My lady friend was told her timing belt needed to be changed urgently and the garage kindly offered to do it for £400. I said I would take a look and have found it's a chain not a belt. Car is a 53 plate and has 50k on the clocks. What is the recomended service interval for the timing chain? Don't want to spend £100 on the kit to find it didn't really need doing just yet.

 

I have a corsa with a chain the X10XE which is basically the same engine, and I dont think the chain has ever been replaced, its now at 112k and going quite happily.

What symptoms are there to be told it needs replacing urgently? I know when I did the head gasket on mine the tensioner was busted to replaced it and it was nice a taught again.

 

Come on! You guys not "going steady" yet?

 

Normally, you should hear a rattle if the timing chain is on the way out. Unfortunately it's often hard to hear over the horrendous noise the awful 3 cylinder engine makes anyway

It's actually not uncommon at all for the chains to snap on that engine although as said above, there isn't a recommended interval to change them as far as I'm aware. They can become loose and work their way through the water pump so imo, if it's loose [there's no adjustment iirc] change it.

Give him a break! They've not been courting for very long.

 

Have you checked that it has had it's recall? my sisters got recalled to have the work done (04 plate) free of charge, they also replaced part of the loom - it was part of a massive recall.

Check to see that it has been done and if they still honour it at the dealers first mate.

 

as paddy said, these chains break more often then they should; and its not a great job either

the chain is very thin; alot smaller than a bike chain

i would change it if there isnt any evidence of it being changed before

 

Cheers people.

 

Paddy is that you? the replys are too boring/sensible?

 

we sell about 3 or 4 timing chain kits per week in my work. (motor factors)

get it changed asap. very common for snapping.

Not too dear either if u know where to get the parts.

 

even the 1.3 diesels timing chains snap too. If your doing the chain you will need a cam lock a bit like the zetec one and a timing pin to lock the crank. Cam cover off and timing chain cover to come off.

 

Pic of your new lady friend

so we can see if she is going to shit all over you (not literally)

 

we charge £295 plus vat to change them, they usually stretch due to poor servicing, job takes approx 3.5hrs make sure when they do it they remove the strainer out the sump and give it a good clean before refitting.