Bought a MK1, and just noticed that the engine probably is blown (links included)

[ekjdm14]

Looked to me in the last couple of seconds of the video that the crank pulley (the large one right at the bottom/back) was loose/wobbling about. Certainly seems a lot of noise coming from that area.

Not such a bad job if the pulley is loose, maybe the garage that did the timing belt (I gather you have documents to support this not long ago?) failed to tighten the large (22mm?) bolt in the centre properly.

[xantia_v6]

If the pulley has come loose to the point that it is wobbling, then it would be best not to drive the car until it is repaired, as it will be causing wear to the crankshaft, which if it gets too bad, will cause the engine to be scrap.

[Kiiva]

OMG!? This how bad it is?? You sure its the timing belt? Thing is that the label under the hood might be fake and that the belt hasnt been changed, or NEVER been changed! Im f*cked. This was a private seller ( think eBay kinda) far away from my town. This is gonna be expensive...

I will show you a short video as im out driving tonight. Hard to say how it looks for me, but this is not a minor thing, its really bad?

[ekjdm14]

The belt you can see in the video, and that the crank pulley is associated with is NOT the timing belt, it is the auxiliary belt & just drives the alternator, HP pump and AC pump if fitted.

It does, however have to be removed (as well as the crank pulley) in order to change the timing belt, which is behind the plastic covers on the end of the engine. If there's a sticker showing a recent timing belt change then it's most likely genuine & my thoughts were more like the person who changed the belt didn't get enough torque on the large bolt when putting things back together. (it can be tricky to get it tightened as much as it needs to be, so may have seemed good but worked loose since the job was done).

The reason you shouldn't drive before making sure the bolt is tight, is because the movement between pulley and crankshaft could cause damage that means the pulley would work loose again even after being tightened properly. Also if it came right off, it would make a fair mess under the bonnet.

[Kiiva]

Its just so weird that the car runs so quiet and smooth when driving,even on the highway its super quiet. But i guess i dont want to face the fact that its really serious

[ekjdm14]

To be honest, looking at the last video I can't see the pulley wobble now but looking at the wear pattern on the aux. belt there is something amiss, perhaps with the tensioner bearing.

I think the best thing to do, knowing what I know from the videos now, would be to take it to as friendly a garage as you can manage, and ask them to look at the auxiliary belt/pulleys and tensioner. Any mechanic worthy of their job ought to be able to tell you definitively what the issue is within 10 minutes. Depending on what the cause is, it may be as simple as tightening a bolt properly but be prepared to spend a little money on a new aux. belt and tensioner. Still not a big job really, and the main hurdle I think would be getting the parts. Fitting a new aux. belt and tensioner shouldn't take more than an hour for an experienced mechanic.

The sticker appears to show a timing belt replaced 3 years ago so there's life left there if it's to be believed. Having said that, if you have no receipts/paperwork to back up when it was changed then it would always be sensible/advisable to have a new kit fitted if you can afford to since you then know exactly where you stand with it.

[Kiiva]

I guess that im (unaware) looking for assurance that its a perfectly normal engine sound from a 1995 8 valve. Or that this is something so minor that i dont even need to fix it!

But to boil it down, the "Bosch" sticker could very well be fake, meaning that the time belt probably never been changed(!) so my options, even if it hurts like ****, is to drive the car until it breaks down. This could happen tonight or in a month. Leave it to a garage (who will most likely change the whole thing = more expensive than the car)

To be honest to myself, its no longer a minor thing. Its a serious thing. The engine will break down, its just a matter of time. I still wish to deny it, but this is the case here?

[Kiiva]

Under the car, mayve doesnt tell you anything but i crawled down in the dark and took some pics

[Gibbo2286]

I think you should take the advice that's been given, it sounds to me like a problem with the auxiliary belt or tensioner and maybe not an expensive job to fix, get a mechanic to look at it.

I had one of those where a bolt securing the tensioner had sheared off allowing the belt to run off centre, that caused similar rattles to what you are getting.

