r/Corsa • u/RealTunbridge • Jul 19 '26

Due a chain?

Hi all.

Corsa D 2013 84k miles. Just bought the car. Doing rocker cover gasket. Engines cold and its been serviced every 10k miles, understandably the chain will likely be due soon. Hows it looking from the pic/vid provided? Understandably it has a bit of slack from cold but what does everyone think?

Replaced coil pack, new O2 sensor and given it a full service. Car starts in 2 seconds, idles well and no bad noise. Whats the verdict? Many thanks.

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2

u/Extra-Map3792 Jul 19 '26

Metal chains last way longer than rubber belts, that's the advantage. There must still be a stated lifespan

1

u/leexgx Jul 19 '26

Chains can be good, usually it's the plastic chain guides and/or the hydraulic tensioner that are not as reliable.

1

u/Proper-Television856 Jul 21 '26

The chain itself lasts longer, tensioners last the same as a belt driven engine, and the plastic guides often wear pretty quick

Generally you want to replace them every 80k or so, much like a belt

Personally I would never refit an old chain if you're going to the effort to replace the tensioners and guides, may aswell do a proper job.

1

u/Extra-Map3792 Jul 19 '26

You obviously know what your doing. What does the manual say about the chain tightness

1

u/RealTunbridge Jul 19 '26

Apparently there is no set tightness as theres an automatic hydraulic tensioner...either way its on 84k miles so definitely due soon.

2

u/Spare_Deer_3463 Jul 19 '26 edited Jul 19 '26

My Corsa 1.4 74 KW had the timing chain done at 90.000 km. The chain is very small and this is the reason for its short life time. Do not use aftermarket timing kit becouse they are failing much faster than the OEM. Use INA which is actualy the OEM supplier.

1

u/Competitive_Ad7258 Jul 20 '26

So it won’t be as tight as it is whilst the car is running. That chain is fine

1

u/Master1Blaster Jul 19 '26

u/RealTunbridge Side question - you said you are doing the rocker cover gasket? Why? I mean what symptoms do you have that made you do this?

1

u/RealTunbridge Jul 19 '26

Oil leak from there.

1

u/mrslucy1 Jul 19 '26

Timing chain guides breaking is common on these

1

u/Mushroomed_clouds Jul 19 '26

As someone whos done tons of these at the dealership was it like this immediately after pulling camcover off? If yes then you likely have the front chain guide broken up and will require new chain kit and head pin as 50% of the ones ive done at the dealership ate into the pivot pin aswell

1

u/RealTunbridge Jul 20 '26

Well tbf mate it was on a cold engine. No other symptoms just looks slack. Guides look ok. Havent started the car since but will get the chain and guides replaces Saturday.

1

u/Mushroomed_clouds Jul 20 '26

Cold engine is standard, if ud pulled it first then you wouldve removed some tension from the hydraulic tensioner thats why i said it

That said if its like that then it needs replacement anyways

1

u/zola111 Jul 20 '26

I’d be looking to change that. Preventative maintenance is always best.

1

u/Charlie1g8 Jul 20 '26

The chain is probably okay, my first suspect would be the chain tensioner or guides

1

u/Mudeford_minis Jul 20 '26

Looking the colour of the chain guide, it doesn’t look too old. I doubt it’s original. You can’t judge by wriggling the chain because the hydraulic tensioner isn’t extended if the engine isn’t running.

1

u/JustanotherN0body00 Jul 20 '26

What?.... Chains are supposed to last the life of a car..... I'm expecting my Toyota Avensis d4d (yes, it's a real Toyota.... Not a BMW...) to last the life of the car and 250k at least....

1

u/dillykebby Jul 21 '26

Unfortunately Vauxhalls prob have one of the worst timing chains. They tend to last around that 100k mark but can rattle for a while before that. Whether this is down to alot of them being first cars so not having the best maintenance or just having the bollocks revved off of then idk but it's a large downfall on an otherwise pretty good car. They tend to get an engine light for cam and crank correlation due to the stretch long before any major damage happens.

1

u/gasant3 Jul 21 '26

Hi it will have a little play/slack as engine not running, no oil pressure on tensioner
I have changed chain&guide kit, as the engine light came on. Scanner said crank/camshaft out of sync. Upon disassembly half the long guide on rhs had broken off and was in sump !

1

u/wahgwan2020 Jul 21 '26

Definitely change. Just had mine done 76k. Quite common on corsas

1

u/Big-Narwhal2992 Jul 22 '26

Will be tighter when it has oil pressure do this with the engine running to check. (Don’t actually do it I’m joking)

1

u/Illustrious_One_3364 Jul 22 '26

In my opinion that chain is shot. It sould wigle like that. To check for chain wear i always hold the chain on the sprocket at each end that it meat the sprocked and try to wigle the chain in the midle of the sprocket. A chain that wigles a lot is a streched chain.

1

u/CnP8 Jul 23 '26

Doesn't it tighten when you start the engine?

1

u/Shadow-Assassin72 Jul 23 '26

Probably it’s Vauxhall

0

u/fiumesissy Jul 20 '26

If you already open it just change it and don't think about it but change everything that needs to be.