2.2HDI Cambelt Replacement advice

[Argos69]

Sitting looking out into the snow and sleet, working under the car seems a really bad idea but!

I keep returning to the thought that the car (2013 C5 2.2 Tourer Exclusive) is still on it's first cambelt and 90000 miles has just come up.
I've just been quoted £849 by a Citroen dealer, £600 by someone who said they'd do it on my drive and a chap in France tutted and said "If we can get the correct parts"..... So it's looking expensive!

I've done lots of work on cars over the years, but I'm in the position of only having this one now, so I can't pop out to get extra bits or tools once I get started. I've read varying opinions on the need for "special tools". I saw a procedure for a 2.0HDI, but is this the same as my 2.2?

I'd be grateful if someone could tell me the process and "if" these special tools are really necessary. I want to do it without stuffing up the engine and I only have one trolley jack, no car lift, but a pretty good tool cabinet.

My Vin is VF7**************[VIN obfuscated, can be read by forum staff]

All help & advice is very welcome - thank you!

[PaulC5]

I had a Citroen dealer replace the timing belt/water pump/tensioner on our 2.2 hdi C5 in 2017, cost £483. Our Cactus one was replaced 2023 again by the dealer and cost £780 including the aux belt. Whilst I might have been able to do these myself, if I got it wrong it could ruin the engine so to me was worth the extra cost and on a C3 previously I struggled to get the tensioner set up. From memory 8 years ago, the C5 one needs locking pins (bolts might do) and a flywheel locking tool (similar to this Sealey Flywheel Locking Tool VSE2394) plus care has to be taken undoing the crank pulley bolt or it might snap.

On your car since you are passed the 10 year limit, you are at risk of it snapping so I would get it replaced asap, especially as you do not have a backup car. If you do not use Citroen parts the next timing belt replacement may have a different interval to x miles or 10 years whichever is first.

[leithant]

The only special tool I needed was the Sealy locking thing mentioned. If you are experienced it's not too hard, but given how cold it is....

[Oldpug]

Why not find an independent Citroen/Peugeot Specialist, like these guys. Get the job done properly with genuine Peugeot parts.
It’s called peace of mind.
Doing it yourself may?? save you ££££’s BUT, in this weather, frozen fingers, one false move and you have a wrecked engine.
https://albionmillsgarage.co.uk/peugeot-specialists

[Argos69]

Hi & thanks for the input.

Marc, are you out there and is there a documented procedure anywhere?

Agree with everyone about the weather. Farrrrrr too cold!

Just thought that if I was going to do it, I could prepare and get all the bits and tools together.

I hate paying people to do things for me that I "might" be able to do for myself, but equally, my Wife has suggested she'll bury me and the car if I f@ck it up. www.clickmechanic has suggested £411 to do it on the drive including water pump. Anyone have any experience of their service?

I honestly feel that £849 for the dealership to do it is absolute robbery! Enough to drive a man to drink

[MattBLancs]

I've done the belt swap on my 2009 2.2 HDi C5.

Flywheel locking tool is useful but there is also hole in back of the flywheel and a corresponding one in the engine block. Very well hidden behind the starter motor. Starter motor is surprisingly easy to remove so I recommend doing so to get at the timing hole. Mine was also well hidden in accumulated crud too!

Camshaft needs a locking pin too, think is a stepped diameter thing, not just a standard bolt.

Crankshaft pulley is a "floating" arrangement and so this mandates usually the flywheel locking.

I have some pictures, bear with I'll dig them out of the threads

[MattBLancs]

Flywheel locking hole in block and the hole in the back of the flywheel (visible where the removed starter would sit) can be seen here:
viewtopic.php?p=729805&hilit=Flywheel#p729805
And
viewtopic.php?p=729762&hilit=Flywheel#p729762

8mm diameter rod for crankshaft and for camshaft too.

(I was getting mixed up, the EW10J4 petrol engine is a 6mm / 10mm stepped diameter locking pin on its camshafts)

[MattBLancs]

This post shows the "toothed" type flywheel locking tool, further down shows the floating crankshaft pulley.
viewtopic.php?p=729810#p729810

I've realised you've a later 2013 2.2 HDi - is that automatic? As my manual gearbox 2.2 HDi's flywheel will be replaced by a "flex plate" and torque converter if so.
I would guess the locking arrangement is the same but worth checking. Fortunately you can see what it is to engage with through the removed starter hole.

Note also, there is a second smaller hole in the flywheel, 180° from the correct one! The small one won't take the 8mm pin though.

[wurlycorner]

Clickmechanic isn't the company that does the work, it's just an online market place for mobile mechanics - so you could get anyone (I assume they've given you the details of who it will be, in the quote reply though?).
£400 sounds too cheap to me, tbh. They must be wanting at least £250 labour, leaving only £150 for parts.
You can get a decent (SKF) timing belt kit for ~£60 but all the water pumps for around that price (which is what they must be paying in order to make the sums work?) are crap. A decent timing belt and water pump kit is around the £200 mark. Throw in coolant and that would mean someone only charging £150 for labour - which would be bonkers for that job.

If you want somewhere that's definitely good and reliable for the job, I'd recommend B L Auto's in Welwyn Garden City - although they're a couple of hours from you.

[GiveMeABreak]

Hi & thanks for the input.

Marc, are you out there and is there a documented procedure anywhere?

Agree with everyone about the weather. Farrrrrr too cold!

Just thought that if I was going to do it, I could prepare and get all the bits and tools together.

I hate paying people to do things for me that I "might" be able to do for myself, but equally, my Wife has suggested she'll bury me and the car if I f@ck it up. www.clickmechanic has suggested £411 to do it on the drive including water pump. Anyone have any experience of their service?

I honestly feel that £849 for the dealership to do it is absolute robbery! Enough to drive a man to drink

Hi

I've already put up the procedure for the 2.2 DW12C engine (which is a different procedure from the 2.0 engines) and does have specific tools for the job - which are all shown in the procedure here. Your membership provides direct access:

C5 X7 2.2 HDi FAP (DW12C) Timing Belt Change

[Argos69]

A huge thank you chaps!

I'm now feeling that if and when we get a nice sunny spring day, that might be THE day to do the timing belt!

Iain: Thanks, yes, I'm increasingly suspicious of their lower price. Last thing I need is someone fitting an old trouser belt from Marks & Spencer!

Matt: Thank you. Very helpful indeed. Nothing beats the pain of experience! Your pics are great.

Marc: As ever. Precise, accurate and relevant. I've printed a copy of the procedure and will read it again in bed tonight for entertainment! A large "Thank you" for your help.

Think I'm going to buy a quality kit with water pump new bolt etc and acquire the tooth locking tool (I've a huge number of twist drills, so "rods" ought to be ok. Then I'll hope the existing belt outlasts the bad weather.

Final thoughts on removing the old bolt with an impact driver? Is it a "go on, go on, go on", or a "For fecks sake don't do that!" ????

Once again, thank you everybody!

[shtu]

Final thoughts on removing the old bolt with an impact driver? Is it a "go on, go on, go on"

People get scared of impacts, but for undoing highly-torqued bolts it's the way to go. The way they work (hammering quickly) tends to keep the stress to the fastener itself, instead of applying ever-more torque to the bolt, the crank, the locking tools, until something gives.

[Argos69]

Thanks, yes I'll give it a go. After all, my last bodywork job went really well

[shtu]

You nearly had it there for a minute.

[Paul-R]

Thanks, yes I'll give it a go. After all, my last bodywork job went really well

Just a couple of weekends' work with a polishing mop and some T-cut.