1.6 e-hdi camshaft position sensor

[Hell Razor5543]

Part of the design of the HDi cylinder head is that the valves are perpendicular. This should mean that they do not get bent (and the rocker arms take the load if a piston hits a valve), as the piston hits the valve squarely.

[RichardW]

The usual failure on these is to strip the teeth round the crank pulley, which is pretty much what you are seeing. Will need a new cam, 8 rockers, new belt kit. Only if you are very unlucky will it have dropped a valve meaning head off. You had to do the belt anyway, so console yourself with the added cost is only about £400

[Rp0thejester]

Don't ever scare us like that again!!!! I thought it was the C5 that went wrong!!! You should be banned for scaring us! Secondly, never continue to try and start a car that was driving and then stopped, 9/10 a belt has snapped at it's gunna cause more damage

[c16rkc]

The usual failure on these is to strip the teeth round the crank pulley, which is pretty much what you are seeing. Will need a new cam, 8 rockers, new belt kit. Only if you are very unlucky will it have dropped a valve meaning head off. You had to do the belt anyway, so console yourself with the added cost is only about £400

I was told by the garage it would be £550 just for the CAM belt, so I'm guessing that's parts only...?

[c16rkc]

Part of the design of the HDi cylinder head is that the valves are perpendicular. This should mean that they do not get bent (and the rocker arms take the load if a piston hits a valve), as the piston hits the valve squarely.

That's sounding good, do you think I should take to a Citroen specialist, or just a good reputable garage?

I ask because I spoke to our local Citroen specialist a few weeks back about this very car, and he advised me it was probably not worth having the CAM belt and upper strut bush done on such an old car. He said the combined cost would be around £1,000. I sensed in his voice he didn't really want to do the work, though I got a similar feeling about the C5 too. It makes me wonder if he's the best place to take an older car.

[RichardW]

Don't know how far you are from Boston, DK Motor group there posted in the C4 Picasso FB group today about doing this very job on a blue hdi for £800 - they specialise in Picassos, but might well pick up other Citroens.

[c16rkc]

Don't ever scare us like that again!!!! I thought it was the C5 that went wrong!!! You should be banned for scaring us! Secondly, never continue to try and start a car that was driving and then stopped, 9/10 a belt has snapped at it's gunna cause more damage

Ha ha I have to apologise!

Luckily the C5 is running beautifully, and I am enjoying having it as my new daily driver. I'm pretty certain its a keeper and I have plenty of little modifications and upgrades planned for it.

Sounds like the little C3 will need a little money spending on it now though...

[Rp0thejester]

Just scrap the C3 and spend the money on the C5

[c16rkc]

Don't know how far you are from Boston, DK Motor group there posted in the C4 Picasso FB group today about doing this very job on a blue hdi for £800 - they specialise in Picassos, but might well pick up other Citroens.

They are about an hour from me, so its touch and go really. I could always have it trailered I suppose.

[c16rkc]

Just scrap the C3 and spend the money on the C5

Oh my goodness... if my boys heard that

Jelly bean is the best car in the world to them.

Funny they don't see anything special about Lindsey's Audi, they show no interest in the Mercedes, but they are always asking if we can take the bean car.

We think it might be because they sit higher and can see out the windows better...

[Rp0thejester]

There'll soon be asking for the C5, scrap the C3, have you ever been in the back of a Citroen whilst in motion? Try it, it's sooooo comfy

[Hell Razor5543]

Part of the design of the HDi cylinder head is that the valves are perpendicular. This should mean that they do not get bent (and the rocker arms take the load if a piston hits a valve), as the piston hits the valve squarely.

That's sounding good, do you think I should take to a Citroen specialist, or just a good reputable garage?

I ask because I spoke to our local Citroen specialist a few weeks back about this very car, and he advised me it was probably not worth having the CAM belt and upper strut bush done on such an old car. He said the combined cost would be around £1,000. I sensed in his voice he didn't really want to do the work, though I got a similar feeling about the C5 too. It makes me wonder if he's the best place to take an older car.

I asked my local Citroen specialist to sort out my C5, and I got the same feeling that he was not interested. A friend told me about somebody who not only does mechanicing, they had their own workshop, worked for (at the time) GSF, and also went racing. I got the parts from ebay, and he (and his brother) got the C5 running. It was they who diagnosed the problem by removing the rocker cover and finding damaged rocker arms. I cannot remember the total cost, but as my C5 has the 2.2l HDi engine (twin turbo, 173HP when new) and quite a high spec level.

[wheeler]

Unfortunately i have found the DV6/5 engines not as forgiving after a timing belt failure. The cam lobes are pressed on to the shaft & they often twist on the shaft. Seen plenty of them damage valves too. On the older DW10 8v engines i have never seen a single one damage a valve after a timing belt failure.

[c16rkc]

There'll soon be asking for the C5, scrap the C3, have you ever been in the back of a Citroen whilst in motion? Try it, it's sooooo comfy

I confess I do find the C5 very comfortable to drive - the kids fall asleep very easily in it and I can imagine I know why

[c16rkc]

Part of the design of the HDi cylinder head is that the valves are perpendicular. This should mean that they do not get bent (and the rocker arms take the load if a piston hits a valve), as the piston hits the valve squarely.

That's sounding good, do you think I should take to a Citroen specialist, or just a good reputable garage?

I ask because I spoke to our local Citroen specialist a few weeks back about this very car, and he advised me it was probably not worth having the CAM belt and upper strut bush done on such an old car. He said the combined cost would be around £1,000. I sensed in his voice he didn't really want to do the work, though I got a similar feeling about the C5 too. It makes me wonder if he's the best place to take an older car.

I asked my local Citroen specialist to sort out my C5, and I got the same feeling that he was not interested. A friend told me about somebody who not only does mechanicing, they had their own workshop, worked for (at the time) GSF, and also went racing. I got the parts from ebay, and he (and his brother) got the C5 running. It was they who diagnosed the problem by removing the rocker cover and finding damaged rocker arms. I cannot remember the total cost, but as my C5 has the 2.2l HDi engine (twin turbo, 173HP when new) and quite a high spec level.

Thank you - I may well try and find a garage who is more interested then.