Re: 5000S Engine dead

[broberg@cpg.mcw.edu]

I made the wonderful 6 foot long socket that fits in the harmonic balancer at the front 
of the engine. Works for V8, too.  It is hollow so that the approximately 1-1/8 inch 
socket can fit inside to remove the balancer bolt.  For 300 + foot punds of torque you 
really need the long handle device.  You may not need this much if you are only 
adjusting the belt, but you will need it to remove the belt.
Roland


On Fri, 14 Jun 1996, Paul.Heneghan@bbc.co.uk (Heneghan,Paul) wrote:
>A couple of months ago, my Avant lost a lot of power suddenly.  This 
> eventually turned out to be the cam belt.  It had jumped one notch.  I 
> think this would also lead to loss of compression - (I didn't measure 
> it at the time).
>
>I diagnosed the fault by observing the vacuum on the econometer - it 
> never went very low any more.  When I attached a 10UKpound vacuum 
> tester to the engine - the dial indicated "valve timing retarded" (the 
> scale went from OK to late ignition to valve timing retarded).  I 
> didn't really believe this, so I then checked the timing marks on the 
> cam and the flywheel, and they were out by one tooth!  I reset the 
> belt, and the engine ran like a dream.
>
>The problem was obviously due to a loose cam belt.  I have tightened it 
> up (what a stupid adjustment, having to loosen the water pump and lose 
> all your antifreeze, just to tighten a belt) and now my water pump is 
> producing an alarming rattle at idle - has anyone come across this 
> type of failure before?
>
>BTW, if my cam belt had jumped by more than one tooth, would the piston 
> have met the valves?  The engine is a 2144cc 5cylinder non turbo (I 
> think the engine code is WC).
>
>The same week that my cam belt jumped, exactly the same thing happened 
> to my friends Opel Kadett (Vauxhall Astra).  He was told that it was 
> probably due to a stone getting between the belt and a toothed wheel.
>
>Final question - how do you lock the engine without the special tool.  
> Can you wedge a screwdriver against the teeth on the flywheel?
>
>Paul
>paul.heneghan
>1984 80q
>1983 Avant
>
>
>
>
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   | Roland Broberg, PE                     |       e/mail:  broberg@cpg.mcw.edu    |
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