Omega Owners Forum - GM BELT TENSIONER FAILURE, AGAIN, GRRRR

ffcgary1

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GM BELT TENSIONER FAILURE, AGAIN, GRRRR
11. Dec 2009 at 19:49

Although not an omega this is a vectra b with the X30 3.0 ltr engine, and is owned by my brother in law, His car was originaly a 2.5 but suffered tensioner failure and destroyed a good motor by punching a hole in one of the pistons, so i had a X30 engine sitting in my garage and offered it to him as a replacement, Before we fitted it and while it was on an engine stand it was fitted with a new oil cooler and Gen vx belt Kitand replaced all orings and intake seals where needed.
The engine was fitted by a pal who works for vx and the car ran absolutly fantastic untill a couple of weeks ago when it started to missfire and run like a pig
The belt tensioner had collapsed and the belt became lose and jumped 6 teeth and caused valve damage to the rear bank of cylinders. Because the betl was loose it flapped about and the torx bolt just above the tensioner munched grove in the belt.
The new TENSIONER HAD DONE JUST 12,000 MILES........
Why are gm not supplying parts that will reach the spec'ed change intervals, it is a scandal that we as owners do everything that vx say we should do and then the parts that we buy are as good as a chocolate teapot.
So the situation is as we type a dead vectra and gm laughing it's guts out..... i AM VERY p*****d off.
So is my brother in law. Angry

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Jimbob Global Moderator Admin Team Offline Third nipple removal completed succesfuly Posts: 20462 Chester / Flintshire Gender: Drives: 52 3.2 MV6 Estate & 98 3.0 MV6 Manual Estate	Re: GM BELT TENSIONER FAILURE, AGAIN, GRRRR Reply #1 - 11. Dec 2009 at 19:55 Feel for you, I KNOW that feeling, not good at all.
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Marks DTM Calib Administrator Offline Ex Member Posts: 25671 Northern Hemisphere Gender: Drives: Astra J, Mum Bus, Dexta Tractor, 108 DMU wip	Re: GM BELT TENSIONER FAILURE, AGAIN, GRRRR Reply #2 - 11. Dec 2009 at 19:57 My question is......was the tensioner nut properly torqued up using a torque wrench, was the proper locking kit etc used and was the tension set right?
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ffcgary1 Omega Baron Offline I really must get my eyes seen to. Posts: 2263 Mitcham,Surrey. Gender: Drives: 2.5 v6 tourer, 2000 4.0 straight 6 jeep cherokee lpg	Re: GM BELT TENSIONER FAILURE, AGAIN, GRRRR Reply #3 - 11. Dec 2009 at 19:59 Yes mark, the gen vx locking kit was used and nut torqued, i watched him do it so ii know that was all as should be.
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tunnie Over Active Poster Offline Posts: 22520 London, W3 Gender: Drives: 2.2 CD (LPG'd) & BMW R1200 GS	Re: GM BELT TENSIONER FAILURE, AGAIN, GRRRR Reply #4 - 11. Dec 2009 at 20:24 i have had the beginning of tensioner failure too! brand new GM belt kit, correctly torqued tensioners, squeeking like hell, so replaced the whole kit. That had done 27k, so again very early!
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marie Omega Baron Offline i am a hands on person, i like to get stuck in !!! Posts: 2255 Somerset Gender: Drives: 2ltr 16v gls gas converted	Re: GM BELT TENSIONER FAILURE, AGAIN, GRRRR Reply #5 - 11. Dec 2009 at 20:34 I have had the same, the tensioner managed to get half way through its life buts its bl@@dy lucky i cought it in time. The job was done correctly when it was changed in 2007 as a famous OOF'er did it for me.
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Del Boy Omega Lord Offline Posts: 9381 Ashford, Kent. Gender: Drives: Various things.	Re: GM BELT TENSIONER FAILURE, AGAIN, GRRRR Reply #6 - 11. Dec 2009 at 21:26 Can't believe mine managed 80k
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Kevin Wood

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Re: GM BELT TENSIONER FAILURE, AGAIN, GRRRR
Reply #7 - 11. Dec 2009 at 23:17

Gary, when you say "The belt tensioner had collapsed" what was the exact failure mode? I can see that the bearing might fail, the spring tensioner could go limp or the bolt could work loose. Just wondering, if the failure mode were known, whether potential duds could be spotted or additional meaures taken to avoid failure.

