auxilary belt questions

deian · Post by **deian** » 06 Aug 2006, 14:04

Hi people, my belt is making noises. (xantia 2.1)

At first I thought it was my exhaust gasket spiting, it's that kind of noise. It's more noticeable when the engine is under load at low speeds for example pulling off in first or second gear. Also worse when starting from cold, a short blip of the throttle settles it a bit but it's still there at idling and it's still wrong.

Does this point to a loose belt? I can twist it nearly 90degrees, so i'm guessing it's a bit slack. My car is the 2.1td so this belt does everything. And from what I know it's self adjusting too because i have aircon. Can anyone tell me which one is the auto tensioner pulley.

How much do these belts cost, and is it troublesome to put on?

Thanks

Stewart(oily) · Post by **Stewart(oily)** » 06 Aug 2006, 14:33

I dont have a 2.1 in my Xantia but I have the later type 1.9, there are two tensioners, one automatic and one eccentric, I was having a noise at idle which turned out to be the bottom run of the belt flapping, when looking downwards at the spring loaded auto tensioner the smooth pulley was flapping in time to the noise, kind of wobbling back and forth, increasing ewngine speed stopped the wobbling, when I attempted to remove the belt it was nothing like the haynes book, I removed an allen bolt holding the eccentric tensioner and got the old belt off that way, it turns out that the wrong belt had been forced on, it was 14mm too short and was mighty tight, the new belt just slipped on and I set the eccentric tensioner fairly tight, I still have a noise coming from the bottom run but its a lot quieter.
Stewart

JohnD · Post by **JohnD** » 06 Aug 2006, 18:20

I used to have a 2.1 Xantia and it only had the eccentric tensioner. It was a real pain to work on. Make a careful note of the belt run before removing it. It's very complicated. The size if I remember rightly was 6PK1738

deian · Post by **deian** » 06 Aug 2006, 18:54

whats an eccentric tensioner?

Is this whats gone on it? I think I will replace the belt as it drives a lot on the car and winter is coming, but no point getting a belt unless i get more info on how it's tensioned and if a tensioner of some sort needs replacing.

thanks for the code john, and yes the belt does take an aMAZEing

path around the engine doesn't it!

Stewart(oily) · Post by **Stewart(oily)** » 06 Aug 2006, 18:56

If you clean the smooth side of the belt you might just make out the size. there is some variation.
Stewart

JohnD · Post by **JohnD** » 06 Aug 2006, 19:07

deian wrote:whats an eccentric tensioner?

!

It's a wheel - but it has an off-set centre spindle. Also it has a allen screw fixing to secure. Originally my car came with a 1725 belt on it, but it was almost impossible to get off and on, which is why I moved up to the slightly longer belt.

deian · Post by **deian** » 06 Aug 2006, 19:14

oh yes i have that too! so it turns in an egg shape to keep the tension on the belt?

So this needs replacing or adjusting?? Or will a new belt fix it all? Thanks

JohnD · Post by **JohnD** » 07 Aug 2006, 09:12

In a 100,000 miles I never had to replace it. When you get the belt off, feel the tensioner for wobble. Give it a spin. If the bearing sounds/feels rough then change it.

rory_perrett · Post by **rory_perrett** » 07 Aug 2006, 16:57

Deian

My jumped timing belt saga (see post of 3 months or so ago) started with a noisy auxilary belt most noticable at tick over / slow engine speed. If only I had changed mine earlier!

Rory

deian · Post by **deian** » 07 Aug 2006, 22:24

jumped timing belt?

i will bare that in mind! Thanks!

rory_perrett · Post by **rory_perrett** » 07 Aug 2006, 22:48

The timing belt jumped because the auxilary belt broke up (after making noises for about 3 months) and bits of it got into the timing belt cover and between the timing belt and cam shaft sprocket allowing the belt to jump a couple of teeth.

Rory

weety · Post by **weety** » 08 Aug 2006, 18:41

it wasnt a xud engine but my neighbour had a m reg escort td fully serviced 90000 miles cam belt changed at 65000 miles....

he called me over to listen to a strange noise coming from his engine....just as i was shouting turn it of the cambelt snapped.....turns out one of the pulleys had seized.....moral of the tale is seriously consider changing the pulleys when you change your cambelt .............

davetd · Post by **davetd** » 09 Aug 2006, 21:01

It may be the waterpump as well. This is driven by the timing belt. If the waterpump fails the cambelt can jump a few teeth and screw your engine. If its your aux belt this can also cause cambelt failure. To be on the safe side get all rubber belts changed. As it's a second hand car you cannot vouch for their reliability. I did mine all myself paying only for the belts (30 quid) but a garage quoted me 380 to do the work (independant citroen expert)

good luck

davetd

weety · Post by **weety** » 10 Aug 2006, 07:48

davetd wrote:It may be the waterpump as well. This is driven by the timing belt. If the waterpump fails the cambelt can jump a few teeth and screw your engine. If its your aux belt this can also cause cambelt failure. To be on the safe side get all rubber belts changed. As it's a second hand car you cannot vouch for their reliability. I did mine all myself paying only for the belts (30 quid) but a garage quoted me 380 to do the work (independant citroen expert)

good luck

davetd

very rich 'independent citroen expert' ?

caeclyd2 · Post by **caeclyd2** » 10 Aug 2006, 12:58

To see if it is just the belts with the engine running squirt just a little wd40 or similar on the belt. If it goes quiet then thats the problem......new belts required.