C5 2.0 Hdi 110 Timing Belt

[Guest gs fan]

The scheduled change for the timing belt on my 51 reg C5 is 100k or ten years.

I've never owned a car with such a high mileage / time limit on the timing belt.

The car has now covered 72k and is 7 yo .

I like the car and intend to keep it for a while ( maybe 3 years )

Should I change the belt early or is it safe to run it to its limit .

Anyone heard of early failures on this model ?

[Johndouglas]

There's been several reports of snapped cambelts, many of them on 2.2 versions. I think leaving a change for 100K is rather too long. Our Xsara is on 70K now and am thinking it's time to do it.

[techbod]

q

[techbod]

ill re iterate that the belt isn't the problem but the tentioner and it is a recall issue BUT it could be considered a fail to service the coolant under warranty

[kfk]

The mileage & time limit are there to give you an indication of the latest you should consider getting the belt replaced......now obviously you can leave it till the last minute if you wish.....but it isnt advisable.

 

When replacing the belt its adviseable to replace the roller tensioners and water pump.....after all when the new belt is fitted it will be tighter than the old and likely to cause failure of the bearings.

 

I would consider replacing the belt when you can afford it, or around 80k, especially if you havent owned the vehicle from new.....time to start saving.

[mlkey]

The scheduled change for the timing belt on my 51 reg C5 is 100k or ten years.

I've never owned a car with such a high mileage / time limit on the timing belt.

The car has now covered 72k and is 7 yo .

I like the car and intend to keep it for a while ( maybe 3 years )

Should I change the belt early or is it safe to run it to its limit .

Anyone heard of early failures on this model ?

 

Personally, I would change at 80k, I did and it was not a good state when it came off. Comes with a new tensioner kit, and I also changed the water pump at the same time as was stripping engine to that level. For the sake of 20k miles, it just is not worth hanging it out..

 

Mike.

[Guest c5vtr]

Personally, I would change at 80k, I did and it was not a good state when it came off. Comes with a new tensioner kit, and I also changed the water pump at the same time as was stripping engine to that level. For the sake of 20k miles, it just is not worth hanging it out..

 

Mike.

just to add my agreement to the above, bought mine with 90k on it, had the timing belt done and the water pump changed. It was on its way out and saved money in the long run to get it done sooner rather than later with the labour involved. Also had fan belt done and drop links, well you'll see what i had done in my previous posts.

[techbod]

I also agree the water pump doesn't have a sell by date so if you fitted a timing kit then its sensible to do the water pump ( im still suprised its not part of the service because it should be ) but you know the dealers and how the scrimp on cash and make things a cash earner

[Guest gs fan]

I also agree the water pump doesn't have a sell by date so if you fitted a timing kit then its sensible to do the water pump ( im still suprised its not part of the service because it should be ) but you know the dealers and how the scrimp on cash and make things a cash earner

Thanks to all above for their advice , the general opinion seems to be to replace it around the 80k and do the water pump, what sort of price would a dealer charge ? Is it a job for an indy ?

Jack.

[techbod]

when I get my software up and running ill post a how 2 or email it to you

[Guest gs fan]

when I get my software up and running ill post a how 2 or email it to you

That's very supportive thanks , I don't think it would be the sort of job I'd tackle though, I'm a basic stuff mechanic ... but would be interested all the same .

[kfk]

Thanks to all above for their advice , the general opinion seems to be to replace it around the 80k and do the water pump, what sort of price would a dealer charge ? Is it a job for an indy ?

Jack.

 

A main dealer will normally be more expensive than an independent, however if your walking in there asking them how much to replace belt, tensioners, water pump, replace antifreeze.....then you are giving them a shopping list to work with and the opportunity to sort out some discount.

 

Its possible your main dealer parts department would be keen to make a sale and offer you discount that the service department wont!

 

Its also possible you can get hold of quality parts that are considerably cheaper then citroen boxed items.....in which case you could get someone to agree a price to fit them.

 

The important thing to remember is the replacement is being carried out to save you the expense of major engine damage......so you need to trust that whoever is going to fit the parts and the quality of the parts are going to achieve that......saving £100 sounds great, providing its not at the expense of the guarantee.

[Guest gs fan]

A main dealer will normally be more expensive than an independent, however if your walking in there asking them how much to replace belt, tensioners, water pump, replace antifreeze.....then you are giving them a shopping list to work with and the opportunity to sort out some discount.

 

Its possible your main dealer parts department would be keen to make a sale and offer you discount that the service department wont!

 

Its also possible you can get hold of quality parts that are considerably cheaper then citroen boxed items.....in which case you could get someone to agree a price to fit them.

 

The important thing to remember is the replacement is being carried out to save you the expense of major engine damage......so you need to trust that whoever is going to fit the parts and the quality of the parts are going to achieve that......saving £100 sounds great, providing its not at the expense of the guarantee.

Thanks , I'm visiting two dealers at the weekend one to collect parts , the other to have my smelly aircon fixed , I'll get quotes from both and let you know how I get on with the discount ...

[Guest gs fan]

Thanks , I'm visiting two dealers at the weekend one to collect parts , the other to have my smelly aircon fixed , I'll get quotes from both and let you know how I get on with the discount ...