[deian9]

That does look and sound like it's the outer crankshaft pulley that is loose.
The reason it's better at higher speeds is because it's turning faster and is at a more consistent settled speed.
So yes, I'd get that pulley looked at ASAP. Maybe you could crawl under youself and have a go with a spanner to start off with, I think it's quite a big size (maybe 27mm?). But to get any kind of socket on it, I think it needs the engine dropping down, or lifted up. You will need to torque it appropriately.
Here's another thought, behind this pulley is the timing belt cog, I hope that is OK, I would assume it is if it drives smoothly, so cross that bridge when you come to it.
Other than that, the engine bay looks quite clean, tidy and dry.

[Old-Guy]

That auxiliary drive belt needs replacing NOW before it shreds any more and bits of it get tangled up in the timing belt (their crankshaft pulleys are stacked side-by-side) causing the cam belt to jump one or more teeth! That would be the end of the engine.

To change the auxiliary belt or even its crankshaft pulley DOES NOT need the engine to be raised/lowered or even have its mountings undone. I speak from experience of replacing the alternator on my daughter's 2.0i Xantia in her drive one Saturday when we were staying for the week-end and I didn't have my proper tool kit with me either, only the small emergency kit in my Xantia. In place of axle stands, I borrowed 4 big concrete blocks and some off-cuts of timber from the next door neighbour who was having an extension built! Changing the alternator is quite a lot more work than the simple job of changing just the aux belt - I'd agree that an hour-and-a-half is a reasonable time.

The crank-shaft pulley bolt is probably the same as on the 1.9TD - 22mm hex. If you have to buy one, buy a hexagon (not bi-hex) impact socket. You would also need a LONG (900mm/36") 1/2" drive 'breaker' bar as the bolt should be VERY tight. BUT the crankshaft pulley ONLY needs to be disturbed if it is loose!

If you look at the Wiki on changing the timing belt (that's a much bigger job), the Sequence of Operations items 1-5 list the tasks for changing the aux belt. If you search the web you may find a bootleg download of Haynes' Xantia Manual, this explains the job in quite good detail.

PLEASE MAKE SURE THE CAR IS SECURELY SUPPORTED BEFORE CRAWLING UNDERNEATH.

Hydraulic Citroens have CRUSHED amateur mechanics who accidentally caused the suspension to drop the car on them - a Xantia weighs well over 1 ton! If all else fails, collect some concrete blocks/bricks/blocks of wood, put the suspension in HIGH, stack the blocks as close under each jacking point and lower the suspension so the car sits on the blocks.

[van ordinaire]

If it's the crank pulley, then it can't be too difficult to at least check, if not tighten, never mind the right torque, you just need to get it to someone who can have a proper look at it. Don't drive it 'til you've at least done that - I had a crank pulley flange shear accross the rivets & about 1/3rd of it came oit through the radiator: that was on on a Mk III Zodiac, which was bad enough, but the pulley letting go on a Xantia would be far worse! Don't even think about running the engine, never mind driving the car.

As you have other Citroens, I assume you know a garage/mechanic who can do what needs doing. While they're at it, it shouldn't be too difficult to assess the age/condition of the cambelt. As for parts, my understanding is that Citroens are not so uncommon in Israel, so THAT shouldn't be a problem - & there's always the places on which that many of us rely, & they are available on-line.

[Kiiva]

I took your advice and left the car to a experienced Citroen mechankc.

The car was what keps me up and happy, now I'm not sure if i will pick it up or not.

So far he found that a plate under the gearbox was rusty and the gearbox is leaking oil. The hydraulic pump seems to be broken too, i had no Idea about that. Tomorrow he will look into the noise issue, but he adviced me not to spend money on this car.

He will probably let me know if the car is a danger to drive or not. I dont know what to say, but he explained that the Xantia is outdated by now, so if im thinking about getting another old Xantia, it will most likely be a wreck too.

He said that its rare but possible to find a good Xantia, but those are mostly garage stored and take out for a drive when its nice weather. They are not suitable for a everyday car anymore. Unless you have a lot of money willing to spend on it..

