Vauxhall PureTech wet belt replacement

Since Vauxhall became part of the same group as Peugeot and Citroen, many of its petrol cars have used the 1.2 PureTech three-cylinder engine. You will find it in the Corsa F, Crossland X, Grandland X, the latest Mokka and the Astra L. Like the Ford EcoBoost, it uses a timing belt that runs inside the engine in oil.

The problem is well documented. The belt can swell and start to shed its surface, and the fragments settle in the oil pickup strainer. As the strainer blocks, oil pressure drops. On these engines the brake vacuum pump is also fed by engine oil, so a blocked supply can reduce brake assistance and bring up a brake warning. That makes a worn PureTech belt a safety issue as well as an engine one.

The recommended belt interval on many of these engines has been shortened since launch, and correct oil is critical. Cars that have missed services, run on the wrong oil or done lots of short trips are most at risk. We look at the belt and the oil, check the service history against the current guidance and give you an honest answer on whether it needs doing now.

When we replace the belt we also clean or replace the oil strainer, because a new belt does not help if the old debris is still sitting in the sump. The result is a car that is back to full oil pressure with a belt you can trust.