what happens if your driving and a cam belt goes in a vauxhall vectra?

Answer 1

The valves will hit the pistons and damage the valves also possibly other components.The instruction manual used to say change belt at 80000 miles this was reduced to 40000 by Vauxhall.If you have any suspicions that the belt requires replacing get it done or it will cost nearly as much as a Vectra is worth.Dont just replace the belt the tensioner pulleys should also be replaced its a common Fault with Vectra that cam belts cause problems.Regards Mick UK

Answer 2

The valves will stop and the still moving piston will clout them. This will at the least bend the valves, and worst case scenario will destroy the engine and cylinder head. It all depends what speed the engine is doing at the time. I've seen belts break on start up and a new belt was all that was needed (lucky, but rare).

Answer 3

You immediately wish you had changed it at the recommended mileage as suggested by your service adviser. Then you have the pleasure of arranging for the tow truck to come and take it to the shop where they will evaluate the severity of the problem. You may get by with just a new belt, or there may be some engine damage to the pistons and/or the valves.

At any rate, you will be without a car for a time. If you're lucky they will give you a loaner, if not you'll have to rent one for a bit.

And just before Christmas too. Well, the budget for presents just went down.

Answer 4

First of all the cam shaft will stop and if a valve is down the piston will hit and bend the valve which can hit the cam shaft and seriously damage the cam shaft. Then the valve will shatter the piston which can seriously damage the big end and little end bearings, and it will cost alot to get repaired.

Answer 5

What happens is in nearly all cases the cam shaft strikes a valve when the piston is at top dead centre and bends it sometimes i breaks the camshaft as well , an expensive repair I'm afraid . if your an extremely lucky man and it misses the camshaft then its just a belt change . good luck

Answer 6

modern engines are made to a fine tolerance so you will find there is a good chance you have bent some valves just hope you dont have a 16 valve job like i had on my rover it cost £450 over 9 year ago to replace all valves after snaping cam belt at tick over
hope you have better luck than i did

Answer 7

If the valves do not enter into the piston's 'territory', the car will just stop. If the valves do enter into the piston's 'territory', one of the pistons will come up and ram into one of the valves that wasn't closed because the cam is no longer working. The valve will go right through the piston and/or the valve will break.

Answer 8

Cambelt disasters are usually unpretty and expensive.

GL. Sometimes it can be more economical to get a reconditioned engine put in.

Also get a few quotes, and you might want to think twice about getting the work done at the stealers (dealers). Usually a specialist (ex-GM trained mechanics, usually out of town premises, lower overheads) do exact same standard of high quality work at cheaper prices.

Answer 9

Bye Bye Engine

Answer 10

There'll be a rather unpleasant meeting, valves meet pistons, pistons meet valves, it'll be like a bomb went off in your engine mate.if your lucky and it happens at tickover it might not be terminal, but if you're hoofing it at the time - game over.