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Why has my 2005 Vauxhall Astra engine snapped a camshaft?
My 2005 Vauxhall Astra's engine light came on and the car lost power, and then a loud noise came from the bonnet. I took it to a Vauxhall garage for a diagnostic test, only to be told the camshaft had snapped. The car has only done 48,000 miles and I'm the second owner from new. It has a full Vauxhall service history and I am trying to get Vauxhall to help with the cost of repairs. Any suggestions?
Asked on 2 September 2010 by slick dunc
Answered by
Honest John
This is a standard problem with Vauxhall/Opel 1.0 three-cylinder chain cam, 1.2 four-cylinder chain cam and 1.4 four-cylinder belt cam engines. The bolts holding the camshaft retainers stretch and need replacing with new stretch bolts, and these cost about £80 a set. The real problem comes if any of them snap while you are trying to extract them. In your case it's too late, because the camshaft snapped and if valves hit pistons the engine is probably wrecked.
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