Is the Timing belt contaminated on my car ? pics included

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I removed the timing belt top cover today on my 2007 Vauxhall Vectra 1.9 cdti 120 bhp. Just to inspect it for maintenance reasons.

I noticed a missing bolt on the timing belt cover and near this bolt was oil on the outside area of the timing belt cover. because the bolt was missing I think oil has got in as the timing belt looks contaminated somewhat with oil.

do you think i will be ok to wipe this down with wet wipes /water ? thanks
 
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Any oil in the timing belt area doesn't come from a missing bolt but rather from an oil seal on the camshaft or crankshaft that is past it's best.
Oil contamination of a timing belt isn't good but nothing to panic about unless it's been like that for a good while.
John :)
 
Any oil in the timing belt area doesn't come from a missing bolt but rather from an oil seal on the camshaft or crankshaft that is past it's best.
Oil contamination of a timing belt isn't good but nothing to panic about unless it's been like that for a good while.
John :)

Thanks John. I wondered if the oil had got in from outside the belt area as there is wet oil outside belt, near where the bolt is missing for timing belt cover. here are some pics of the belt /area with oil contamination


214608-ab1b808dbca30b13c4c8781df6c7a12f.jpg



214609-72a890438a92e36e0d1af4ba377ff3ff.jpg



214610-c14eccc76e9a5b58352eb3b0797b00dc.jpg


please see 3rd picture, I think it shows most detail of problem.

can i use wet wipes to clean oil off the belt ?

thanks
 

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There is a bit of contamination there but it's not too severe.
You need an oil solvent to wipe the oil away so wet wipes won't do any good.
Maybe a rag wet with white spirit or whatever will do....modern belts have Kevlar in their construction so aren't affected by solvents like the early types.
John :)
 
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Here we go again!
So you're still driving around with no brakes, coolant all over the road but not in your engine and you worry about maintenance on a cambelt which doesn't require any maintenance at all???
Never thought of taking this scrap to quick fit?
 
Thanks John. I wondered if the oil had got in from outside the belt area as there is wet oil outside belt, near where the bolt is missing for timing belt cover. here are some pics of the belt /area with oil contamination


214608-ab1b808dbca30b13c4c8781df6c7a12f.jpg



214609-72a890438a92e36e0d1af4ba377ff3ff.jpg



214610-c14eccc76e9a5b58352eb3b0797b00dc.jpg


please see 3rd picture, I think it shows most detail of problem.

can i use wet wipes to clean oil off the belt ?

thanks

That timing belt is damaged!
 
214610-c14eccc76e9a5b58352eb3b0797b00dc.jpg
214611-8b46bca3be33e677c17649b31fb8abf9.jpg

Here we go again!
So you're still driving around with no brakes, coolant all over the road but not in your engine and you worry about maintenance on a cambelt which doesn't require any maintenance at all???
Never thought of taking this scrap to quick fit?

Strangely the level of brake fluid hadn't dropped in about 500 miles over the last 10 days, whereas it was needing topping up every 150 miles beforehand. How can it suddenly just stop leaking ?
 

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Strangely the level of brake fluid hadn't dropped in about 500 miles over the last 10 days, whereas it was needing topping up every 150 miles beforehand. How can it suddenly just stop leaking ?
It hasn't!
There's a pinhole somewhere or the mc is shot, as you've been told.
Try pressing the pedal very hard with 2 feet and see how it drops.
Once more: YOU MUST NOT DRIVE THIS SCRAP ON A PUBLIC ROAD!
I will not get tired of saying it.
I have reported you to the police and hopefully they'll stop you before you kill someone.
 
I'll
It hasn't!
There's a pinhole somewhere or the mc is shot, as you've been told.
Try pressing the pedal very hard with 2 feet and see how it drops.
Once more: YOU MUST NOT DRIVE THIS SCRAP ON A PUBLIC ROAD!
I will not get tired of saying it.
I have reported you to the police and hopefully they'll stop you before you kill someone.

  • Well the level hasn't dropped in the reservoir for over a week so do the maths, how that is possible I don't know. I put my feet on the pedal I'm not sure if it goes to the floor or not so I'll get another opinion on that. I felt it sinking to the floor the other week but doesn't seem to be now.
  • I have replaced the faulty caliper, not because bit was faulty itself, just the handbrake mechanism was faulty . Nothing to do with the brake oil
 
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