Xantia TD 1.9 Timing Belt Change Interval

[ecohouse1]

Hi Folks

Quick question. I had a new Gates timing belt fitted to my T plate 1.9 TD in Nov 2011 at 89k miles. It has now done 125k miles, so 36k miles so far. Mostly country commute with stop start traffic in the city 45 miles per trip.Haynes says change at 36k miles which seems a bit soon.

I know the risk of a break increases every mile the belt is on but what would be a realistic change point? I don't remember my BX D's neeeding done this frequently but my memory is not as it used to be!

Many thanks

Alan

[RichardW]

6 years / 72k was the original recommended interval. The belt drive on this engine is pretty robust, and failure is rare, but if it happens to you More important really is monitoring the condition of the aux belt and tensioners - if this causes problems it can rip the timing belt off....

[ecohouse1]

Thanks Richard, the Aux belt was done at the same time but the tensioner roller grumbles on damp mornings if the car has not been used for a few days, but runs quiet the rest of the time. I squirted some spray grease on the bearing from under the wheel arch, I still cant get my head around slackening this belt off to remove. I am used to manual tensioners. Do you loosen off the pivot bolt then another bolt (allen key?) and then lever it back against its spring? Is it this tensioner that is a royal pita to change or am I thinking of the timing belt tensioner? Space looks very tight around it.