Hi guys the timing chain failure has been a big issue on the 2.2 vectra back here in the UK...... lots of threads about it on www.vvoc.com
Just updated the original post with a DIY investigation option to see if yours has been fixed. I havent varified this myself but its from a knowledgeable source. (Cheers ffoeg of A-S fame)
Ben
Last edited by Nem; 18th January 2006 at 03:53 PM.
Mate of mine up here had his timing chain snap last Saturday. Now he's looking for a replacement engine although I've told him to hit Holden up since they never did the timing chain lube kit while his car was under warranty.
Nem,
That sux big time. I would speak to the dealer and then if they don't help contact holden customer service division and see what they say.
Looks as though Holden are going to be willing to inspect his vechicle to ascertain if the timing chain issue is at fault when he presents his car and service manual. Hopefully he gets a good outcome.
I have been reading the recall notice about the timing chain on the SRi. I am the owner of an SRI 2003 with an engine number of ZSE11183514. I have recently had my astra go into holden because i was driving my car home one day and heard a really loud rattling noise from the engine. I took it to holden the next day and they said that a bolt in the timing chain compartment had stripped and this caused the chain tensioner to come lose and break into a lot of small pieces. My car is 6 months out of warranty and they are billing me $3100 for a repair. On Friday i was called by Holden to say the car was back together all parts replaced but there is still a loud noise coming from the engine but not as bad and they have to investigate further.
After reading this thread i am getting a little conserned that Holden is hiding a failure and charging me for it and in the mean time my engine is getting damaged. Has anyone had a similar nightmare? I have asked the service dep why this happened and they told me "I don't know". My car has passed the 60,000km and is now at 75,000km but at the major service Holden said everything was find with the chain.
I have attached pictures that Holden sent me of the damage. I would appriciate any advice or stories.
Last edited by madman_83; 19th February 2007 at 10:13 PM.
Wow, that is nasty.
From your pic, that looks like the cam chain guide rails. What it looks like to me is that if the bolt did come out, the guide has caught up on the chain and then ripped off and smashed to pieces.
What I would do is send a letter to the manager of the store if the service department are not helping. I would be fighting not to pay for this as 75K klm's is bugger all. Alert them to the fact that this rework and that you will be contacting holden customer direct to get them to intervene if nothing is done.
As for the noise that is still coming from the engine, while we don't know what it sounds like it may possible be that because the timing chain adjustment came loose the valves are damages...... not good and I wouldn't want to be driving around too much with damaged valves because at the speed these things move, if one comes loose your in trouble.
Keep us posted on how you went, as I know this post is a little late.
Last edited by crazyk78; 17th March 2007 at 07:53 AM.
Hi everyone
Here is the latest update to the my saga.
As you may have all read above i had a BIG problem with my timing chain guide coming off and breaking up this resulted in sending little bits of metal through my engine.
Start $2,000
The Holden Dealer where i get my car reguarly serviced was looking at the problem and replaced the timing chain, guides and drained the oil. They put the car back together and suprise surprise the was still a noise so they said i had to have the short engine taken out and looked at. When they did this they found that the pistons and cams were shot and that i would need a new engine.
$4,000 later
Holden Dealer told me that they needed to put definatly a new short engine into the car because the metel that came from the timing chain area had damaged further. At this point i took the service article at the start of this thread to the Dealer and spoke to the Manager there. He looked at the knowledge base article and said " I have never seen this before" i asked him to tell me what was the part numbers of the parts that had failed so i could see if they were the wrong parts that did cause the fault. The Manager said i can't find that out so i than asked how did this happen and they said " We don't know it would be hard to say".
At this point i was getting REALLY ANGRY and told them i fell this is a Holden problem and did not want to pay for it, My car was 7 months out of warranty but if it was still under Holden would have no questions asked done the work for free.
The Manager at the Dealer said that he would contact Holden Aust and see if they would pay for the repair. This only resulted in Holden willing to pay for parts and i had to pay for labour.
Now only $3,000 later
I was not happy with that result from Holden Aust so i told the Manager at the Dealer i would not be paying a cent and will call Holden Aust myself. So with that i called the customer number and told my story to the girl on the phone who told me that 9 times out of 10 the decision that is made will stick so i told her that i really did not care about that and that Holdern would be changing their mind. I got a call back within 2 hours and was told that Holdern will pay for the whole repair.
Finally $0
So i guess i am very luck to get a new short engine for free. The Dealership is saying when i ask how this happened " I don't know" HUMMM a little sus i think.
The end
so to fix my car in the end i needed a short engine and new cyclinder heads and hydrolic arms but now my car is working really well
Well congratulations, its good to see that you finally got what you wanted.
I think thats a win for all of us. Well done.
Hopefully no body has to go to these lengths, but always be persistent with these car dealers they will try to scam you wherever they can.
You must be one persistent person! I've had so many friends tell me stories about holden ripping them off and not budging! One friend took his car for a service and came back to a car with half a front spoiler and one hubcap missing..?Holden made him pay for the new half of the front spoiler and he didn't bother wih the hubcap as he was getting new wheels anyway.
It seems like they will just keep denying the fact they are in the wrong until someone who doesn't have the time to complain just pays up for a blatant mistake by holden..
And they love giving you the parts for free! but making you pay the thousands of $$$ in labour! heard that one too many times! :clap:
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