically able to / wanting to strip it for spares.

Robsey wrote:That is really sad news.



I am assuming it is going as a whole, as I cannot see you being physically able to / wanting to strip it for spares.

Yeah it's going as a complete car. Think I may have a new owner for it. Will find out later today