Timing Belt Failure

[voyeur]

Only had the beast a few weeks and something gave up while on the M27 this afternoon... Nice RAC man tells me its the timing belt... When I bough it the P.O. told me it was just replaced...!!!!

RAC Recovered me to local ISUZU garage (Botley) to be told ... If it is the timing belt I will need a NEW ENGINE.... $£!7....... Anyone know the score???... Merry Christmas as they say..

[MSHardeman]

There has been a good bit of debate on this, but from the last thing I remember we have a non-interference engine, at least the 3.5L is, not sure about the 3.2L, but don't see why it would be different. With that said, hopefully everything is OK in the engine and you'll just need to replace the timing belt, and get the timing back in sync.

I'm sure someone with much more knowledge than me will chime in soon.

[Scott Harness]

we have a non-interference engine.
x2 That's what I always thought

[tom4bren]

If the timing belt went that soon after replacement then it's likely that the shop did not replace the tensioner. I've reused tensioners in the past but against my better judgement (but lucked out anyway).

I'd contact the previous owner & find out the whole story behind the timing belt replacement.

Also find out if the water pump was replaced when the timing belt was. You should always replace the water pump at the same time.

[voyeur]

Cheers boyz.... He says it was defo replaced... I will ask about the other bits

thanks again

fingers crossed..


will get back with any news as and when

[crotchrocket]

**** mate, sorry!! Dont forget the engine from the Isuzu Trooper and the Vauxhal Frontera B are the same and available everywhere.

[voyeur]

Cheers CR...

The local Isuzu garage 3 miles from where it broke was worse than useless so I left it on the transporter and asked them to take me home with it... (the very nice man didnt even try to charge me as he was heading that way).....

Will try looking for Frontera bitz... The belt is available for £15 which is cheaper than the Serpentine belt... The Frontera tensioners I have seen don't look the same tho...

[VX KAT]

Don't let them tell you it's absolutely an interference engine!!! CHECK INTO IT FIRST.
I had this discussion with my mechanic who had this brand new shopmanual that "stated" my 3.5l WAS an interference......NO it's not. So you've got to check with some authority. I don't know if this is your 3.2l or not....but it was wrong for our 3.5...it may be wrong for yours too.
http://www.vehicross.info/gallery/data/500/DSC_0883.JPG

http://www.vehicross.info/gallery/data/500/DSC_0877.JPG

http://www.vehicross.info/gallery/data/500/DSC_0878.JPG

http://www.vehicross.info/gallery/data/500/DSC_0874.JPG

[crotchrocket]

Send a PM to greasemonkey . He's the UK parts guru and often supplies me with Vauxhall branded parts for my engine.

Do you know if the engine is dead??



Cheers CR...

The local Isuzu garage 3 miles from where it broke was worse than useless so I left it on the transporter and asked them to take me home with it... (the very nice man didnt even try to charge me as he was heading that way).....

Will try looking for Frontera bitz... The belt is available for £15 which is cheaper than the Serpentine belt... The Frontera tensioners I have seen don't look the same tho...

[Ebenezr]

What is meant by "interference" when talking of the engine? Does this mean pistons hitting valves if the belt slips?

[voyeur]

OK so the belt is still in one piece, but the tensioner was trying to exit stage left...... I have new tensioner on order but as the retaining bolt looks like this:

http://www.vehicross.info/gallery/showphoto.php/photo/19527/ppuser/4431


I am a bit stuck as to know what is a sensible option as awkward to drill in-situ...??

The Crankshaft pulley doesn't want to come off... the bolt undid fairly easily with very short tommy bar and 4lb lump hammer... but does it require a puller to remove the pulley as mine appears stuck fast?


a couple of the plastic cam belt covers are damaged around the tensioner location... are these easy to get hold of??

The tensioner bolt failure plane looks like it has a fatigue crack on it...!!! although I'm no metallurgist...

[voyeur]

http://www.vehicross.info/gallery/showphoto.php/photo/19527/ppuser/4431

[voyeur]

http://www.vehicross.info/gallery/data/500/thumbs/DSC01478.JPG (http://www.vehicross.info/gallery/showphoto.php/photo/19528)

[voyeur]

http://www.vehicross.info/gallery/data/500/thumbs/DSC01475.JPG (http://www.vehicross.info/gallery/showphoto.php/photo/19527)

any idea how long this bolt should be... before I drill through to No 1 cylinder bore?

[VXorado]

I think I have a spare at home. I can measure it for ya later tonight if no one else knows

[VXorado]

http://www.vehicross.info/gallery/data/500/medium/100_0542.JPG http://www.vehicross.info/gallery/data/500/medium/100_0545.JPG

[voyeur]

Cheers.... looks like 3/4".... or perhaps 20mm...

thanks for this... i will get back when I get around to having a go at drilling it out...!!!

[voyeur]

needed a puller to get crankshaft pulley off...

[voyeur]

Fractured cam belt tensioner pivot pin. Remnants still in Block.


http://www.vehicross.info/gallery/data/500/thumbs/DSC01499.JPG (http://www.vehicross.info/gallery/showphoto.php/photo/19535)

[Greasemonkey]

hi its not very long about 17mm - and its been over tightened !!!! no other reason - lets take into account it doesn't hold the tensioner on lol its just a bolt which the tensioner rotates around - so its not a tensioner problem -
you will find the bolt section should just turn out - as its not a tightened bolt like i said - use a reverse drill bit or a nice branded punch the tuen it out no need to drill - i have some drill bits from snap on which would be perfect to snag it and turn it out
regards
Steve

[johnnyapollo]

Drill and use an easy-out. Be careful not to mar the threads in the block when you drill your pilot hole. It shouldn't be too bad - the bolt is large enough. I'm not sure how hard the steel is in the tensioner but from the way it sheared it's probably not case-hardened. Just take things slow.

For the plastic covers - you should be able to find those in a junk yard from any of the other 3.2 or 3.5 motors in Isuzu/Holden/Etc vehicles (also Honda Pilot/Acura MDX).

-- John

[voyeur]

back from break with family so getting back under the hood....

thanks for the tips guys... I drilled and used easy-out....

http://www.vehicross.info/gallery/data/500/thumbs/DSC01599.JPG (http://www.vehicross.info/gallery/showphoto.php/photo/19596)

as it had snapped it wasn't very tight and came out relatively easy (as Greasemonkey suggested)... put cam belt on last night... (kit from Rock Auto... dead impressed with price and quality)... then took it off again... then put it on again... feels like good compression over 2 revolutions so hoping valves are OK.... will try to get some timing covers before the weekend..

cheers again

david

[blacksambo]

Remember for the 3.5L the factory mannual for cam timing is off. You must go by the later issued service bulletin data sheet to get the cam timing right...for 3.5L. I don't know about the 3.2L, though.

[voyeur]

Only managed to source the lower timing cover which had been the most badly damaged... repaired the upper Left and Right with superglue for a trial and it fired up first time using the standard timing set up:
Crank - notch to mark on oil pump RHS line on belt LHS
Odd bank - spring to 12 O'clock index on cam cover then leave
Even bank - spring to 9 o'clock then rotate 90 degrees to 12 O'clock index on cam cover

and gotta give another plug for Rock Auto who got parts to the UK the week before Christmas when all UK deliveries were stuck in the snow. QUALITY


I guess we might also conclude that as my tensioner "fell off" while in the fast lane of the M27 the 3.2 JDM is non-interference...