1997 1.9TD Estate - A Tyre-ing question about handling

[beko1987]

I stopped short of taking the glow plugs out, as frankly I couldn't be bothered. The thought of one more thing to put back on again was too much!

But, I timed it all up again, put the Camby on for thr 26th time and now it spins on the crank fine, goes a bit stiff through compression but turns!

Having cheese on toast, then will reassemble everything and turn the key, will be do or die

[Gibbo2286]

If you have the cam cover off set the valves on No4 cylinder to 'on the rock' i.e. the exhaust valve just closing and the inlet valve just opening.
Take out No1 heat plug and feed a probe down to the piston top then turn the crank until the piston is at top dead centre, you should then be very close to the correct position to get the locking pins in both the flywheel and the cam gear.

[beko1987]

So, shortly after lunch, when I was in dispair over the whole thing not turning, I timed it all up one last time, put the belt on and....she rotated! No idea what I did because I did nothing different... so I rotated it 10 times off the crank, spent the afternoon putting everything back together and......



She lives!!! This is the 2nd startup, the first ran well, but after a few minutes the engine slowed and stalled... fearing the worse it turned out to be a hole I'd put in the re-run external fuel filter whilst manhandling it out of the way over the weekend, so a quick chop and re-fit, and a few pumps to get the air out (god bless clear fuel line) had her running as you see!

Massive thanks to everyone on here you your help and advice, the Xantia facebook group, and Autoshite! Between you all, you helped me learn how to do it! It's been an interesting weekend, hopefully it'll survive a trip to work tomorrow, I'll take it slow and steady.

I'm on the hunt for a full cam cover set with fixing bolts now...if anyone's got one for sale, please let me know!

I'll still change the waterpump when that's due in (what's the interval, 50k?) 20k miles, and put a new belt on. At least I know what to do now..... and I'll be keeping a damn close eye on that aux belt too.

[Timmo]

Well done for getting it sorted fella! Been hanging on to this for a positive outcome! Not the easiest of jobs thats for sure!
Mine is running coverless at the mo, mostly due to the lower covers being brittle when removing,

[beko1987]

Keep a close eye on your aux belt then!

[CitroJim]

Excellent That's fantastic news Sam Delighted!

[wurlycorner]

Great news, well done. As I said - suddenly it goes right and you have no idea why!

As for the cam covers, I bought a brand new set for my Activa from Citroen parts recently. Still available and surprisingly cheap, so might be worth taking a look for your engine too, before you go too busy hunting for a second hand set.

[beko1987]

I've never bought genuine citroen parts before, is it an online thing or do I need to visit a dealers?

The car got me into work today! I took it steady, and stayed in lane 1 of the M40 just in case. I hit traffic as usual, and whilst braking felt a shudder that wasn't present before, and it wasn't a braking/wheels shudder, and when I got off the M40 and stopped at the traffic lights there was a new ticking noise at idle that wasn't there before, but the car drove fine (I got off the roundabout pretty damn quick, wasn't having an FTP there!). When I got to work I popped the bonnet and the belts are still running true, and whilst I could hear a slight louder ticking noise, it wasn't too extreme.

The engine vibrates a bit more though, would I have put the engine mount back together incorrectly? Is there any other way than 'put it on, bolt it down?' Or is there a procedure I need to follow?

I'll turn it on and idle it at lunchtime and see how it sounds. I put fuel in this morning, I hope it doesn't break down! Would an oil change be prudent given the punishment the engine would have taken last week?

[CitroJim]

It's likely paranoia Sam! I suffer from it terribly after doing a major job on a car...

Oil change is always a good idea

[Timmo]

if you havent got the covers on, you could roll the engine over and check the timing holes line up?? tension on the belt too, my first few miles with it all done were tentative to say the least!!

[beko1987]

I hope so! When the odd shaking started off went the radio, up and down went the windows to hear it, it's always had a wheel shake, it's hopefully that, I did go from 65 to 20 quite quickly. The odd noise at the lights could have been the motorbike infront of me too, but I have ALL the tools in the boot still (that woke me up as it all moved as I turned out of our road at 06.45) so worst case I can attempt a repair...

The squealing aux belt has stopped now though, so billy bonus and all that

[beko1987]

if you havent got the covers on, you could roll the engine over and check the timing holes line up?? tension on the belt too, my first few miles with it all done were tentative to say the least!!

That's a very good idea, didn't think of that! The cam cover is on though, it's the fuel pump side that isn't, suppose it's as good a check as any!

[beko1987]

OK, may not be out of the woods yet!

The engine bounces rhythmically and ever so gently on idle, it never did before. Also on idle, is a new knock! It's not deep, more light and metallic, in tune with the idle, and goes with even the lightest of throttle application. She drove OK this morning, but I didn't hoon it, kept to 60/70 and low revs.

Doing a bit of googling, and the fuel pump got bought up a bit, and that it might not be timed correctly. Both locking pins were fitted whenever I timed it all up, but the cog was able to turn half a tooth ether way when locked still. Is it possible that I've still got the pump timing slightly out?

If so, how best to fix it? The cambelt goes over the pump sprocket second, and being sprung sounds like a pain to keep it at a half tooth to feed the belt around it. Also, I presume I can drive home with it? (well, I have no choice so will be giving it a go anyway...)

It's not the crankshaft pulley bolt is it? I did do it up very tight, but tight enough? Does the bolt produce a light knocking sound on idle if it's loose?

I've also not ruled out anything connected to the aux belt yet, but it would be the weekend before I could get out to properly take it off and have a listen.

Anyone seen/heard this before? I have a bosch pump if that helps.

[beko1987]

Is a video I took. No idea if you can actually hear anything of help though, I'm back at my desk now so cant play and listen!

[Timmo]

Sounds similar to mine when I had it one tooth out, hunts a little at idle, drives okay but a little noisy, is yours the sprung clip rear cambelt cover or the rediculously painfully tight ac0cess 11mm bolt uner every conceivable pipe?