S&M Vaux Worxs .

25/06/2026

Little 1.5 connect recovered in with non start
Our experienced finely tuned ears turned it over for a few seconds and heard a issue with the timing
Having experience with the 1.5 we did a little strip down to confirm the exhaust cam was not turning when engine was rotated
Being a earlier model with the 7mm chain ( common for breaking) we removed the cam box and found the cam chain broken
So time for a new cambelt kit ,cam box , new cams and a new updated 8mm chain, we also fitted new rocker arms , non of them was broken this time but do the job right first as no one likes come backs 💪🏼

20/06/2026

Turbo time !!

Replacement turbo core on this Astra Gtc Vxr today , the car came in smoking a little 🤣

Fixed with a krs replacement core and back to the customer within a few hours .

20/06/2026

We don’t see many Zafira Vxr’s in these days .

Replacement Cambelt kit and uprated stem seals fitted along with a camcover gasket and fresh coolant .

13/06/2026

PT2 Astra Gtc Vxr - head work

Head skimmed as it should be c/w valves reseated , stem seals and a pressure test
A quality headgasket set along with quality headbolts .

Fresh oil and a filter
Fresh coolant

Job done properly and not bodged like the previous work on this .

See Pt1 on the Gtc head gasket failure

Drop us a message or give us a call for all of your Vxr work , or any issues with your car . We cover most makes and models .

08/06/2026

06/06/2026

Returning customer in from Wakefield with his Astra Gtc Vxr .

We did the chains and waterpump on this a few months back and the customer got back in contact to say the car has started using water and running rough on start up and asked if we’d take a look into it .
Car came in and we did a sniffer test to start off with , failed turning the liquid yellow .
Bore scope showed water in the cylinders

So chains off , plus loads of other bits and we Removed the cylinder head today to find this job has been done before and someone had used a cheap & nasty BGA Headgasket set 🤮.

(2nd one in a week with BGA head gasket issues)

Headbolts weren’t all tight ,and to top it off they’ve sand paper’d the cylinder head - (visible scratch marks )
What a bodge job !

Head will go off to the machine shop this coming week for the full works and it’ll have a proper victor reinz headgasket and bolts set on it .

Job done properly ..

Keep an eye out for part 2 of this , hopefully be up and running in a couple of days

For all your Vxr work drop us a message .

06/06/2026

Astra Gtc Vxr in today for a new turbo core .

Krs turbo with a billet core along with new shell helix ultra oil and a mahle filter .

23/05/2026

Nice clean, low mileage corsa Vxr in

Replacement Cambelt and waterpump kit , and to replace the crankshaft seal as it was weeping oil .
Gates kit fitted and fresh coolant

All done and ready to go back to the owner

22/05/2026

Well there is a first for everything
We all know how common the little vauxhall engines are for chain rattle.
Someone has been here before but instead of doing the job properly , they had a go at welding the chain tensioner all the way out to keep some tension on the chain.
Never mind the broken guide ,missing bolt for the guide and the top locating pin missing.
People like this are why some people have trust issues with mechanics

20/05/2026

Ford ranger screaming for a new turbo