Timing belt status, your opinion

[David_CH]

Hello, i need your opinion about my timing belt status.

I've bought this used Peugeot, but the seller doesn't know if the timing belt was replaced on the last service.
So, before i start disassembly my car, i've opened the cover and tried to take some pictures of the actual timing belt, both sides.

I'm sorry for the pictures but it was not easy to use the light on one hand and the phone on the other end, and i've tried to zoom it as best as i can.

To my opinion it looks good, i don't see cracks on the belt, what's your expert opinion ? Should i change it or not ?
The car has 170'000km on his back, if i can make 10'000 or 20'000 before replacing the belt it's better for my bank account

thank you for your time and best regards
Dave

[GiveMeABreak]

Hard to say, but if in doubt, replace it.

Although there doesn't seem to be any actual cracks, - the underside (tooth side) does look as though it is deteriorating (crumbling in spots) in photos 2,3 & 4 when magnified up.

What you might consider expensive now will be nothing compared to what can happen if it does break. But it doesn't look like it is too old from the images at this stage, so it's whether you want peace of mind in the knowledge that you've had it done.

[moizeau]

I am probably wrong, but isn't 160k (km) the time for the change? So it's either been done early or it's overdue. If you're planning on keeping the car for a while change it, the pulleys and the water pump, and the aux. A few quid, but you're good to go for the next 10 years.

[David_CH]

Yeah the only thing that worries me is a low "grinding" noise from the timing belt case, like if he is touching against some plastic. This noise is here only until the engine is cold, then it goes away.

[white exec]

Belt life usually quoted at around 80k miles, or 8 years (for the better belts), whichever comes first.
Citroen (and presumably Peugeot too) will quote a "fixed price" for belt (or belts/tensioner/pump) replacement, because it is such a standard job.

Beware buying the belt(s) etc yourself, and asking them to fit them. You will save a few bob, but the job will not be fully warranted, as the parts were not theirs.

[David_CH]

Yes, official dealer asked me around 1300Eur for this job

Belt life usually quoted at around 80k miles, or 8 years (for the better belts), whichever comes first.
Citroen (and presumably Peugeot too) will quote a "fixed price" for belt (or belt+tensioner) replacement, because it is such a standard job

Beware buying the belt(s) etc yourself, and asking them to fit them. You will save a few bob, but the job will not be fully warranted, as the parts were not theirs.

[moizeau]

1300 euros!!! Nip across the border(s). At that price it's almost worth going to the UK to get it done, though you'd have to suffer the roads.

[white exec]

Just had this fixed-price job (but not water pump, which was recent) done on the XM, by Citroen.
Three belts, 6 hours, €590 all in.

[ekjdm14]

Looking at the polishing on the sprocket, the belt has either been changed recently and is riding in a slightly different spot, or (more likely IMO especially given the noise mentioned) one of the pulleys/tensioners is wearing and the belt has started to run out of line & chafe against something.

If it were my car, I'd be changing the belt as a matter of priority considering the mileage. Would also like to ask the opinion of the other guys here about how the belt is running, with particular reference to the photos I've re-attached below, first one being the shiny mark on the cam pulley where it's been running for some time previously until recently, and the second which appears to show a pulley with possibly a collapsing bearing, or at least to my eye it looks a bit skewed and again there's polished metal where the belt has run but is not running now.

Main thing that concerns me is the mention of noise from the timing belt area & the fact that it appears to be running further back on the pulleys than it should. Hopefully I'm just being over-cautious, but a new kit is cheap insurance in the long run.

[David_CH]

Thank you for your analysis ! very appreciated !

I have already the kit (belt + pulley + tensioner + water pump and an unknow 10mm screw which i don't know what it is for).
Planning to do the job myself if i can't find a cheaper mechanic. I've looked many guides on both youtube and Haynes book, i know the necessary steps one by one and the things where i need to be cautious.
Once fixed the cam gears and the flywheel with the pins , i don't see what can go wrong, it's only a matter of removing things and mount it back in reverse.

btw : coolant radiator was changed on December 2019, i can reuse the same coolant that i drain since it's new ?

[white exec]

...only if you scrupulously filter it. Any grit in it will not help pump and 'stat.
Personally, for the cost of it, I'd just buy new - and same brand/brew (if known) to avoid any mixing issues.

[andy5]

Maybe the car was for sale because the previous owner had the same dilemma

I suspect it's more likely to need doing than just been done.