Vauxhall Combo van (2002 - ) - 05 1.3 Help! engine failure @ 51,000 miles

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Fri 17 Jul 2009 11:35
05 1.3 Help! engine failure @ 51,000 miles - iain85
Hi,

I have bought an ex royal mail vauxhall combo van on an 05 plate, I bought it with 48,000 miles and put another 3000 miles on it. It has been running fine and was very pleased with it although the fuel consumption seemed to fluctuate a lot with the same driving conditions/style.
On Tuesday I stalled the engine and it would not restart, the breakdown recovery van got it started by using 'easystart' and followed me the rest of the journey home [50miles] and it ran perfect. I tried switching the engine off then on again but it would not start.
The next day the AA came out again and tried starting it using easystart but no joy.

He recommended taking it to the main dealers cathryns in ashford after checking the priming pump pressure at 2 bar and the manifold pressure at 90bar.

Once arriving at the vauxhall dealers in ashford [after the breakdown van towing my hits the brakes to hard causes the torsion bar to pivot and crashing into the back of him!]
They have it on the diagnostics and say that some sensors are out but suspect timing chain fault. I authorise them to inspect further and they say that the timing chain is out and that they now suspect the piston and valves have hit but want 3 hour labour @83 pounds an hour just to confirm the failure. Which would bring the bill up to 550 just to diagnose the fault!

Now the van has full service history which was provided when i bought the van on a spreadsheet indicating location, mileage and date etc. The oil levels were fine and the coolant etc and I told the manager this but he said it was 3 years or 60,000 miles warranty which ever comes sooner. Considering the van is only 51000 miles surely this should not fail like this and vauxhall should fix this?

Can any one offer any advice, I've just set up as self employed and can really not afford this right now.

Kind regards,

Iain

Edited by Dynamic Dave on 17/07/2009 at 16:02

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Fri 17 Jul 2009 13:45
05 1.3 Help! Vauxhal engine failure @ 51,000 mile - geoff1248
A 4 year old Royal Mail van with only 48k on the clock?
Did you buy it directly from Royal Mail, a dealer or at auction?
Who actually did the servicing and can you PROVE that it was done in accordance with the Vauxhall servicing requirements?
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Fri 17 Jul 2009 16:06
05 1.3 Help! engine failure @ 51,000 miles - Dynamic Dave
I told the manager this but he said it was 3 years or 60 000 miles warranty which ever comes sooner. Considering the van is only 51000 miles surely this should not fail like this and vauxhall should fix this?


Sorry, but it's as Vauxhall say:- 3 yrs OR 60,000 miles. You car is older than 3 yrs old and therefore no longer covered by their warranty, regardless that it hasn't yet done 60,000 miles.
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Fri 17 Jul 2009 17:31
05 1.3 Help! engine failure @ 51,000 miles - iain85
I bought the van from a dealer. I have a sheet documenting all the service history conducted at vsw in oxford.
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Fri 17 Jul 2009 21:17
05 1.3 Help! engine failure @ 51,000 miles - topbloke
60 k or 3 years end of argument, however had quiet a few of these timming chain issues but not known them to bend valves, ask them to check and reset the valve timing and see if it starts and runs okay, if it runs okay then it will need a new chain ,tensioners guides etc,regards TB
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