Club 80-90 Forums

Broken cambelt, or slipped cambelt... potemtially expemsive, until stripped can't know how much damage has been done...

msmallc wrote:Can anyone help just brought a diesel camper and the chap has told me that it broke down because he thinks the timing was out and the rac man told him the valves might be damaged can anyone shed a bit of light on this as i dont want to spend a fortune on getting it fixed if itys beyond repair many thanks glenn

If its a 1.6 its probably worn out anyway, it would be cheaper and more sensible to stick a 1.9 in. If its a 1.9 with a snapped belt don't even think of repairing it, a real can of worms.

Sounds like a broken cam belt mate. If the cam belt breaks the valves have more than likely had a collision with the pistons ! If your not paying a fortune for the van I would fit a new belt and give it a try, you may be lucky because sometimes the valves and pistons do not collide. Possibly at the worst you are looking at a head rebuild. Is this something you could do ? If you lived within a few miles of Ipswich I would give you a hand. Good luck and if the van is cheap go for it. The price for the repair plus what you are paying for it ought to be cheaper than a runner in the same nick, if you see what I mean

peteabbott wrote:Sounds like a broken cam belt mate. If the cam belt breaks the valves have more than likely had a collision with the pistons ! If your not paying a fortune for the van I would fit a new belt and give it a try, you may be lucky because sometimes the valves and pistons do not collide. Possibly at the worst you are looking at a head rebuild. Is this something you could do ? If you lived within a few miles of Ipswich I would give you a hand. Good luck and if the van is cheap go for it. The price for the repair plus what you are paying for it ought to be cheaper than a runner in the same nick, if you see what I mean

I have never come accros any vw diesel with a broken belt that has not done damage, piston and valve clearnace is tiny. Pistons are VERY common for collasping on 1.9's after belt breakage, smashed cylinder heads is also common.

Sorry about my last post, sounded a tad optomistic ! BUT I have got away with a broken belt on 1.7d KY. Must have been one of the rare lucky ones then.......

Thanks lads for the great response the cam belt is not snapped so will this mean some other problem do you think,.

As said above, it coud have 'slipped' or the pump moved but that description is a bit 'iffy'...

Can anyone help just brought a diesel camper and the chap has told me that it broke down because he thinks the timing was out and the rac man told him the valves might be damaged can anyone shed a bit of light on this as i dont want to spend a fortune on getting it fixed if itys beyond repair many thanks glenn

So, all turd hand information!

'thinks'
'might'

What are the symptons then, an how did it break down, you don't say if it was going when you bought it...

Sorry lads was in a rush earlie anyway just gone to check the van again and got my boy to turn it over so i can watch the engine and it dont look good...The alternator and belts on it are turning when i turn it over but the main cambelt and wheels seems to be jammed any ideas.I have just brought this van as it was cheap and wanted it for the iterior but dont want to strip it if i can save the engine hope this helps and someone can shine some light on it ...I live in east sussex so anyone who knows about the diesel engine and got a spare 5 mins.....