Just to up-date . I received 2 quotes one from Telfords in Carlisle which was £450 . The next from GK citroen Dumfries , they were much more helpfull and said they were keen to compete , their quote for £ 370 for timing belt ,water pump and alternator drive belt all fitted seemed good compared to timing belt replacement costs I faced on other makes in the past . So I'm getting it done .

Does anyone have an opinion re' the cost ?

[techbod]

£370 isn't bad as long as they fit a full timing belt kit which includes all tensioners and rollers which I would recommend ( risky changing just the belt as the tensioner tends to be the problem snapping the timing belt ) and water pump, now if they do all that your on a winner

[Guest gs fan]

£370 isn't bad as long as they fit a full timing belt kit which includes all tensioners and rollers which I would recommend ( risky changing just the belt as the tensioner tends to be the problem snapping the timing belt ) and water pump, now if they do all that your on a winner

They told me the tensioners are part of the kit and will be replaced , and I did ask for the quote to include the water pump as all the advice has been to do this item at the same time . I thought it seemed reasonable for a dealer . I replaced the belt on my last car a Volvo 460 two years ago and that cost £ 460 . It seems some manufacturers are going away from belts in favour of chains .most of the motoring press seem to think this is a good move as the chain lasts the life of the engine saving the owners a lump of cash, I tend to agree..

Thanks for all the advice , I find this forum very usefull.

Jack.

[Randombloke]

I would consider replacing the belt when you can afford it, or around 80k, especially if you havent owned the vehicle from new.....time to start saving.

 

This was the advice I was given, and I took it as I was shown one of the three cars whose owners had not.

 

I'm glad I did.

[techbod]

It seems some manufacturers are going away from belts in favour of chains .most of the motoring press seem to think this is a good move as the chain lasts the life of the engine saving the owners a lump of cash,

 

actually this is not true at all ask a new Vauxhall/BMW owner but its all down to changing the oil and filter but when the snap the expense is much higher ( but I still agree the chains are getting better ) and timing belt tensioners

[mlkey]

Just to up-date . I received 2 quotes one from Telfords in Carlisle which was £450 . The next from GK citroen Dumfries , they were much more helpfull and said they were keen to compete , their quote for £ 370 for timing belt ,water pump and alternator drive belt all fitted seemed good compared to timing belt replacement costs I faced on other makes in the past . So I'm getting it done .

Does anyone have an opinion re' the cost ?

 

Good price!

[Guest Pam C8]

Hi, sorry to barge into a C5 discussion when i own a C8 but I was interested to read the posting from techbod that stated that "the belt isn't the problem but the tentioner and it is a recall issue" As techbod knows (as I had a response already thanks), I've posted some other stuff under the C8 technical area as my timing belt snapped and I am now facing a very very costly repair to get my car back on the road. However, I understand that the C5 and the C8 have the same engines.... am I right? Would the recall be for the same engine.. mine is a 2.0ltr SX HDi 16v (I'm no mechanic.. thats just what it says on the MOT cert!) ;) I feel very strongly that I shouldnt be paying anything to get my car fixed at it is only 5yrs 5mths old with circa 57k on the clock and we all the know, the maintenance manual suggests that the time/mileage should be a lot more before needing to change the timing/cambelt. I'm literally on a crusade now to find as many people as possible that have had this problem and I would hope to eventually illustrate to Citroen that there were more instances out there.. not just me and prove that I am NOT an isolated case. They may think they can fob me off but they havent heard the last of me yet !! If I can find a group of people with similar cases then I think they will HAVE to take notice and dish out some financial compensation or assistance.

Anyway.. sorry to stick my nose in.. but would be interested to know if they are the same engines... much appreciated

[Johndouglas]

In the lists of Citroen recalls I can find no mention of a recall for the replacement of the belt tensioner. With two HDI's in the household, both bought from new, it isn't likely that both registrations would have slipped through the net.

[Johndouglas]

but would be interested to know if they are the same engines...

 

The 2litre HDI is fitted into several vehicles. C8; Synergie; C5; C4; Dispatch; 307; 406; 407; 806. It's important to match the engine code.

[Guest Pam C8]

Ah, thanks for that... didnt realise it was in so many other models and makes.

 

You've all been extremely helpful already and as earlier confessed, I do not know much about mechanics so can you please tell me where to look for the engine code - is it on the car somewhere or would it be on the registration or MOT document?

 

I get the funny feeling that by the time I am through with my car saga .. I'm going to know a whole lot more about the workings of an engine !!!! :rolleyes:

[coastline taxis]

Ah, thanks for that... didnt realise it was in so many other models and makes.

 

You've all been extremely helpful already and as earlier confessed, I do not know much about mechanics so can you please tell me where to look for the engine code - is it on the car somewhere or would it be on the registration or MOT document?

 

I get the funny feeling that by the time I am through with my car saga .. I'm going to know a whole lot more about the workings of an engine !!!! :rolleyes:

Hi if you look at the bottom of the windscreen on the passenger side youl see a series of nunbers and letters. On the top line about 5 or six numbers in youl get 3 letters thats your engine code itl be something like rlz or rfn

[Guest Pam C8]

Thank you ... will phone the garage on Monday and ask them to give me the number off the windscreen. Appreciated.. ta