Vauxhall Corsa Combo CDTi Z13DT engine Camshaft failure

[adyady1066]

Hi guys, I've been reading some posts on here and I'm rather confused so If anyone can help me here I'd be really grateful. I'm a mechanic of many years and have just started a repair on a '55' Vauxhall Combo CDTi with a Z13DT engine in it. It came to me with a suspect camchain fault. It has done 88k and the management light was on yet it still runs albeit noisy at the timing chain side and with no power. I looked through the peep hole on the cover and saw that the chain is running really slack but I'm worried about all this talk of Camshafts failing. There seems to be a lot of confusion with this and the fiat engine and the petrol Vauxhall engine. Any help will be greatly appreciated.

[davepoth]

As you will know, the camshaft can't have failed if the engine is running. My guess would be the tensioner. I'd avoid running it until I'd had a good poke around though.

[adyady1066]

Thanks Dave. As you say and I thought, if it runs it can't have snapped a cam and there's so many postings saying it's a common fault. I only serviced it a few months ago from memory and it was showing a small noise but now it's sounds like a bearing crunching inside the camchain side. There is from what I can see so far a hydraulic looking tensioner and the chain is really slack so it's the first port of call as you know. I'll update when I know more tomorrow for future knowledge or to ask more questions. I've worked with loads of Vauxhalls and never had this much trouble too. Even a Y17DT lump that snapped a valve and chewed it up, nice mess that one made Do you know if this gubbings I'm hearing is true about the Z13DT being a Fiat lump???

[stevieturbo]

It is the very very unreliable 1.3 Fiat engine.

Cam, chain, and rod failures are common. Avoid like the plague !!

[adyady1066]

Thanks Steve. I've seen loads of posts about the fix it again tomorrow lump but wasn't sure. Unfortunately I have no choice but to get to the route of the problem for a very good customer and my local VX dealer were as much use as an ashtray on a motorbike. I don't think the cam has snapped and it does sound like the chain side with my stethoscope but I've never worked on one of these so I'm in it up to my neck. Had no end of aggs getting this far as nothing comes apart very easily and I'm not looking forward to taking the head off as it's got a rotten exhaust manifold and I just KNOW there's gonna be tears when the bolts snap as they always do. To make things worse I'm mobile and have the motor outside my house to work on sitting on axle stands. There must be an easier living surely??? Someone me now please.....

[hemi mopar]

You got your hands full here - I work in a parts motor factors and sell a lot of chain kits for theses vehicles - advise you use a full kit with sprockets also check when it is installed that the new sprockets are in line.

A major parts player ald blueprint has a technical bulletin out about the sprockets being aligned correctley.

Good luck - PS if your motor trade look into ald bluprint check their website out just google it as you can gain an access and get free technical help.