2005 Opel Astra H 1.4 timing belt and NCT

Romana86

Hey guys,

My NCT approaches, but alas I lost my job recently and short on money. Long story short, I need the car and I want to have it pass the NCT, so I'm changing two tyres on it that are worn down and that already costs a lot money alone so was thinking of looking into timing belt but was wondering if it actually is needed to be changed at all before NCT?

Is there like a test they do and is it possible my car could fail the NCT if I don't change it? The car sounds good to me and it runs real well for a 2005 car, so was wondering if there is a way I can skip the timing belt part just till I manage to find a job to then get it changed?

Also, any other things that needs to be done before NCT that are a must?

johnayo

Whats the make and model

endacl

johnayo wrote: »

Whats the make and model

And the mileage?

There's no specific test for timing belt OP, but if it needs doing, get it done. Would you manage without a car until you get a new job if the engine goes bang? If the car has a belt and it goes wrong, it won't just go a little bit wrong. On an '05 car it won't be worth fixing.

Romana86

johnayo wrote: »

Whats the make and model

It's an 2005 Opel Astra H 1.4

It's close to reaching 200,000 mile mark, I bought it a couple months and the previous owner has changed the timing belt themselves, just not exactly sure when. They also have shown me the previous NCT certs and it has shown that the car has passed without any issues.

Romana86

endacl wrote: »

And the mileage?

There's no specific test for timing belt OP, but if it needs doing, get it done. Would you manage without a car until you get a new job if the engine goes bang? If the car has a belt and it goes wrong, it won't just go a little bit wrong. On an '05 car it won't be worth fixing.

True, but see, I've to chose between installing the new timing belt or eating for the next two weeks

This is why I was wondering if they test it in any way and how likely it is a car to fail NCT from timing belt really?

Just so I can push the damn thing a few weeks and save up and install the timing belt first chance I get.

johnayo

Romana86 wrote: »

True, but see, I've to chose between installing the new timing belt or eating for the next two weeks

This is why I was wondering if they test it in any way and how likely it is a car to fail NCT from timing belt really?

Just so I can push the damn thing a few weeks and save up and install the timing belt first chance I get.

The belt wont be checked at NCT. But if the belt should break at any stage, then the engine will be toast.
You pays your money and takes your chances, as they say.

Midnight_EG

That car has a chain, not a belt, wouldn't worry about it unless it's rattling it's head off.

Guy:Incognito

Safe to assume anything the person you bought it from told you, was lies. I'd take it as read that anything there isn't specific receipts for, isn't done. Have you had it serviced since you got it? I'd be working off the assumption that the oil and filters are older than they should be.

Romana86 wrote: »

, I bought it a couple months and the previous owner has changed the timing belt themselves, just not exactly sure when. .

Midnight_EG wrote: »

That car has a chain, not a belt, .

tuxy

So you baought a car with a timing chain and they said they changed it for a belt before you got it?

I'd be very worried, that engine will only run with a chain a belt will not drive the camshart!

Romana86

Midnight_EG wrote: »

That car has a chain, not a belt, wouldn't worry about it unless it's rattling it's head off.

I was actually trying to find that out, I assumed that it had a timing belt not a chain. I suppose having a car with a chain is worse than having one with belt, right?

I apologize for so many questions, Im just trying to learn more.

tuxy

Romana86 wrote: »

I was actually trying to find that out, I assumed that it had a timing belt not a chain. I suppose having a car with a chain is worse than having one with belt, right?

I apologize for so many questions, Im just trying to learn more.

No it's better, you never have to change the chain unless it develops a fault. It wears very little over the lifetime of the engine as it is lubricated by the engine oil.
A belt will always wear and needs to be changed as regular intervals.

Romana86

tuxy wrote: »

So you baought a car with a timing chain and they said they changed it for a belt before you got it?

I'd be very worried, that engine will only run with a chain a belt will not drive the camshart!

Not exactly before I got it, but they said they changed it, they were foreign with not great English as well. However, I didn't even know myself that the car had a chain instead of a belt.

Romana86

tuxy wrote: »

No it's better, you never have to change the chain unless it develops a fault. It wears very little over the lifetime of the engine as it is lubricated by the engine oil.
A belt will always wear and needs to be changed as regular intervals.

Awesome! That's not bad news at all, I'm just surprised it has a chain, I assumed it had a belt.

Not questioning your knowledge here, but was wondering is this a standard in all Opel Astra h 1.4 or is it possible some cars actually have the belt instead of the chain?

tuxy

Romana86 wrote: »

Not exactly before I got it, but they said they changed it, they were foreign with not great English as well. However, I didn't even know myself that the car had a chain instead of a belt.

If it really was changed it was because it was faulty, the new chain is fine once the engine is running correctly it will never need to be changed again.

The guy who sold it to you may not have known it was a chain either and told a lie, if it had a belt it would need to be changed and it's a relativetly expensive job.

Romana86

tuxy wrote: »

If it really was changed it was because it was faulty, the new chain is fine once the engine is running correctly it will never need to be changed again.

The guy who sold it to you may not have known it was a chain either and told a lie, if it had a belt it would need to be changed and it's a relativetly expensive job.

I'll have to try and check of there is a way somehow?
Any suggestions on how to do so?

tuxy

Romana86 wrote: »

I'll have to try and check of there is a way somehow?
Any suggestions on how to do so?

No need to check, this is the 1.4 engine in all Astras of that year

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/GM_Family_0_engine

Chain driven.

Midnight_EG

Romana86 wrote: »

I'll have to try and check of there is a way somehow?
Any suggestions on how to do so?

Like I said, unless it's rattling there's nothing to worry about. Chains are common in the 1.4s to rattle so it was probabky done. And no, they couldn't swap it with a belt, and yes all 1.4 came with chain. It's the 1.7 that's a belt.

Romana86

Midnight_EG wrote: »

Like I said, unless it's rattling there's nothing to worry about. Chains are common in the 1.4s to rattle so it was probabky done. And no, they couldn't swap it with a belt, and yes all 1.4 came with chain. It's the 1.7 that's a belt.

Many thanks guys! I appreciate all the help!

Jb1989

Maybe the meant the fan belt just, if their English wasn't great.

Hellrazer

Romana86 wrote: »

I'll have to try and check of there is a way somehow?
Any suggestions on how to do so?

Pm me the reg and Ill see if theres any history on it for you.

Hellrazer

For transparency - The car is actually a 1.8 Astra. Timing belt due @ 150,000k or 6 years.