Timing chain

julio arca

This morning I dropped my 05 Opel Astra (circa 150,000 km on the clock) in for it's first service since I bought it last October. The car is rarely used and has done maybe 5,000 km in the last 14 months.

The garage (a tyre centre which is on my way to work) rang me around lunchtime saying that the timing chain needs to be replaced and they would advise against a service until this was done. The garage does not provide this service so I am satisfied that it is not an attempt to squeeze out some money.

I understand the timing chain is a common problem with these cars and can run for years before it actually goes. I rang around a couple of garages and got one quote of €610 to have this replaced.

My questions are:

Is there any point spending this money on a runaround that is only worth circa €2,000?

Where do I go from here re putting the car through an NCT etc?

Cheers.

corks finest

julio arca wrote: »

This morning I dropped my 05 Opel Astra (circa 150,000 km on the clock) in for it's first service since I bought it last October. The car is rarely used and has done maybe 5,000 km in the last 14 months.

The garage (a tyre centre which is on my way to work) rang me around lunchtime saying that the timing chain needs to be replaced and they would advise against a service until this was done. The garage does not provide this service so I am satisfied that it is not an attempt to squeeze out some money.

I understand the timing chain is a common problem with these cars and can run for years before it actually goes. I rang around a couple of garages and got one quote of €610 to have this replaced.

My questions are:

Is there any point spending this money on a runaround that is only worth circa €2,000?

Where do I go from here re putting the car through an NCT etc?

Cheers.

Nothing to do with the nct,AFAIK,but I'd get it done, of it was me,good selling point later

Waterson

There are indeed issues related to timing chains on the 1.2 litre engine, usually as a cause of oil starvation or incorrect oil viscosities being used. This job can be done for a lot less than €610 however, using genuine timing chain kit and guides.