Cam Gear Bearing Issue/fault!

[starscream_r32]

Hey guys,

So i had an accident with a roo a month ago.

Insurance has taken their sweet time repairing it.

Getting the car back soon.

Anyway the panel beater said that that the assessment guys said there's a fault with the bearing where my cam gears are but they are not fixing it.

Here's the problem. I purchased the car 1 day before i had the accident so i know there definitely wasn't an issue before the accident.

Insurance won't cover it unless i go get a mechanical report saying that the bearing is a result of the accident.

So anyone know what it would roughly cost to fix the bearing? Is it an easy job?

A mechanical report would be about 300 and that's no guarantee that the issue is a result of the accident.

Just need to figure out what is my best option/solution!

Thanks.

Edited October 26, 2010 by starscream_r32

[Beer Baron]

no bearing in the cam gears... they are just a gear bolted to the end of the camshaft. unless your car has some kind of VCT?

[luvpsi]

no bearing in the cam gears... they are just a gear bolted to the end of the camshaft. unless your car has some kind of VCT?

i agree only thing i can thin of that he istalking about is the variable timing clutch or whatever hey call it that wuld cost you around the $300 mark correct me if im wrong

[The Dan]

What about the timing belt tensioner bearing or idler?

If the front timing cover is bent or buckled in ANY way then the damage is a result of the accident. I would normally charge 2-2.5hrs for a belt/bearing change (seals and water pump are obviously extras) and your average workshop would charge around $90-$100/hr. The bearings are gonna cost approx $150-$200 for the pair

[STATUS]

its probably humming like the blue gates belts..... they figure it is the bearings damaged from accident? not familiar with noisy RB cambelts (overtight).

[starscream_r32]

its probably humming like the blue gates belts..... they figure it is the bearings damaged from accident? not familiar with noisy RB cambelts (overtight).

hey status.. thanks for the reply.

so what does that mean?

it's normal/okay if its humming? or is there a fix?

for the others.. that's all he really told me.. that there's a noise coming from where cam gears are and it's a bearing.

as far as i can remember.. when i hit the roo impact was so strong that the car/engine cut out for a sec and the fan was pushed right against my radiator and could not spin freely anymore n yeah..

i haven't got the car back yet.. but tying to do some investigation..

so i guess the cost to fix it will be the same as a mechanic report.. damm insurance are smart... they know the cost to get a report is the same to fix it so they say i need the report to avoid more cost from repair.. grr!

anyone can shed some light or confirm the above posts?

thanks heaps!

[GTScotT]

By the description of your accident you should not have a problem with your idlers or your pulleys for that matter. The radiator being pushed into the fan to the extent you have described is not likely to have damaged much more than the fan itself and the obvious radiator.

Realistically you should contact the assessor who adjusted your quotes and inspected your vehicle. Motor vehicle assessors are ex tradesmen and will generally know what they are on about. Simply tell him what you were told and have him put it to your insurer FOR YOU.

If you want to be successful you will have to know what you are actually talking about, hopefully this is where the assessor can step in and voice his opinion to the insurer.

Realistically to damage that idler pulley you would need to have the car in a totally non drivable state. The radiator would have to be pushed back do far it squashes all the belts and pulleys onto the motor. That would be more consistent with hitting a car (or a TRUCK) rather than a kangaroo. It definitely doesnt sound like this happened and it seems you simply purchased a car with a noisy belt. Having only owned it for a day it is fair to say you knew SFA about the cars condition, having sat for a month at the repairers would also let any WD40 that might have been sprayed on the noisy component also dry up.

Best advice, save your money and wear it.