Defeated by a bolt.

[C5mk3owner]

Hi all,
I hope someone can assist before I call in a mechanic.
Citroen C5 Mk3 2.0 hdi 136 104,000 miles
I have changed cambelts on 2 Hdi engines in the past (1.6 90hp and 2.0 110hp) with little or no problems.
Thought it worthwhile doing mine now as despite a 140,000 mile service interval, the car is 12 years old with no history of the cambelt having been done.
All was going to plan until I got to the crankshaft pulley bolt. Many threads about how much effort is required to break the threadlock. Fine, I have encountered this before.
Dig out the trusty old 18" breaker bar put the car in gear and jam the brake pedal down.
Hung off the bar and the bolt moved, great, I've done it.
No such luck, the same effort was required to turn the bolt 2mm at a time, until 2 hours later and the bolt is approx 30mm out. It has now seized.
Tried standing on the breaker bar (all 16 stone of me) all that happened was the bar flexed. Worried about snapping the bolt head off, I stopped.
The bolt cannot be wound in or out.
Feels like it may have been cross threaded?
Would applying heat make any difference or do I risk damaging the crankshaft seal?
I'm concerned that the bolt may need to be drilled and the crankshaft rethreaded.
Any suggestions?
Many thanks in advance.

[GiveMeABreak]

Hi and welcome.

If this is is the DW10BTED4 engine I put a guide up here:

viewtopic.php?t=62865

[Steve Walsh]

Recently done mine using Marc's ''how to'' as a guide. It is full of good info. I took my crank bolt out using a 3/4 drive impact wrench. Came out quite easily.
Heat may damage the seal. but you dont have a lot of options. Maybe some plus gas penetrating fluid on the threads.

Steve

[C5mk3owner]

Hi and welcome.

If this is is the DW10BTED4 engine I put a guide up here:

viewtopic.php?t=62865

Great guide, thank you. Followed most of those steps (left on sump guard and used alternative pins to lock out, removed the starter motor).

But the bolt is well and truly seized. 3 mobile mechanics i have called have turned the job down. Will try some garages in the morning.

Have not tried a 3/4 " impact wrench but just tried a neighbours 1/2" but with nearly 1000nm of torque i thought this may do it, no joy.

[doctle]

This might sound a bit mad but I'd spray a load of something like plus gas around the threads and screw it back in again. If you get it in fairly easily then put the impact gun on it again and try to spin it out.

[Oldpug]

This might sound a bit mad but I'd spray a load of something like plus gas around the threads and screw it back in again. If you get it in fairly easily then put the impact gun on it again and try to spin it out.

I agree,try your hardest to screw the bolt back in,then out and back in,a few times,with a good impact gun. It will either move or stay fast. I don`t want to ruin your day but your description makes me think the bolt is pulling the threads apart and its now locked solid.

[Oldpug]

You can also try these guys? http://www.cylex-uk.co.uk/reviews/viewc ... d=23011578
I`ve used them a number of times and they got me out of the brown stuff.

[C5mk3owner]

You can also try these guys? http://www.cylex-uk.co.uk/reviews/viewc ... d=23011578
I`ve used them a number of times and they got me out of the brown stuff.

Perfect, thank you. I will give them a shout

[Peter.N.]

May not be the official way but I put a flexy bar and socket on it with the bar resting on the ground to the front of the engine, a quick blip on the starter usually undoes it with no problem. I did have one which was very tight, it still came off but squealed all the way.

Peter

[Stickyfinger]

find a friend with one of the new cordless Snap-On brushless motor rattle guns......it could spin the moon !

[lexi]

I had one on this mk1 c5 that I had to muscle ALL the way out with 5ft scaffy over the breaker bar. Supported the fulcrum on axle stand, so you are not bending bolt shaft Try the same with yours. Localised heat may break the bond of the locktite coating on the bolt. Use the pins and the tooth on ring gear.