Belt changes on a 1.8 VVT

[PeterVV]

My car is an 06 model that has done 47k, and not had either belt changed.
Questions are :
1. should I get the belts changed?
2. Should I get the water pump at the same time?
How much would this cost me?

[Chris SRi]

Yes, yes and not sure.

Water pump needs to be do incase it seizes and throws the belt.

[markmac21]

it says 100k or 10 years in the book , i would not leave it that long but 47k seems to early , mine has done 56k and i am leaving it untill 70k before i get it done , surely if the car had full vauxhall service history they would'nt be doing all that work at 47k , its vauxhall that recommend when to change the belt , i am not even sure if the cambelt drives the water pump on the 1.8 vvt , i know it did on the old 1.8's , but not sure about the vvt

[troutybrown]

Water pump is not driven by cambelt on Z18XER engine

[jake.clay]

When you say old 1.8 veccys, how old? Mines an 03 plate SRi n today have been advised to change my water pump asap for a cost of £325! Surely this is a rip off?! My timing belt got replaced 10,000 miles ago shud the water pump have been replaced then??

[markmac21]

when i say old 1.8's i meant non vvt ones , on the non vvt ones the belt AND the water pump had to be done at the same time cos the water pump was driven by the cam belt and the pumps used to seize and just rip the cambelt off , the vvt engine code is Z18XER , not sure when that engine was first being used , not sure if the 03 plates had them or not , i ran an old S reg vectra for 9 years it was a 1.8 with cambelt change every 40k , if you go to a garage with that car and ask for a cambelt change , thats all they will do fit a cambelt kit , you have to get a price including a water pump as well , i never did i took the risk and it did 140k and the pump never seized , but my mate had same car and his water pump seized at 80k and wrecked the engine

[jake.clay]

Alrite thanks for help. Mine is the Z18XE engine. Only went in to vx garage to check brake pads so bit of a shock when they said it wud cost a further 325 quid!

[PeterVV]

Not sure if the aux belt runs the pump on these engines? if its 100k fo rth ecam belt, what is it for the aux belt?

[robengland9]

Not sure if the aux belt runs the pump on these engines? if its 100k fo rth ecam belt, what is it for the aux belt?

I would not worry about the aux belt...its a 5 mins DIY job to change and it wont do any damage if it went..not like the cam belt.

[jake.clay]

UPDATE - Spoke to a local garage and cost of new water pump will be £50+ labour! Just shows you can't always trust your local Vauxhall Dealership with a price of £325!!!