HELP!! Suspect Broken Cambelt

zzf00l · Post by **zzf00l** » 29 Oct 2005, 18:13

Bad day today... can anybody recomend a Citroen Specialist (not a stealer) local to Sutton Coldfield, West Midlands. or...fancy having a go at fixing my 1.9td.... cash in-hand???

zzf00l · Post by **zzf00l** » 30 Oct 2005, 19:43

How can I be certain it is a broken cambelt without starting to strip the engine down (cambelt inspection window perhaps)??

Ian Fearn · Post by **Ian Fearn** » 30 Oct 2005, 19:46

Is this an HDI or a TurboD?

On the petrol engine there is a plastic cover at the side of the cam cover that comes off with 2 or 3 bolts to reveal the cambelt.

fastandfurryous · Post by **fastandfurryous** » 31 Oct 2005, 00:51

On a 1.9TD engine, remove the front cambelt cover. just the one bolt if I remember correctly, and jiggle it out of the car. If the belt is slack/missing, you have found your problem.

Could well be cheaper just to get a known-good second-hand engine rather than rebuild your current one. Depends on it's mileage, condition, service history etc etc.

Post by **RichardW** » 31 Oct 2005, 07:44

To get the front cover off you need to slack off the bolt under the engine mount - not easy! The simplest way to see if the belt is OK or not is to chuck a jack under the sump and whip the RH engine mount off - the belt should run under this, and be taut if it it's OK.

zzf00l · Post by **zzf00l** » 03 Nov 2005, 12:56

Yep it's definately gone... last changed at 72k service, so it has gone after 50k..... Progress, bring back timing chains I say!!!

dnsey · Post by **dnsey** » 03 Nov 2005, 21:36

Progress, bring back timing chains I say!!!

Absolutely! They may be noisier and soak up more power, but were almost unbreakable for the lifetime of the car (and if they stretched, would give plenty of warning). Despite all the spin, I suspect that belts are just another money-saving ploy.

yangreen · Post by **yangreen** » 03 Nov 2005, 21:59

Timing chains? Nah, gears for me and my 2cv!

I hate cambelts. The Audi has one and I hate the flimsiness of the things. I'm sure companies actually fit them knowing they will reduce the lifetime of the car now that rust isn't such a problem and engines/gearboxes tend to last for ages. They have to design in something that will fail!

Ian

Stinkwheel · Post by **Stinkwheel** » 03 Nov 2005, 22:24

Being the one that helped change the audi cambelt i agree, it was an amazingly thin, flimsy little belt that.

zxb29 · Post by **zxb29** » 03 Nov 2005, 23:06

Get yourself a Saab

, mines got a timing chain.....funny thing though when i went to a saab dealer and enquired how much they would change it for i was quoted that it be in the region of 900 quid

!

zzf00l · Post by **zzf00l** » 09 Nov 2005, 12:35

Update...
Camshaft is in about 5 pieces, drive sprocket on end of camshaft has a huge crack!
Considering a 'broken cambelt repair kit' from Motorcast (£180) !!

fastandfurryous · Post by **fastandfurryous** » 09 Nov 2005, 14:50

I wouldn't bother. Your engine will have had multiple piston/valve collisions, and the head will be scrap.

Most scrappies charge about £100 for a good 1.9TD engine, and you should be able to find someone to change the engines for you. It's less than a day's work to swap an engine, so you should be looking at under £100 for the labour to do that.

Or, have the head off and see how bad it is. You may be lucky and get away with a replacement head. (again, £50 from a breakers, and maybe £80-£100 to fit)

Post by **RichardW** » 09 Nov 2005, 14:57

Bugger

You'll probably find that one or more of the camshaft caps is smashed as well, which is a right pain, since the camshaft journals are line bored and the caps and heads are matched pairs, and if you get new caps they won't necessarily fit. The best bet in this case is probably going to be to get another head, as this will reduce problems with bent valves, new camshafts etc.

Fit new glow plugs whilst the head is off!!!

classic2cv · Post by **classic2cv** » 09 Nov 2005, 15:39

i've had the same problem

all the parts inside the head get smashed to bits

it’s better to find a good replacement motor (£100 from a breakers)

Don’t forget to replace the cambelt, glowplugs & filters before you put it in

and change the belt every 40 to 45000 miles

enjoy miles and miles of reliable motoring

8)

zzf00l · Post by **zzf00l** » 07 Dec 2005, 22:01

Just an update! Finally got round to sorting the head.... Motorcast reconditioned my head (two slightly bent valves, broken cam) for £180.0 It came back like new, worth every penny. incidentally they can supply a brand new head for less than GSF charge for a recon. They also supplied a head set which included a head gasket (not like GSF). Also found the cause of the early cambelt failure. The Auxillary belt stripped an edge off itself and found it's way into the cambelt.