225,000 Miles - Then Cambelt Snaps!

[jamie_st200 1]

Hi people,

 

December last year i bought a 1.9 gti with 225k on the clock. I drove it home and parked it up. 3 months later i try and move it and it cuts out, start it again and its cuts out again. Crank it again and it sounds different and does not start. I popped the dizzy cap off and its not going round so im guessing the cambelt has snapped! Whats the chances of it not causing any damage? Im guessing zero. I was going to just swap the motor for a gti6 but its so original and i was just curious to see how many miles it would actually do. How would i be able to check if any damage had occured without taken the head off?

 

Many thanks in advance,

 

Jamie.

[Anthony 1,003]

The 8v is an interference engine, but I've had a belt fail and got away with just replacing the belt before now.

 

Interestingly, like yours that was a high mileage example - something like 190k miles from memory. I had intended to change the belt as I didn't know when it had last been swapped, but wanted to put it in for an MOT first to make sure that there was nothing majorly wrong... only for the belt to then go on the morning of the MOT. D'oh!

 

Put another belt on and give it a go - you don't really have anything to lose

[Slo 283 1 Cars]

If it snapped while you were cranking it it should be fine, mine went christmas week last year and id just gone to the shops came out no start but it had developed a fast whirring sound. ran fine for 2 minutes after a new belt but then had an unrelated disaster with the camshaft that destroyed the head.

 

Should still run even if its slightly tapped a valve or two and a belt alone is cheap enough to find out. Go for it

[Davy 18 1 Cars]

+1 for the trying a belt (tho check water pump and tensioners too)..

 

Would be nice to see it past the 1/4 million miles!

[sub205 5]

I had a snapped belt on a xu9jaz once while starting up, 3 valves bent. I had nothing to lose so i tried another used belt just for testing, the engine ran but sounded like a traktor. Anyway, changed the valves and grinded them in, everything fine again.

[jamie_st200 1]

Thanks for all your reply's! I have just picked up a belt so will have a look at the weekend. I have been trying to find a guide but they all seem to be for just swapping the belt. I need to know how to time it up first?! Ill have to dig out the trusty Haynes manual!

[jamie_st200 1]

+1 for the trying a belt (tho check water pump and tensioners too)..

 

Would be nice to see it past the 1/4 million miles!

yes me too! It was owned by and old guy and used as a daily driver for most of its life. Sounds and drives like most that have done around 100,000.

 

its still in the same town now as the dealer it was purchased from in 89. That's why i really want to keep it going!

[welshpug 1,662]

Haynes will cover it well.

 

http://forum.205gtidrivers.com/index.php?showtopic=89312&