Guys as you probably know im a tinkerer and a polisher, not a mechanic ! im getting worried about the cambelt on my 16v, it seems fine and the car pulls like a train, howveer my Xantia has just stripped its belt and looks like it may need new valves etc
I dont know when it was last done and I was told that it did snap before at sometime and ended up having a top end rebuild. (the 16v)
Is there anywhere someone can recommmend or offer to do it for me and of course I will pay them, I will supply the parts and bring it to them at a convenient time I dont know what sort of moneys are involved. but I would rather pay a club member to do it then a garage i dont know.
I would like it doing before xams if possible as I dont want my christmas ruined by two blown up citroens!
its a simple job to do your self matey!! really is!
do your water pump atthe same time though! unlesss its been done in tha past year??
prolly take you a couple of hours to do!
after never doing one when mine went, i got it down to an hour start to finish after a few plays due to dodgy dizzy cap causing funny running!
it really isnt a difficault job to do at all!
Timmo
After all i am the Cornish one!
Its Because its French!
Bx16v club - Sharing the love for the unloved!
If you've already got one car off the road and don't have the facilities at your fingertips to do it, I'd suggest a reputable repairer might be your best option just in case you do have any problems and it sounds like ollie's not too far away.
It's not hard to get into strife if things decide to go pear shaped as I discovered a couple of days ago and this is with a workshop that's probably equipped as well as most specialist garages out here.....most embarrassing to say the least.
Luckily, we've got a stable of 9 vehicles to fall back on and a big garage to work in and keep it stored out of the weather, or I'd be in big strife now.
hi alan,
i watched my mechanic mate do the belt on my car and he fitted it from bottom up. so that it went on to cams last and yeah it was really tight to get onto the cams he had to use a pretty thin screwdriver to squeeze the belt up over the edge of the cam teeth. took a while to do as it took him ages to get it on the right teeth line up.
Timmo i have very basic tools and trust me if I did it it would never go again, I know my limits. Im near derby and happy to travel 50 miles or so to get it done.
I can do BX16V cambelts with my eyes closed and be in and out in about 2 hours as I've done heaps of them, but the VTS is a whole new ballgame with the belt seemingly needing stretching by my understanding of the AutoData instructions and whilst I would personally have no problems saddling up to a 16V belt, I think Tim has by his own admission not a lot of DIY experience and I can remember my first BX cambelt was also a bit of a nervous time too.
I think his approach is a wise one under the circumstances.
For what it's worth, the prospect of someone levering a cambelt on with a screwdriver scares me!
AlanS wrote: but the VTS is a whole new ballgame. I think Tim has by his own admission not a lot of DIY experience. I think his approach is a wise one under the circumstances.
shock: Alan S
hi there alan,
my bad:oops: i thought you was talking about having trouble with fitting a 16v belt . i obviously read your post too fast or just plain wrong. oh and by the way my mechanic ricky was citro for 15 years before leaving the company and going mobile self employed for the last 15 years, so i have 100 percent confidence in him doing anything to my car that he says will be fine. in fact unlike alot of garages and mechanics he is the one who often says ( no mate dont bother replacing it cos it works fine and shows no problems). im normally the one who says just change it anyway. prolly why ive spent 4k and its still not mot'd.
Good news, just spoke to the previous owners place of work (who was a garage) and they confirm the engine was rebuilt including a new cambelt, bottom end bearings approx 1000 miles before he sold it so thats me sorted until next year!
There a citroen specialists so seemed to know what to do, plus they are happy to take on the xantia if needs be or any work on the valver in thr future.
Theres still a noisy tappet but ive been and got some of that wynns hydraulic valve lifter treatment from halfrauds and will see if that cures it.
! im getting worried about the cambelt on my 16v, it seems fine and the car pulls like a train, howveer my Xantia has just stripped its belt and looks like it may need new valves etc 
