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Hey, I'm new to the forum. Does anyone have any advice on when the Cambelt should be changed? I seem to get conflicting information that frankly confuses me. My car is about 9,000 miles shy of reaching 100,000 miles. No Cambelt change noted in the service history.
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Every 40,000 miles!
Get it done PDQ.
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If it's a first gen Zafira 99-05 then it's every 4yrs or 48k whichever comes first, if it's a second gen then it's 6yrs or 72k though it also lists this model at 10yrs and 100k which may have been shortened to the lower 6yr figure after failures. It is an interference engine which means it will be destroyed if the belt goes.
It's an easy/cheap job in the 1.6 16v Astra it's based on but not sure of access in the Zafira with shorter bonnet so might be more expensive. Last Astra I did with this engine cost me £185 including water pump change which should be done at the same time. Don't scrimp on this! It's already beyond its lifespan and failure would mean stripping it all down again to get to it so do it at the same time.
www.mytimingbelt.com/Results.aspx?ModelId=519
Edited by SLO76 on 30/01/2017 at 23:04
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If it's a first gen Zafira 99-05 then it's every 4yrs or 48k whichever comes first, if it's a second gen then it's 6yrs or 72k though it also lists this model at 10yrs and 100k which may have been shortened to the lower 6yr figure after failures. It is an interference engine which means it will be destroyed if the belt goes. It's an easy/cheap job in the 1.6 16v Astra it's based on but not sure of access in the Zafira with shorter bonnet so might be more expensive. Last Astra I did with this engine cost me £185 including water pump change which should be done at the same time. Don't scrimp on this! It's already beyond its lifespan and failure would mean stripping it all down again to get to it so do it at the same time. www.mytimingbelt.com/Results.aspx?ModelId=519
Can I add to that - the waterpump won't last 2 cambelts, never mind the cost of changing the water pump but when it fails the belt comes off its pulley, wrecking the engine in the same way as belt failure.
Got the T-shirt
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Shame they didn't use the old 8v version of this engine as used in low spec Astras and Cavaliers. It was a non-interference unit and with more low speed pull than the 16v wouldve barely been any slower for most drivers that would want a Zafira. This is the reason so many old Astra G's are still smoking around. A belt failure won't kill the engine unlike the 16v.
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Can I add to that - the waterpump won't last 2 cambelts, never mind the cost of changing the water pump but when it fails the belt comes off its pulley, wrecking the engine in the same way as belt failure.
Got the T-shirt
My Astra has had 2 failed waterpumps, fortunately they just got noisy (bearings going due to coolant ingress). Last one only did 39,000miles.
I've got the z14xe engine and the interval (iirc) was originally 80,000miles then was dropped to 40,000miles due to tensioner failures but, when the new (wider) tensioners are installed they said it can be increased to 60,000miles. Although in my case I changed the lot again when the waterpump failed. Parts (genuine) were less than £80 and I did it myself.
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If it's a first gen Zafira 99-05 then it's every 4yrs or 48k whichever comes first, if it's a second gen then it's 6yrs or 72k though it also lists this model at 10yrs and 100k which may have been shortened to the lower 6yr figure after failures. It is an interference engine which means it will be destroyed if the belt goes.
Those intervals may have applied when the car was new, but it's not new anymore. A common sense approach is what's needed now. Either change the belt periodically which will cost £350ish, or drive it and wait for it to fail and then scrap the car which could be years away. Either way it's a gamble.
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"Those intervals may have applied when the car was new, but it's not new anymore. A common sense approach is what's needed now. Either change the belt periodically which will cost £350ish, or drive it and wait for it to fail and then scrap the car which could be years away. Either way it's a gamble."
We don't know what age it is, all we know is the mileage. Car could still have enough value to warrant it.
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It's an 05 plate. I don't understand most of the replies all very technical! But I gather it's best done soon! I've got my MOT due soon too, so I just hope there's nothing on that to rack up the pounds. I paid £850 for it, so it's worth it to me to get it done rather than run it in. It's also just had a new clutch because the gearbox went. I had the dealer replace the box (he put a secondhand one in though) because I only bought in a month before the box went.
I'll get it done ASAP then.
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The gearbox failed? Unusual on one of these, makes me think it's either been abused or it's done a lot more miles.
But yes, assuming it is running and driving ok and you want to keep it then its long overdue and should be done. Though on a car of such low value that's already had major work I'd be tempted to just run it til it explodes to be honest. That replacement box could've come from anywhere for example and might have done 150k.
My suggestion, get a few quotes for the job including tensioner and water pump, if it's less than £200 do it, if it's substantially more then buy AA cover and run it til it explodes. Don't bother doing it if you don't do the water pump too, it's overdue too and would mean another strip down to remove it when it fails.
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Hi all. I bring up this old thread because I would like to know if the 1.6i engine on the 56 plate is the 16 valve engine? Is there any way for a good mechanic to check the condition of the cam belt without replacing it?
I have just purchased this Zafira, the previous owner owned it for 10 months and doesn't know what a cam belt is, so I assume it has to be done, it's on 85,000 miles?
What do you think about it? thanks
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