C8 Cambelt

[Marcskinsley]

Hello everybody I'm going to be completely honest I have joined here because I need help I am a mechanic I have been since 1999 worked on many vehicles and 3 months ago I experienced my first citroen c8 snapped Cambelt job as you may have guessed I struggled to remove injectors I did manage this but it took me 4 days I snapped 2 and saved 2 this was the damage caused but unfortunately it got me the sack from my job so I'm basically on here to gather as much info about what a difficult job they are to help with my case as I'm sueing the company for unfaire dismissal thanks for reading this and I hope someone can help me thanks again

Marc :-)

[paul.h]

Welcome to the forum.

One of the best people to help on this may be coastline taxis. He is away this weekend but next week should be able to provide info. I think it is well known the injectors are difficult to remove, especially on the 2.2 hdi engine, and specialist help may be needed. You could try a search on the forum but I found this one on a C8 which may help (if the link works) from glynnpt on 16 December 2010.

http://www.citroen-owners-club.co.uk/citroen/topic/9032-c8-diesel-injectors/?hl=injectors

[Johndouglas]

Hi Mark.   Welcome to the forum and sorry to read your reasons for joining.   As Paul says, it's well known that PSA injectors can be difficult to remove and there are companies springing up whose speciality is the removal of them with hydraulic equipment.  A Google of "PSA Injector removal" will bring up plenty of evidence regarding the almost impossible task of shifting them, together with several companies advertising their mobile services.    I would have expected your managment to know that.   Best of luck with your appeal.

 

Although C8s are fitted with the same engines as those in C5s and other vehicles, they seem more prone to cambelt failure.   I was in a garage in Hampshire a couple of weeks ago when an RAC truck brought one in with a snapped belt.   A week later, the garage still hadn't decided what to do - or maybe the owner was weighing up his options.    

 

Four years ago a forum member, Pam C8 had a long running saga on the forum when her cambelt snapped at 50ish thousand miles.   Last I heard was her car was in the garage with two injectors refusing to move and a bill looming for several thousands of pounds.  

[paul.h]

A link to Pam's posts http://www.citroen-owners-club.co.uk/citroen/topic/6817-2003-c8-timing-belt-car-going-to-the-grave/ Once fixed, she could not afford the £5000 bill, Citroen would not help, so traded it in plus finance and got a Picasso.

It includes a reason for the cam belt failures - apparently rain gets on to the belt and it causes early failure - some countries had a recall to fit a cover and it is on later models. There are lots of other C8 cam belt failures in the post and mentions of the injector removal problem.

 

Without knowing the full details, I find it sad that you appear to be taking the blame for an engine design problem, possibly lack of knowledge by the company management and possibly lack of suitable equipment to do the job. One specialist company in Pam's post mentions having to use a 20 tonne press to remove the injectors - something I would imagine most garages will not have.

[Marcskinsley]

Thanks for you're replies and Paul you are right about the lack of knowledge and equipment but the worst thing is they were advised by a time served Citroen tech not to take the job on I have contacted citroen uk and they denie all knowledge of a problem haha I think my best bet is to try and print some pages from forums of people experiencing this problem unless I can get hold of anything in writing or a bulletin from citroen stating a problem I will keep you updated of what I find and if anyone finds anything on there travels I would appreciate the info thanks all for your time

[coastline taxis]

Have you got a contract of emplyment. If so what does it state regarding problems doing your job and what are your liabilitys. If you havnt got a contract then get in touch with acas as by law you have to have one explaining what you do when problems like this happen. so the garage would be in the wrong. Any info you want regarding c8 cambelts/injector problems can be found in the bbc watchdog archives as they done a entire program on it. To be honest with youve ive seen good mechanics and fitters grinding the cylinder heads to get them out and if youve only lost 2 injectors then youve done well as they are a total pig to get out and if we take one in to do we tell them its easier and cheaper to just get a second hand engine.If they decide not to and want there own engine repaired then they get told that im not responsable for any damgae caused getting the injectors out whatsoever. is it a general garage or do they specialise in one make.

 

steve

[Marcskinsley]

Great I will check on that, I've already started the process for unfaire dismissal my soliciter has advised me to get more info on the problem with this job, I managed to dismantle 2 of them and get them out that way and I cut the top off the other 2 to get the head off then hammers a broken stud removal socket on applied lots of heat and a big bar to twist got them apart then managed to punch out the tips from the other side it sounds simple but it took me 4 days of heating and heaving and lots of swearing ha

[Marcskinsley]

I can't seem to find anything on bbc watchdog about