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Our 1997 Peugeot 406 SRi Turbo has covered 90,000 miles - is it time to change the cambelt?

My 90 year old father has a 1997 Peugeot 406 Sri Turbo 2.0-litre Petrol, which has covered 80,000 miles and been owned by the family from new. Apart from normal servicing costs, the vehicle has been trouble free. My father now covers approx 3000 miles per year. Does the engine in this car have a cam belt? If so, do you think it is worth replacing as the car has never had a new one. If so, are there any other components which should be replaced at the same time?

Asked on 15 February 2018 by P Clarke

Answered by Keith Moody
These cars do need the cambelt changing. I think the interval is eight years or 80,000 miles - whichever comes sooner. If it snaps then there's a high chance the engine will be damaged. The belt can perish through wear (mileage) or time. You'll definitely need to replace the tensioners. It's also a good idea to replace the water pump at the same time. And you could also do the auxiliary belt - all are good 'while you're there jobs'. I'm not sure what the going rate is from a decent non-main dealer garage, but I imagine it'll be around £400. This is obviously a decent chunk of the car's current market value so you need to ask the question of whether or not you think it's worth it. Personally, I'd say yes - not only because it's still cheaper than fixing a broken engine or possibly buying a replacement car, but also because this is an SRi Turbo - a modern classic waiting in the wings. Why not have a chat with the Peugeot owners' club (www.406oc.co.uk/) to get an idea of repair costs and the car's market value?
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