Hi Marie Smiley

long time no see! How's it going?

Kevin

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Omegadoha, Desert Member Omega Knight Offline Posts: 1357 Doha, Qatar Drives: 3.2 V6 2002	Re: GM BELT TENSIONER FAILURE, AGAIN, GRRRR Reply #8 - 12. Dec 2009 at 09:42 Mine was changed for the first time earlier this year, after 142,000Kms.
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ffcgary1 Omega Baron Offline I really must get my eyes seen to. Posts: 2263 Mitcham,Surrey. Gender: Drives: 2.5 v6 tourer, 2000 4.0 straight 6 jeep cherokee lpg	Re: GM BELT TENSIONER FAILURE, AGAIN, GRRRR Reply #9 - 13. Dec 2009 at 14:49 Kevin, the ballraces have failed because the seal keeping the bearings lubricated had leaked the grease out and thus bearings had overheated and failed.
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Kevin Wood Global Moderator Admin Team Offline Posts: 20377 Alton, Hampshire Gender: Drives: 3.2 MV6 (LPG), Westfield	Re: GM BELT TENSIONER FAILURE, AGAIN, GRRRR Reply #10 - 13. Dec 2009 at 22:06 ffcgary1 wrote on 13. Dec 2009 at 14:49: Kevin, the ballraces have failed because the seal keeping the bearings lubricated had leaked the grease out and thus bearings had overheated and failed. Ooh. That's not good. Kevin
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ffcgary1 Omega Baron Offline I really must get my eyes seen to. Posts: 2263 Mitcham,Surrey. Gender: Drives: 2.5 v6 tourer, 2000 4.0 straight 6 jeep cherokee lpg	Re: GM BELT TENSIONER FAILURE, AGAIN, GRRRR Reply #11 - 13. Dec 2009 at 22:27 What is most annoying is that GM know that the bearings that they are using are crap. but they still keep bunging em out knowing that if they fail they will just keep washing their hands of the problem. Our problem not theirs.
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Lazydocker Omega King Offline Victim of Pinky's Power Trip! Posts: 11336 Woodbridge, Suffolk Gender: Drives: 2003 3.2 Elite Estate LPG Converted, inspected and Certified	Re: GM BELT TENSIONER FAILURE, AGAIN, GRRRR Reply #12 - 13. Dec 2009 at 22:40 Glad I used a Gates kit... Although I must confess I think I'll be changing it early... I've done 30k on it already and it'll be due changing just when I'm busiest
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JamesV6CDX Omega Baron Offline Posts: 3202 Gloucestershire Gender: Drives: 2002 (02) 3.2 Retail MV6 in Star Silver with Leather	Re: GM BELT TENSIONER FAILURE, AGAIN, GRRRR Reply #13 - 13. Dec 2009 at 22:46 ffcgary1 wrote on 13. Dec 2009 at 14:49: Kevin, the ballraces have failed because the seal keeping the bearings lubricated had leaked the grease out and thus bearings had overheated and failed. That is the mode of failure I usually see too
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Kevin Wood

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Re: GM BELT TENSIONER FAILURE, AGAIN, GRRRR
Reply #14 - 13. Dec 2009 at 23:03

ffcgary1 wrote on 13. Dec 2009 at 22:27:

What is most annoying is that GM know that the bearings that they are using are crap. but they still keep bunging em out knowing that if they fail they will just keep washing their hands of the problem. Our problem not theirs. Angry

Do you know what brand of bearings it had ?

I wonder if it's worth sourcing decent bearings and replacing them?

.. or just use Gates / SKF / Contitech kits...

Kevin

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