No 2 Daughters Meriva has developed the dreaded chain rattle. I believe they wear through the guides and start to rattle against the dowels of the guides. She has to do a 200 mile round trip tomorrow ( no option) so fingers crossed its OK. The car has 60K on the clock and has been serviced regularly since new by V/Hall and then myself. Can anyone recomend a chain kit? should I change the cam and crank gears as well ( some kits don't have them) and finally before you recomend a genuine v/hall kit why should i replace it with a genuine kit that has only lasted 5 years and 60K miles.
Thanks in advance.

I've done a few Corsas which I think uses the same engine using kits supplied by Eurocarparts , it's been a while since I did them but they might have been made by Lucas? It helps if you have the correct timing kit

Yes same engine 1.4 version though. Easy job?? I do have access to the full timing kit.

Nothing difficult that I remember although you will probably end up with some coolant getting into the sump so get some oil and a filter as well

Due a service any way mate. thanks for the heads up though. Did you change the gears as well??

When I change them I change the sprockets it's not a difficult job but it is time consuming when you buy the kit make sure you buy the kit with the timing tools if you haven't got them and change the oil and filter etc you need male and female torx bits .

I have all the tools thats not a problem. There are so many kits on the market though and I'd rather fit a quality kit than junk. BUT V/halls original has only lasted 5 years and 60K miles so an original OE kit is perhaps not the way to go. Any recommendations welcome guys.

If you get a kit from a decent motor factor you will find the parts in the kit are gm parts even in gm wrapping

These engines have a few reported cases of the cam carrier bearing caps working loose.

Hope its not that then as shes 100 miles away now LOl

the Vauxhall kit has an uprated chain ect comes as a complete kit
they say there are no problems !
but all parts have changed !!!!

I thought the worst ones where the 1.0 and 1.2
I also from memory remember it being a chain tensioner problem as well

I thought it was the 1.2 and 1.0 as well but this is a 1.4 And the same kit seems to cover them all.
Have you got a link to the kit bart.

no sorry just know they do a kit
probably euro and other big parts dealers do good kits , make sure you get the tensioner as well .
think they all get them from Ferrari parts any way . No not the big red car company

i used to have a tool sales van and called into a big Vauxhall garage's
think they had 2 men just doing trimming chains !
it was a standing joke
remember Vauxhall say "there are no known problems"
oooh hang on ------------------------ had to dive for cover there for a moment a flying pig just went past

remember if a main dealer has more than one of the same part in stock " then they defo have a problem"

i think 1.4 did not figure cause i think there was a lot more 1.0 and 1.2 about

Vauxhall are also prone to "wrong" oil problems , from memory vauxhall had a special formulated oil made for these engines
could be wrong on that one its a a bit fuzzy , could have been there small diesel engines that suffered from the oil problem
think it was something to do with various detergents they either added or took out , oh old age and memory !

still look out for low flying pigs

other myths from the motor industry

rover k16 engines don't have head gasket problems
psa 1.6 hdi engines ( fitted to Peugeot , Citroen , ford ) never ever have trouble with there turbo ( i believe they now put one in the spare bulb kit )
later transit diesel ( also in Citroen and others ) engines very reliable
land rover diesel engines never ever have there cranks snap in 2 places
jump starting later Alfas never fry there ecu's
Renault ( Vauxhall ) master vans have bullet proof gearboxes

and last but not least a general one .

dual mass flywheels are a good idea !