
Great to be back wielding spanners around it again and I have a few clear eveings now so hopefully this week will see some progress.
This evening I deviated from the gearbox to have a look at the cambelt tensioners and the water pump in preparation for compiling a list of spares I need to get.
The cambelt had been changed relatively recently and examination showed this to be very much the case as all the tensioners are in good condition, as is the water pump. I found the timing to be very slightly out but not seriously so.
With the engine out and on the garage floor, the timing belt is not difficult but would be fiddly on a par with a 2.1TD if still in the car. It's not a terribly difficult job though, especially if the later ES9J4S eccentric tensioner is fitted.
It's good to see that PSA made a better job of some aspects of the design of the V6 engine over the XUD. The first thing they did better was the auxillary belt tensioner..
This comes off easily


The cambelt covers are held on with small captive bolts and they all slip off very easily, unlike say, a 1.9TD

In a trice, they're all off!
The crank is then locked with a pin...
And then the cams are locked after loosening the four studs in each cam sprocket. The special tool is used to move the cams slightly to allow the locking pins to slip in.
Then it's off with the eccentric tensioner..
And then the belt can be removed.
Before the water pump is exposed, the engine mount must come off and before this can come off, the jockey wheel between the cam sprockets (effectivly in the valley of the vee) must be removed.
Finding the tensioners all in good condition means I've saved a few bob in not having to replace them

I've used the Citroen special tools to lock the crank and cams but these are by no means essential.
At the conclusion of this evening, the list of replacement parts needed has shrunken considerably

I'm hoping to have the car ready to roll in six weeks as that coincides nicely with the date I plan to sell my old 1.9TD. That'll mean the insurance cover currently on the 1.9TD can be transferred over to the V6.
Tomorrow I'll practice replacing the cambelt and adjusting it, removing the alternator to give it a good cleanup from the LHM that has spilt over it for a long time from a leaky hydraulic pump and then attack the very tight oil filter.
After that, it's back to the gearbox and the beginning of the rebuild.
progress is being made
