Cambelt change on 1.7 td

AdamH · Post by **AdamH** » Mon Oct 30, 2006 12:54 pm

I have a 1.7 td with 47,000 miles on the clock, I have the original service booklet, but as the garage completes the service they tear out the part which actually tells them (and you) what work they have done!

I therefore do not know if the Cambelt has been changed or when it is due. As the cars is a 1990 model maybe it should be changed even if not due until 60k miles?

Any thoughts anyone, (and any approx cost if anyone has had it done recently!)

Thanks!

Way2go · Post by **Way2go** » Mon Oct 30, 2006 1:12 pm

Page 14 of the service booklet says that the cambelt should be changed on a diesel at 48,000 miles.
But due to the age it is worth doing straight away anyway. Had mine on the GTi done 2 years ago by independent Citroen mechanic for £100 so that possibly is the minimum it would cost today so best to shop around for quotes.

jeremy · Post by **jeremy** » Mon Oct 30, 2006 1:34 pm

Mine cost about £30, 15 for a belt and £15 for a locking kit. MOT people insisted it was done but quoted me £300 to do it so I decided it was time to get my hands dirty.

It was not that difficult - in fact the most difficult bit was getting the plastic covers on.

Incidentally you don't need to get the bottom pulley off. 2 small bolts and a bit of wiggling gets the plastic cover out of the way.

Way2go · Post by **Way2go** » Mon Oct 30, 2006 1:41 pm

If that's all it costs for a proper loking kit then I will probably do the job myself next time too.

But what has the Cambelt to do with the MOT.

jeremy · Post by **jeremy** » Mon Oct 30, 2006 1:46 pm

This garage insists that diesels have a good belt before they will test it - fair enough really - I hadn't enough confidence to give an indemnity - and the thing should be ok for a few more years yet.

I think kits can be got a bit cheaper. One difficult bit was finding the hole by the starter and I couldn't get the 8mm bar in. I measured it and it was 8.03 mm - and the hole would take a 7.5 mm drill but not an 8. I used a junior hacksaw frame as suggested by someone on here - taking the view that the belt could only be adjusted by whole teeth. Had I been doing a 16 valve which has 2 tensioners, one on the pull side and the other on the slack I'd have been more concerned.

Way2go · Post by **Way2go** » Mon Oct 30, 2006 2:00 pm

Ah, I see! This is for the emissions rev test on diesels?

jeremy · Post by **jeremy** » Mon Oct 30, 2006 2:03 pm

Yes thats it - may be a case of once bitten - twice shy! - Suppose I'll have to do the ZX before next year.

AdamH · Post by **AdamH** » Mon Oct 30, 2006 5:27 pm

Thanks Way2go, which garage did you use, I see you live in Reading, I am just outside in Compton, but work in Slough, so pass Reading every day and am looking for a BX specialist near by.....

Way2go · Post by **Way2go** » Mon Oct 30, 2006 6:40 pm

AdamH wrote:Thanks Way2go, which garage did you use, I see you live in Reading, I am just outside in Compton, but work in Slough, so pass Reading every day and am looking for a BX specialist near by.....

The garage I used which is the excellent guy (ex Citroen UK) unfortunately is not in Reading but quite some distance at Newport Pagnell.
Locally there is Citromech in Wokingham (0118 979 4204) that I have used before but it was their rising prices that prompted me to find another source.
There is a local garage called Three-Line Autos (0118 939 4974) off the Oxford Road in Reading that I have not used for the Cit but which was ultra cheap for other cars and they were not VAT registered so further savings there.

Ian_Fearn · Post by **Ian_Fearn** » Mon Oct 30, 2006 9:30 pm

When i bought my low 30'sK mileage TZD earlier in the year it was on its first cambelt still.

I bought the locking pins (2xM8 bolts and a drill bit would have done the trick though for much less money) and the cambelt and did the job in 40mins.

Agreed, the biggest pain in the bum is the annoying plastic covers the first time you do it, but like i said, not a tough job.