BX 17TZD Cam belt failure - Likely damage?

andycadabra · Post by **andycadabra** » Sat Jun 16, 2007 1:07 pm

I've just had a cam belt failure and would be grateful for any advice as to what damage this might have caused to the engine, together with the likely costs of putting things right.
Will the first step be getting a new cam belt fitted and then finding out what damage has been done? If so what should I expect to pay for that alone?. I don't have a garage I can trust, and all the Citroen specialists in London seemed to have disappeared in recent years, so any guidance would be appreciated.

Stewart (oily!) · Post by **Stewart (oily!)** » Sat Jun 16, 2007 2:45 pm

Depends how fast the engine was going when it let go, before you fit new belt just remove the top belt cover and put a 16mm spanner on the cam sprocket, turn this whilst watching the HP pulley on the other end of the cam, they should both turn together but I bet they dont, best case scenario, snapped camshaft and popped bearing caps, source secondhand cam AND caps also cap studs (they will be bent), new caps no good (they need line boring) build it up and see, if you are lucky the car will run, worst case bent valves and damaged guides too, suggest find secondhand head.
Stewart

andycadabra · Post by **andycadabra** » Sat Jun 16, 2007 3:30 pm

Thanks for quick reply - I was only doing about 25mph when it happened, engine speed not high because top end power had been lost 200yds before - I thought the turbocharger had died at the time.
I'll try the first thing you suggested but anything else is probably beyond my capabilities so any clues as to likely repair costs in garage would be appreciated.

DavidRutherford · Post by **DavidRutherford** » Sat Jun 16, 2007 6:14 pm

If you'd already lost power, that suggests that the cambelt had already skipped teeth, and you may have had off cam timing, or possibly bent valves already at that point.

I suspect that as the engine was above idle, you will have bent valves, and possibly a snapped camshaft. The fix for this is at the very least a head rebuild or a replacement second-hand head (complete)

Garage repairs for this will not be cheap, as the head removal/refitting alone is a fair few hours' work. I'd guess a minimum cost for this of £200.

Sorry!

Vanny · Post by **Vanny** » Sat Jun 16, 2007 7:31 pm

i have a spare complete 1.7 xudte head to get rid of, its a very impressive door stop in the front hall way at the moment. Just need a magic way to get it travelled to you!

andycadabra · Post by **andycadabra** » Sun Jun 17, 2007 2:35 pm

I had a look today and found the camshaft drive pulley cogwheel? at a rakish angle and loose - I suppose that means a broken camshaft at the cambelt end. The cambelt can't be pulled out anyhow so appears not to have broken.
£200 doesnt sound too bad - was expecting more like £500.

Vanny - thanks for the kind offer which I think i'll need to consider- How much would you want for it? and I'll look into how much it'd cost to freight it to me. If you have bathroom scales perhaps you could let me know the weight.
thanks for all the help so far guys

Stewart (oily!) · Post by **Stewart (oily!)** » Sun Jun 17, 2007 3:26 pm

Heads weigh around 20kilos complete.
Stewart

Post by **docchevron** » Tue Jun 19, 2007 4:17 am

Bit late..but...
I'd be amazed if it hadn't broken the camshaft. They always do.

The pistons should be fine, they may be "bruised" but I've never yet seen one that was FUBAR due to belt failure.

The valves WILL be bent, so yeah, another head is the easiest way forward, dont forget To use new head bolts, and I'd err on the side of caution and use a 3 notch head gasket.

Also, if the belt has not snapped, it may have chewed some teeth, but if the belt looks good, it's probablt the idler or tensioner bearings breaking up, so I'd replace those aswell, and check the water pump too.

kiwi · Post by **kiwi** » Tue Jun 19, 2007 11:40 am

Totally not relevant but I had a Cambelt failure on my little Pontiac, damage was zero despite the worst thoughts going thru my mind when the AA guy said "Cambelts gone mate".
Lucky thing for us we had pulled into a Burger King after travelling at 100kph. The belt went as I reversed into a parking space had we not stopped I shudder at what could have been.
Only gripe was the AA garage that came out would not tow us 50km further up the road to home and we had to make our own way home and then back to the Garage who repaired it. Worst was this with a nine month old baby on a hot day

Was not happy with the AA that day but the cover said under 100km from home then tow to nearest repairer.
Ever tried to get public transport on Friday at 430pm in Central New Zealand? It dont exist

Anyways hope all gets fixed.

andycadabra · Post by **andycadabra** » Thu Jun 21, 2007 1:58 pm

Vanny kindly sold me his XUD head which I received today. The local Latino Garage is going to fit it plus a new cam belt and head gasket for £200. the other quote I had was for £450 on the basis of the job being listed as 11 to 15 hours labour!.
I 've offered them my Haynes Citroen diesel workshop manual, unfortunately not in Spanish, so can envisage them pointing and scratching their heads all too easily!.
Will give an update later on

andycadabra · Post by **andycadabra** » Sat Aug 18, 2007 11:02 am

All fixed now. Cost just £285 all in, thanks to Vanny's cyl head doorstop! (Though got car back minus its battery retaining clamp, obviously considered unnecessary in Ecuador!) Noticed it still had the same oil and filter and was told oil should'nt be changed till 2 weeks later...?

Thanks to all for their advice and especially Vanny for head.

MULLEY · Post by **MULLEY** » Sat Aug 18, 2007 3:04 pm

Another one saved due to the club resources & owner not wanting to scrap & give up on the old gal

classic2cv · Post by **classic2cv** » Sat Aug 18, 2007 9:39 pm

another TZD saved $\:D/$

i like stories with happy ending