Hi
Just had a new cambelt on my Pug, its done 148k miles and it was due for renewal (actually at 144k but I forgot about it). Anyway, drove away and came home, but noticed that the engine sounds a bit more "tappety" and also a whirring sound that definitely wasnt there before.
Any ideas? Should I pop it back and mention it... is it likely to cause damage, or worst still, snap?
Thanks in advance!
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A whirring sound following renewal of a timing (or other toothed) belt indicates excessive tension. Take it back, and tell them you want another new belt fitted correctly. Indelibly mark the old one first.
Make sure the water pump is OK - they are a weakness on most PSA engines and will wreck the engine if the bearings fail due to seal leakage.
659.
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I had a chat to the mechanic and he said the previous belt was a little slack and the tension of the new belt was perfect.
I don't know whether or not I'm over reacting... I have a return journey to Sutton (from the Midlands) on monday and I return a week tomorrow. If I still feel something isnt quite right I'll take it back/give him a call then.
In the meantime could anything go wrong if the timing belt is under slightly more tension than normal (or at least what the car is used to)?
I havent asked the mechanic about the water pump... are there any symptoms? Sorry if its a dull question!
Thanks for your advice.
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Forgot to mention - presumably the cambelt tension is automatically set... if this is the case why should there be a whirring noise?
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I had the belt done on my Xantia a few weeks ago, 2 litre petrol, your Pugeot is probably the same engine The waterpump was changed at the same time, it had just started to "weep" through the bearings. I didn't have any tapping but it did whirr a bit more than the old one for a couple of days, then settled down. I have now covered about 1500 miles with no problem.
Fiesta Fanatic, no the belt tension on these is manually set by the fitter.
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agree with mjm and i would have had the pump changed while it was all stripped down, can"t believe the garage didnt recommend it at time of booking in or a follow up phone call.
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Thanks for all your replies guys, I really appreciate it.
Nothing was mentioned about the water pump, which is a shame, but if these things are prone for failure I will ask the garage what the state of the part was. If it was ok, I will leave it, but if it looked a little dodgy I will think about having it done... maybe ask them if it looked dodgy why didnt they call?
You never know, they may offer to fit a new one at half price labour or something!
Getting back to the belt, hopefully it will settle down over the next week.
Cheers again, will keep you updated.
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I wouldn't have said that the water pumps on these engines are prone to failure. I've had three with no problems, two up to the 100K area.
In fact in 30 years of motoring, I know of only one water pump failure, and that was on my dads Cavalier.
Having said that, at 145K miles it may be a good idea if you intend keeping the car.
Reggie
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i never said they were ,i commented on prudence ,ie the garage should have offered to replace while stripped.
yerbut no but yer?............. i always say if in doubt change it.and yes i know its money but a penny spent today etc
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That,s basically the way I tackled it. The belt was due at 72k, the car had 68k on the clock. Caution and convenience indicated time for a change. I trust the Citroen/Pugeot indy I use.
The instructions were something like, "Please change the belt, and if anythinge else, tensioner, idler, waterpump, etc. look at all dodgy, then change them as well. And by the way, I think the rear spheres are a bit hard, can you sort that as well."
I always trust the indy to do what is needed, and no more, and he does. I also like to make it plain that if the waterpump/whatever needs doing, in their judgement, then they have permission to do it without wasting time contacting me for the go-ahead.
The bill for belt, pump etc, and spheres was just over £300. I didn't think that was excessive. He showed me the pump, there were traces of a leak just starting, it may have lasted to the next belt change, but it wasn't worth the risk. As far as I know, the pumps aren't a weak spot. The whole belt/pulley/pump design seems perfectly adequate for its purpose.
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When I pointed out that the water pumps were a weakness on PSA engines, this was a slight simplification for a brief reply.
On these engines, the pump is driven by the cambelt, so any failure here will result in a wrecked engine. A degree of leakage past the pump seal (evidence being a crusty deposit at the bearing vent hole) which I would tolerate on an installation in which the pump is driven by an auxiliary belt, would be an unacceptable risk on a PSA engine.
It's a pity that the survival of this engine depends on a carbon sealing ring, but the art of getting the best out of any vehicle is to know its weaknesses. I run a PSA diesel (recently changed the pump ar 102k) and every other tank of fuel is free compared with the petrol equivalent - a fair swap.
659.
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Mine was just showing >(evidence being a crusty deposit at the bearing vent hole)< this. If the pump had been easily accessable and not cam belt driven, I would not have had it changed then. I would probably have done it myself and saved a few quid.
I had a BX 16valve and that pump lasted until a cam belt change at 140k(or thereabouts).
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