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  1. #1
    First Team Breakthrough The Weeman's Mum's Avatar
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    NHC:Car Mechanical Advice

    Looking to get advice from any mechanic. I have a Chevy Lacetti Estate originally an motability car that is for my son. Recently, it broke down with no warning. Towed to my garage, who found the timing belt was slack and therefore no compression to the engine. They were going to charge me for a minimum 8 hours labour to strip the engine to see what was happening. They did not try another belt to see if that would get the engine started. It is a 88/90 model which is why they wouldn't touch it.We need this car for our family for appointments here and in Glasgow for my son as he uses a wheelchair. And to make things worse, my husband has just become ill with Dementia, (he is 52). I am looking for any assistance to find someone who could look at the car to see if it can be fixed without costing me a fortune. By doing so, it gives me a bit of breathing space to arrange a replacement Motability car that requires nil or low deposit. Ideally current car when working would be used as a trade in. Looking for a break. Thanks


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  3. #2
    First Team Breakthrough RCNG's Avatar
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    Bump.

  4. #3
    @hibs.net private member blackpoolhibs's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by guyll123 View Post
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    Bump.
    A mechanic AND a panel beater now.

  5. #4
    @hibs.net private member I'm_cabbaged's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by blackpoolhibs View Post
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    A mechanic AND a panel beater now.
    Shouldnae laugh, but 😂

  6. #5
    Modern cars fitted with a timing belt fall into two categories, non-interference and interference.
    On a non-interference engine, if the timing belt breaks the engine simply stops immediately and a new belt can be fitted and everything is fine again.
    On an interference engine, if the timing belt breaks, it again stops immediately but the pistons are likely to hit and damage the cylinder valves which often will show up as a lack of compression. Should this happen it is possible to look into the engine through the spark plug hole with an instrument known as a borescope and check on any internal damage. The other alternative is to remove the cylinder head which is more time consuming.
    If the engine internals are damaged it can be an expensive job to rebuild that particular engine, often it is cheaper to fit a reconditioned or second hand engine, particularly on older cars.
    For your car, I don't know if it is interference or non interference but a main dealer would be able to give you that information from the car's registration number.
    Timing belts normally need changing every 3-5 years. Has this one been replaced recently?

  7. #6
    Coaching Staff Glory Lurker's Avatar
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    Two car threads on the main forum? There's a hilarious in joke here that I'm just not up to speed with, isn't there?

  8. #7
    Testimonial Due mca's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by Glory Lurker View Post
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    Two car threads on the main forum? There's a hilarious in joke here that I'm just not up to speed with, isn't there?

    Thought it was About a Certain Player !!! But Now i Think its Something to Do with Firing on All Cylinders !!

  9. #8
    @hibs.net private member blackpoolhibs's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by mca View Post
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    Thought it was About a Certain Player !!! But Now i Think its Something to Do with Firing on All Cylinders !!
    Will you jack it in matey, or you will get this thread the boot.

  10. #9
    First Team Regular The Pointer's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by blackpoolhibs View Post
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    Will you jack it in matey, or you will get this thread the boot.
    In a roundabout way I see what you're getting at.

  11. #10
    @hibs.net private member snooky's Avatar
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    Ffs boys, gi'e the guy a brake.

  12. #11
    @hibs.net private member Jim44's Avatar
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    Stop car pun on about it. The pun police will be along any minute.

  13. #12
    @hibs.net private member lord bunberry's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by THEWEEMAN View Post
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    Looking to get advice from any mechanic. I have a Chevy Lacetti Estate originally an motability car that is for my son. Recently, it broke down with no warning. Towed to my garage, who found the timing belt was slack and therefore no compression to the engine. They were going to charge me for a minimum 8 hours labour to strip the engine to see what was happening. They did not try another belt to see if that would get the engine started. It is a 88/90 model which is why they wouldn't touch it.We need this car for our family for appointments here and in Glasgow for my son as he uses a wheelchair. And to make things worse, my husband has just become ill with Dementia, (he is 52). I am looking for any assistance to find someone who could look at the car to see if it can be fixed without costing me a fortune. By doing so, it gives me a bit of breathing space to arrange a replacement Motability car that requires nil or low deposit. Ideally current car when working would be used as a trade in. Looking for a break. Thanks
    In my experience it will cost you more than the car is worth to fix it. If you look on gumtree you will find loads of cars for really cheap prices. I have to get the timing belt changed every 75k on my taxi and that costs around £400 when the vehicle is running fine. If the timing belt has gone your car will probably need a full engine rebuild. Sorry to be the bearer of bad news, but it's highly unlikely you will be able to fix it on a budget.

