Citroenmads Citroen blog.

Unread post by **CitroJim** » 05 Apr 2011, 18:58

Chris, how well do you know this garage and how much do you trust them. After that statement, I'd rethink their competence and understanding of the TCT engine.

I expect what they've done is to check the timing using the crank pulley timing hole. These are notoriously inaccurate as they are on the outer of the dual mass and the outer often slips a little on the outer and moves the timing hole.

So, basically NEVER user the pulley for timing. Get hold of a solid one and use that..

Make sure they know the inherent inaccuracy of the pulley.

I use a solid pulley from an old 205GTi...

XantiaMan · Unread post by **XantiaMan** » 05 Apr 2011, 19:01

CitroJim wrote:Chris, how well do you know this garage and how much do you trust them. After that statement, I'd rethink their competence and understanding of the TCT engine.

I expect what they've done is to check the timing using the crank pulley timing hole. These are notoriously inaccurate as they are on the outer of the dual mass and the outer often slips a little on the outer and moves the timing hole.

So, basically NEVER user the pulley for timing. Get hold of a solid one and use that..

Make sure they know the inherent inaccuracy of the pulley.

I use a solid pulley from an old 205GTi...

Good advice as ever

Honestly, i've seen the results of cam timing on a RR with 1 tooth difference, i'd say your one is spot on by the performance, too much advance and it would lose power as much as retarding timing, as well as causing a starting problem.

Unread post by **CitroJim** » 05 Apr 2011, 19:25

I wrote the last entry a bit quickly Chris..

Just to clarify, I use the 205GTi for timing only..

My Activa pulley is about 45 degrees out...

KevMayer · Unread post by **KevMayer** » 05 Apr 2011, 19:30

As far as I remember the cambelt was done at 69K miles.

The timing can not be out because it always performed so well. So well in fact that the main reason I sold it was that it was too fast and I couldn't control myself when driving even to the shops (the long way around). I sold my first Activa for the same reason (temptation removed).

I averaged 27 mpg in this Activa even when having fun. My first Activa used to give 25mpg.

The heater control issue was with the recirc control. There's a fresh air/recirc air flap behind the glove box and the cable would not stay connected at the flap end.

DickieG · Unread post by **DickieG** » 05 Apr 2011, 19:35

Jim's spot on with his explanation, indeed when I changed the timing belt on what is now his Activa the belt appeared to be a mile out but the problem was down to the crank pulley slipping, hopefully they haven't refitted the belt using the crank pulley as a marker

Citroenmad · Unread post by **Citroenmad** » 05 Apr 2011, 19:50

AH well, that does explain things.

It was obvious to them and me that the timing was right, as you say with it being as far out as they thought it might be considerably damage would have been done. Even slightly out and it would not have performed as it does. It sounds as though they have confused themselves.

Im sure they said it was about 45 degrees out.

I will take a printout of this thread page to them tomorrow morning and explain why they have found it to be so far out, when its not.

I know them fairly well, however they are not a Citroen indy. There is one local but my trust in them wavers because of an odd incident ...

We took the 99 plate Xm we used to have to them to get the cruise control and the suspension looked at. After having it just 2 months (very quick turnaround with them!) we went to get the car back as no progress was made with either problem. As I got to the car the central locking didnt work. I asked the mechanic who got in the car and started riving at the handbrake release under the dash. This happened for over a minute until I said that is never going to work the central locking, its the handbrake release! He replied with "it worked yesterday"

How the handbrake release survived that ordeal ive no idea, in surprised the dashboard stayed in place!

So ive been put off a little with their thinking, heavens knows what they would have thought seeing an Activa with the timing apparently out. No doubt would have had a brand new engine on order from Citroen for me or something equally insane.

This garage the Activa is with now has always been great, they specialise in Smart cars and most VAG cars. Ive known the guy for years, mainly use them for cambelts but they have remapped a few cars for us and carried out jobs we have not had time to do.

I will drop in first thing in the morning with these details, hopefully he has already got it sussed.

Richard: they were not going to use the pully as a marker

The car is not ready yet so im not sure how far they have got.

Deanxm · Unread post by **Deanxm** » 05 Apr 2011, 20:13

Yes! never use the pulley timing hole

On mine the re circ cable kept dropping off too, the cable was taken off and it was ok but turned out to be the re circ flap behind the glove box that was seizing, even though the hinges are plastic, after oil and much working it now performes faultlessly.
It did show signs of having dry old grease on it so maybe they do need oiling every now and again.
Got to go anyway, just taking the activa to the shops, think we need milk or something...........................

D

Citroenmad · Unread post by **Citroenmad** » 05 Apr 2011, 20:17

To put my mind at rest ive just rang the guy doing it, who said he put his own marks on before removing the belt and has timed it using those. He has had it running and its fine, just as it was before. All that is left to do is to make sure there is no air in the coolant.

So all seems well

Panic over!

Ill go pick it up in the morning.

Kev, so its done 46K since its last cambelt change. Thats not too bad then, but I feel happier with it having fresh belts and a water pump. Plus it can go with towards its service history.

Do you have any more info on serving or general info about this Activa Kev?

KevMayer · Unread post by **KevMayer** » 05 Apr 2011, 20:20

To the shops... that's another 20 miles on the clock then.. :lolsign:

KevMayer · Unread post by **KevMayer** » 05 Apr 2011, 20:22

I passed all the service history to Gareth.

I'll see if I have any notes left in my info...

Citroenmad · Unread post by **Citroenmad** » 05 Apr 2011, 20:29

My trip to the shops will have to wait till tomorrow

Yes, I can see how miles will stack up on this Activa, short trips will turn into much longer ones.

Thanks Kev

Unread post by **CitroJim** » 05 Apr 2011, 20:36

KevMayer wrote:To the shops... that's another 20 miles on the clock then..

I have that same thing happen in the Activa. Our local Tesco is sometimes ten times as far away as the shortest route may suggest

Tom Toms should should offer a new choice of routes, shortest, fastest and Activa...

Chris, great news on your mechanic, he did the right thing

Check the coolant again as it can take a good coupe of hundred miles to get the last bubbles of air out...

Citroenmad · Unread post by **Citroenmad** » 05 Apr 2011, 20:44

Ive got that to come then

Yes, I will do Jim, its something I always do.

Next few jobs will be the height correctors and set the level, a service and something done about its mixed tyres.

I feel happier in the knowledge that it has a good cambelt, I can use it now.

KevMayer · Unread post by **KevMayer** » 05 Apr 2011, 20:59

I've found some info:-

Services

Full Sept 04 61153 miles
6000 April 05 67894
Full Sept 05 73610
6000 April 06 81319
Full Sept 06 88380

All corner spheres are new from GSF (approx 12 months old)

Front comfort sphere is also new ( 12 months or so)

The Cambelt was last changed in Sept 04 at 61153 miles (not 69K. So, my memory isn't what it used to be).

Offside handbrake cable changed at Sept 06 service.

There's a summary of what I did to the Activa in this thread :-

http://www.frenchcarforum.co.uk/forum/v ... ht=#243595

Citroenmad · Unread post by **Citroenmad** » 05 Apr 2011, 21:16

Thats excellent Kev, thanks very much for the info

DO you just have this written down?