Im watching a Vauhall Frontera 2.2dti Limited on ebay.

[dave1966]

Im watching a Vauhall Frontera 2.2dti Limited on ebay and I would like to pick all of your brains about this fault. My question is this,is this fault anything that I should be concerned about

Fault:-
"The bottom timing chain rattles the guy has fitted a new top chain but the bottom one is worn however he says that it is a duplex (twin) chain and could run forever like this,the one that normally snaps is the top one but that has been replaced."

Many thanks in advance.
Dave.

[woodwizzard]

A rattley engine is always a concern, especially when someone has already been in there to "fix" a new chain in and then it still ends up as a rattler. I don't know too much about these engines, but it could just be the spring loaded chain adjusters that have failed or not been fitted back correctly, or it could be something worse. Does it rattle all the time, is it just at start up, certain revs etc etc. I tend to shy away from ads where people tell you what the problem is if its not a visible one that they can point to and you can see. A Dti god will shed more lioght than I can

[BoxCleva]

I'm confused. Why would you be interested in one with a knackered chain when there are plenty out there that don't rattle ?

Walk away Dave, there's plenty more fish in the sea. (Oh and that chain is a major hassle to change btw)

[gregster]

Agreed...barge pole time...

If it was an easy fix they would have done it and probably not be selling the car...

They know its gonna be a pain/expensive to repair, but are just trying to play it down so that hopefully someone with more optimism and trust than spanners will snap it up...
The other consideration is that if the mechanic who "repaired" it previously was that cr4p that its still not right, did he know how to bleed up the pump properly if had that disconnected??? So you could be looking at more probs round the corner...

The only way that I would consider buying it...if it was so cheap that I could break it and make a profit to justify the effort so I couldnt loose if the repair needed was terminal/too expensive.
As Si said though...buy a good one, there are plenty out there...

[dave1966]

Thanks guys,great advice as usual.

Here is the link to the 2.2 dti limited on ebay and I will let you judge for yourself's:-
http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll? ... 97.c0.m619

[BoxCleva]

Well it's definitely worth the starting bid mate

[dave1966]

BoxCleva,thats what I thought about the bid price.

[Paul A]

It might not even be the chain...could be as simple as a worn out belt tensioner (they make that kind of clatter) worth going to look at I think......

[woodwizzard]

Selling after only 2 months of ownership never looks good either, must be too big for "the wife" to drive

[BoxCleva]

The lower chain is a douplex and a pig to fit. The upper chain is a simplex chain and is easier. There are tensioning pads/shoes which may well have worn. There is certainly no guarantee that the douplex chain will last if it's flapping about all over the place. I would imagine it would go sooner rather than later.
You would obviously have to factor this cost into your price limit. Personally I wouldn't put any more than £550 in to it.
The rust on the roof will require the screen to be removed and they are bonded and not a DIY job, add to that getting the speedo and chain sorted I think he's dreaming @ £895.

[dave1966]

Its a fair bit of travelling too and I reckon it wouldnt make the journey to Scotland,so Ive decided it can stay on ebay.

[snapper]

[snapper]

Oh and it's caught up with 'Truck' on the mileage too, although come next week it's gonna be lagging behind. 181k on a 'B' I never thought the clocks lasted that long on those

[Paul A]

Hmmmm.... looking at that again and the fact the clocks work intermittently it's likely got 200k plus on it in reality.
And yeah... that roof rust looks pretty bad.... not worth the effort.

[snapper]

[Drift]