AH Astra Timing Belt

[falcom]

Does anybody know the cost of replacing the timing belt on a 2005 AH Astra?

Also does the 2008 AH Astra with the new engine require the timing belt replaced early in its life as does the ecotec 1.8l?

[KingClifton]

I believe the 1.8 engine in the pre-2007 AH Astra is the same as the TS and therefore does require a timing belt replacement at 60,000km or 4 (?)years. This should be done as part of the 60,000km service which should cost around $750 +/1 $50. The newer 1.8 engine doesn't need it done until about 110,000km.

The dealer advised that it should be done at this time/distance because it is constantly under tension and thus wears over both distance and time. A failed timing belt is particularly expensive to repair, so I'm told...

[VYR8HSV]

It should be very much replaced. A failed timing belt is not good.
I had a 94 GSi Barina brought new & done the timing belt at 60,000 klms.
Mine failed at 102,000 klms. Cost of repairs??? $11,246
And the car was just out of warranty. The car was just over 2 yrs old.
Had a nice talk to the dealer manager & owner. Because i brought the car new
off them & always had the car serviced by them. They fixed the car under
warranty for me. Took 6 weeks to get car fixed as all major parts then were
from Europe. & even gave me a loan car free as well......

Pete

[bordertrekker]

The RAA mentioned that Astra's have a higher maintenance schedule and costs than contemporary models in one of their magazines recently.
soory:)

[planetdavo]

Holden released a bulletin to dealers clarifying TS/AH timing belt intervals.
I don't have it here, but they increased for early AH/TS Classic models to 120,000 I believe, then the latest XER engine is now 150,000 (again testing my memory).
I would need to confirm this, but I'm pretty sure it's about right.
The later models should now have the correct info in their owner books, not like the early TS models that were wrong, and led to confusion about these cars.

[Micks]

Would be great if this could be confirmed.

Cheers
VYT

[SLE355]

150,000 is correct for XER engine.

[Davos]

SO does the TS need to be replaced at 60,000 - i have an 03 model which has just rolled up to 60,000km, i have been quoted around 1200 form my local mechanic, who also said he would probably change the water pump at the same time. He said some Holden dealers bill +2K for the work, which would be a nice surprise when you go to collect your car expecting a normal Holden $300 service...

[planetdavo]

SO does the TS need to be replaced at 60,000 - i have an 03 model which has just rolled up to 60,000km, i have been quoted around 1200 form my local mechanic, who also said he would probably change the water pump at the same time. He said some Holden dealers bill +2K for the work, which would be a nice surprise when you go to collect your car expecting a normal Holden $300 service...
It's just under $300 for a genuine timing belt/pulley kit, plus around $200 for a water pump, then labour for yours.
You might even find a dealer to be CHEAPER than your local mechanic on this, not hundreds more!
Vectra V6's cost twice this amount in parts, plus take more time labour wise to fit, and even those don't reach 2K, even with a waterpump.

[KingClifton]

SO does the TS need to be replaced at 60,000 - i have an 03 model which has just rolled up to 60,000km, i have been quoted around 1200 form my local mechanic, who also said he would probably change the water pump at the same time. He said some Holden dealers bill +2K for the work, which would be a nice surprise when you go to collect your car expecting a normal Holden $300 service...

Run away from this mechanic!

My partner had the local mechanic service her '98 Astra - same story..."it'll cost you $X at the Holden dealer but I'll do it for half that"...after many repeated visits to fix resultant oil leaks and problems, it ended up costing double what the Holden dealer would have really charged.

For her '03 Astra, we priced three Holden dealers in Adelaide for the 60,000km service. One quoted $750, one quoted $800 but $700 for mates rates, and the third quoted $650 - and I made sure that this was fully inclusive (pollen filter etc...).

The Astra (like the Vectra) is a different beast to a Commodore and a lot of the trade simply don't understand that.

[Marco]

The two timing belt changes I did on my TS were both around the $700 mark when all was said and done, both times at Holden dealers.

[GregB]

Hi all,
I know this is an old thread but I thought I might as well start here rather than open a new one.
The car in question is a 1.8lt 7/2005 TS Classic Equipe.
I realise that the earlier Astra's had the k's between timing belt changes dropped from 120k to 60k and can understand why, valves kissing pistons isn't pretty.
The local dealer says the belt should be done at 60k but my owners handbook (May 2005 edition) says 90k.
Does anyone know why this figure of 90k has been thrown into the mix??
Also can anyone verify which is the correct mileage, 60k or 90k??
The reason I ask is because at the moment the extra 30k will take us the best part of 2 years to clock up and who knows the car may even be sold before that happens. Cars are expensive enough without doing stuff that doesn't need to be done.

Thanks, Greg.

[planetdavo]

Classic versions had the AH update engine. Definitely longer than 60K. Remember that these are also time limited, not just distance, so whichever comes first.