    United we stand here....

  14. #13
    If it's damaged the interior of the engine, I'm afraid you'll probably be looking at a tow to the scrappies.....Unless you are able to source a replacement engine and at a decent price.

  15. #14
    @hibs.net private member Hibbyradge's Avatar
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    I dont want to clutch at straws, but if the previous few posts are any indicator of what's to come, I'd get your sat nav looked at too cos you're way off course.

    The Dug out forum is that way >>>>>>>>
    Buy nothing online unless you check for free cashback here first. I've already earned £2,389.68!



  16. #15
    First Team Breakthrough The Weeman's Mum's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by Magnus View Post
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    Modern cars fitted with a timing belt fall into two categories, non-interference and interference.
    On a non-interference engine, if the timing belt breaks the engine simply stops immediately and a new belt can be fitted and everything is fine again.
    On an interference engine, if the timing belt breaks, it again stops immediately but the pistons are likely to hit and damage the cylinder valves which often will show up as a lack of compression. Should this happen it is possible to look into the engine through the spark plug hole with an instrument known as a borescope and check on any internal damage. The other alternative is to remove the cylinder head which is more time consuming.
    If the engine internals are damaged it can be an expensive job to rebuild that particular engine, often it is cheaper to fit a reconditioned or second hand engine, particularly on older cars.
    For your car, I don't know if it is interference or non interference but a main dealer would be able to give you that information from the car's registration number.
    Timing belts normally need changing every 3-5 years. Has this one been replaced recently?
    Thanks for the advice. The belt was replaced. It is an interference engine. Because it was only cranked over once after the belt became slac, a mechanic seems to think there may not be any damage to the engine so is going to tighten the adjuster and belt to see if this works. Hoping for best. But being realistic too.

  17. #16
    First Team Breakthrough The Weeman's Mum's Avatar
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    [QUOTE=BullsCloseHibs;4828957]If it's damaged the interior of the engine, I'm afraid you'll probably be looking at a tow to the scrappies.....Unless you are able to source a replacement engine and at a decent price.[/QUOTE

    Thanks.Engine not been looked at yet.

  18. #17
    First Team Breakthrough The Weeman's Mum's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by Magnus View Post
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    Modern cars fitted with a timing belt fall into two categories, non-interference and interference.
    On a non-interference engine, if the timing belt breaks the engine simply stops immediately and a new belt can be fitted and everything is fine again.
    On an interference engine, if the timing belt breaks, it again stops immediately but the pistons are likely to hit and damage the cylinder valves which often will show up as a lack of compression. Should this happen it is possible to look into the engine through the spark plug hole with an instrument known as a borescope and check on any internal damage. The other alternative is to remove the cylinder head which is more time consuming.
    If the engine internals are damaged it can be an expensive job to rebuild that particular engine, often it is cheaper to fit a reconditioned or second hand engine, particularly on older cars.
    For your car, I don't know if it is interference or non interference but a main dealer would be able to give you that information from the car's registration number.
    Timing belts normally need changing every 3-5 years. Has this one been replaced recently?
    Thanks

  19. #18
    First Team Breakthrough The Weeman's Mum's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by I'm_cabbaged View Post
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    Shouldnae laugh, but 😂
    To be honest, somewhere I can laugh about this after everything my family has been through recently. Ps: I am the Mom of the Weeman in my User name.

  20. #19
    @hibs.net private member snooky's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by THEWEEMAN View Post
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    To be honest, somewhere I can laugh about this after everything my family has been through recently. Ps: I am the Mom of the Weeman in my User name.
    Good advice from Lord Bunberry above.
    I drive an old car (02) and it's a great wee runner. I've seen similar ones on Gumtree for about £500.
    Rather than pay for a new timing belt, cam shaft and whatever else you need, might be better going for the afore mentioned option.

  21. #20
    @hibs.net private member I'm_cabbaged's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by THEWEEMAN View Post
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    To be honest, somewhere I can laugh about this after everything my family has been through recently. Ps: I am the Mom of the Weeman in my User name.
    To make it clear I wasn't laughing at your situation, it was at that bad man BH 👍

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