Its too much that wont last for being a everyday car, so he is not surprised to see the leaking pump and rusty gearbox plate and all that.

His advice was to check that rattling sound, if its okey then no more money on that car, use it until it scrap down or get a C5 for a car to keep and use every day.

I dont want any C5. I want my Xantia and if i cant have that, i can accept buying another 1995. But no, he said that their time has cone to an end now. For a colllector with a garage sure. They have a main car and the Xantia is a hobby that you take for a great ride once in a while.

He would be very surpised if i came with 10 old xantias that are in good condition, not much rust and no serious things with them. And he did mean used xantias from eBay like mine, not from a real Citroen collector of course.

So i guess this means goodbye to Xantia and any other car from any maker. Im not interested in anythkng else. I trust this mechanic who had his yard full of Citroens, a great reputation and been working with this for many years. I cant imagine anyone better, as the average garages dont deal with Xantia that much, and they would probably looking at the belts, not a overall close up inspection like i got.

Someone who only want to earn more money would maybe have said that the car is worth getting this and that fixed and it will be as new. I was really excited to leave the car to a real Citroen specialist, and i appreciate that he is honest even if its a nightmare to hear. Truth is always better but i feel like crap.

I want to thank you all for taking your time and giving me advice. Without you i would not went to a mechanic since im an expert on how to avoid things that are important yet not fun. I need someone who push me or nothing happens.

You helped me take the step and you helped me save money too. Since i cant fix anything mechanical, i had plans to leave the car for a good change of filters and oil and also a real rust prevention since the car is so nice and to my surprised free from any signs of rust or bubbles at the typical Xantia place (in lack of better English)

I was so surpised that i had to look really close and see if it has been repaired and painted. But being really OCD and looking and comparing, touching and knocking, i saw that it was original and not been redone.

Im sad, i know its a car and not my parents. But the car was a the best help against my loss of motivation for life. It may sound odd, that car helped me more than any antidepressive medicin i tried for years. It was mine, i was proud of it and im pretty sure that i was the only one who drive a Xantia in rather big town. So again Thank you so much for your support, every reply i got in this thred has been worth more than maybe you think. Not only because money saving. But i realise that i normally take a reply for granted. And to sit and read about a stranger (me) who is having car problems and watching videos of my engine while trying to figure out what the problem might be. Thats beautiful because its so unselfish and caring.

And it made me aware of how i been to other people. I been selfish, i need help so help me. I do the same? No, usually not. Its not interesting, i dont have that problem with my car at all, why watch this? Next.

Thats me and im not proud of that. Thats both selfish and non supportive. If eveyone was like me, then i think this forum would not excist. Nobody earns money from reading and posting here, so its a wake up call for me and a sign of human compassion in RL that shows here too...

[xantia_v6]

It still seems like the car you have bought is a good one, so do not discard it too easily.
We wait for a report on what is causing the noise, and then I am sure there will be more advice following.

[CitroJim]

I am very sad to read this Kiiva

I am surprised as I thought the Israeli climate would have been kind to the car.. I lived in Cyprus for several years and there cars had a very long life but they did suffer paintwork and interior damage from the sun.

He said that its rare but possible to find a good Xantia, but those are mostly garage stored and take out for a drive when its nice weather. They are not suitable for a everyday car anymore.

Sadly, yes, he is right... Xantias are getting old now and even the newest are now 18 years old. My Activa is definitely a car for a nice drive on a dry, sunny day and as it is the UK here it gets very little use

My 1.9TD Xantia is used now only for long journeys when I need a comfortable car and space to carry my bicycles.

I have a little Pug 207 as my daily driver and 'workhorse' now so that I can keep my Xantias good and hopefully enjoy them both for many years to come.

Like you, I do not want a C5! I have ran Xantias for many years and want to enjoy them for as long as possible.

I would advise that you now look for a good Xantia - they do still exist - and then keep it as a pleasure car. Meanwhile buy something fairly new to do your daily hard work... Anything will do as it is a work car and not a pleasure car...

Good luck and keep us informed