Some advice needed about an aging Xantia...

[JoeNinety]

Hi,

Just wanted some advice regarding a possible issue with our car... It's a 1997 Xantia 1.8L SX Auto.
My wife inherited it from her father, who had it from new. To say she looks upon it with sentimentality would be an understatement.
It doesn't currently get a lot of use, but as a whole we're keen to keep it in a running condition. I believe it is the last of its age and model currently still on the road and not Sorn'ed

We've known for a while that it needs the front part of the exhaust changing, so we just taken it to a local exhaust specialist. We were initially quoted £240 and had no ussue with that, even thinking it seemed very reasonable. However, within about 30mins of dropping it off, we get a call back saying they've looked in some inspection hatch and have discovered the cambelt is loose/slack. I asked how much we were looking at and was told that they wouldn't know until the morning but a guesstimate would be somewhere between £550 and £700. I was immediately suspicious and just said, well it sounds like the car is no longer worth sinking any more money into it. I later Googled and found out that just inspecting the cambelt is a big job and requires quite a bit of work to just access it. Obviously, with them having only had the car for 30mins the alarm bells were deafening.

I guess what I'm hoping is that one of you fine members can tell me if I am right to be concerned and if this sounds like they're trying to pull a fast one.
As much as we both love the car, as it is such a smooth drive, we're conscious that it could be approaching the end of its life with us and with that in mind, we don't want to sink too much money into something that we're not going to decide to keep.

Thanks in advance.

[mickthemaverick]

As the example below shows the timing belt kit is not too expensive but I believe it is a pretty long job on that engine, other more qualified members will be able to confirm or deny that reality. How many miles has it done? Labour costs these days are getting out of hand but being where you are you may find some helpful members around who are keen to keep Xantias on the road!!

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/305305542899

[MattBLancs]

Sorry I am well out of date with garage prices, but the 1.8 will be the twin cam XU engines, not especially complex to my eyes (unlike, e.g. the V6 = a different proposition) it's no variable valve timing or other such complexities.

Exhaust: from memory front part is the downpipe and catalyst, so a more expensive exhaust component but pretty straight forward (based on interaction with the same bits of the exhaust on a 1.8 406 a good few years ago).

Timing belt - may worth changing on age basis if a lightly used car has been around for a good while, but obviously confirming if the belt really is loose is hard over the internet

[CitroJim]

There is NO cambelt inspection hatch on any variety of engine fitted to a Xantia... So yes, a try-on.

As Matt says, very advisable to replace it on a time basis... It's not a hard job at all on the 1.8 petrol. You may even find it has the 8 valve engine and on these it's a simple job. If/when you do replace the cambelt, also replace the water pump. You'll thank me for that advice later

[JoeNinety]

Thanks guys.

I wasn't so much looking for advice about what they quoted as a price for doing the job, but more about if they'd made up the whole thing. It just seemed odd to me that within 30mins they were claiming it needed attention. From the little I've read online, there seemed to be no reason for them to be anywhere near where the cambelt is, when changing the exhaust. The guy that phoned me definitely talked about an inspection hatch or panel, and as CitroJim has confirmed that nothing like that exists, I definitely think it's BS.
When I said to the guy how about just doing the exhaust and letting me worry about the belt, he gave me some spiel about not wanting to let an unsafe vehicle on the road after they'd worked on it. So this morning I've texted them and said don't bother with anything and that we've decided to scrap it instead. I just want to get the vehicle back from them now, then decide what we want to do.

Thanks again for the replies.

[MattBLancs]

They'd be near the cambelt in as much they'd be "near the engine" but agree there'd be no need to dig closer to the cambelt.

Giving them benefit of the doubt, for a millisecond or two - there's no odd noises from the engine at all? Dry bearings on a cambelt tensioner (or indeed belt being far too tight - not loose) could be a driver for them to have a look and alert you to a problem.

(But otherwise as Jim says sounds more like a try on)

[JoeNinety]

Ok guys, an update...

I've now gone and collected the car and have it back home. I was steeling myself for a confrontation but in the end there was no push-back on their part or trying to convince me to have the work done. I didn't really say anything or question them, I just wanted to get the car and get out of there.
However, it was only when I got the car home that I noticed these two items in the passenger seat footwell (see photos), at that point I could feel my BP raising and the last thing I needed was to drive back there and get into an altercation with them.
Now my mechanical knowledge of cars may be limited, but even I know, having looked at that 'cover' piece that it seems whoever called me wasn't talking about the cambelt at all but some other sort of belt.
The other piece appears to be something that holds pipes or tubing in shape.

So if any of you guys recognise these bits, and therefore the likely part they were actually referring to instead of the cambelt, that would be greatly appreciated.

Cheers

[Rhothgar]

The bottom one is cambelt top cover. I wonder where the bolts are.

Top part looks like something that might hold a wiring loom.

I've PM'd you.

[CitroJim]

But why the heck do the garage go anywhere near the cambelt and remove the covers? Very worrying behaviour. I'd be having a very stern discussion with them.

[Rhothgar]

But why the heck do the garage go anywhere near the cambelt and remove the covers? Very worrying behaviour. I'd be having a very stern discussion with them.

It could be seen as upselling or you could also look at it as a courtesy if so minded.

[MattBLancs]

But why the heck do the garage go anywhere near the cambelt and remove the covers? Very worrying behaviour. I'd be having a very stern discussion with them.

As above, in my "benefit of the doubt" thoughts above - if it was making some clearly very troubling noise and they were unusually conscientious then perhaps they were concerned the car was about to have a terminal belt failure, so couldn't help themselves but "have a look"

But equally there's lots of Ifs and Buts in that line of thought!

[PaulC5]

Rather than spending time taking covers off, I would have thought it quicker to phone you if they were concerned and then take the covers off if you agreed. Doing work you have not authorised is not something I would expect a garage to do. Are they insured for unauthorised work ? It would put me off going there again.

[Rhothgar]

I've been to see JoeNinety and had a look at the belt. There is some micro-cracking but it is really minor it is hardly noticeable. You have to catch the light right.

Took it for a drive and there are no unsavoury noises. The car drives like an absolute dream. Much better than mine but then the suspension has been done in the last couple of years.

The tension seems OK but IIRC the longest run is to the front of the camshaft and not the rear of the engine so you cannot really get your hands in.

The throttle cable was perilously close to being scored by the cambelt. Fancy leaving it like that! Negligent.

A little bit of the usual rot on the offside front of rear wheel arch in the door shut. Didn't look at nearside.

[wurlycorner]

That great that you went to look it over and give experienced opinion, well done Rhothgar.

[MattBLancs]

PaulC5 - yep wholeheartedly agree with thoughts on giving a call and unauthorised work.

Rhothgar - ahhhhhh spot on! Fantastic