406 cambelt - 1.8 petrol (1997 R plate)

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Tue 28 Mar 2006 00:46
406 cambelt - 1.8 petrol (1997 R plate) - cumfray1
How much damage would a cambelt snapping at less than 10mph do & stopping straight away? Will I get away with just fitting a new belt or will the valves also need replacing? Any info appreciated, thanks
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Tue 28 Mar 2006 01:17
406 cambelt - Malcolm_L
What engine and year please?

Even at 10mph if it's non fail-safe engine, it's almost certainly a head off job. The engine's still doing at least 1000 rpm and it only takes one piston to hit a valve.

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Tue 28 Mar 2006 01:21
406 cambelt - Adam {P}
I *think* it's a P reg 1.9TD.
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Tue 28 Mar 2006 08:55
406 cambelt - RichardW
If it *is* a 1.9TD, then expect heavy damage. They often break the camshaft, and usually take at least one of the bearing caps out as well. Trouble is the bearing caps are line bored, so you can't necessarilty swap the caps with spares - you need a variety to go at to get one that allows the cam to rotate freely. A couple of the valves will probably be bent too for good measure.... Replacement head is usually the way to go.
--
RichardW

Is it illogical? It must be Citroen....
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Tue 28 Mar 2006 09:28
406 cambelt - cumfray1
I *know* it's a 1997 R plate 1.8 petrol :-)

{Added to subject header to avoid further confusion - DD}
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Tue 28 Mar 2006 09:33
406 cambelt - cumfray1
The 1.9 td is fine :-).
I bought the 1.8 yesterday for £100 because it had snapped the belt. The previous owner was driving into his drive at no more than 10mph when it went. It has 94k on the clock & I reckoned it was worth splashing out.
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Tue 28 Mar 2006 10:00
406 cambelt - Martin1981
Sometimes it can prove cheaper to fit a replacement engine. The 406's have been around some 10 years now so finding a decent replacement engine from a breakers at a reasonable price shouldn't be too difficult. I had a replacement engine in my 1994 306TD last year, bought it from a local breakers for £300 with 3 months warranty. There were 3 I could choose from- all accident damaged 306's with around 100k on the clock. You should be able to find a 1.8 petrol for your 406 without too much hassle.

Martin
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