Does anyone know whether the life expectancy of a cambelt is any higher if the engine is mated to an automatic gearbox? The belt on my Citroën XM 2.0 turbo has lasted 179k miles (the car's worth less than the cost of replacing the belt, so I've nothing to lose!).
Is this just good fortune, or does the auto box 'cushion' the shock loading experienced by an engine during manual gear changes? I've also found that autos tend to induce a more laid back style of driving - maybe this helps??
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I bet the XM belt would be a pig of a job to do yourself. True, the auto box may give smoother rev changes compared to a manual, but I guess 179,000 miles would be a fair age and probably pushing it a bit.
You say the car is worth less than the belt, but, how much would it cost to get another XM in the condition yours is in?
True, most autos, especially big engined ones, do not have to reach high speeds, but the rubber still has to be flexible, rotate around pulleys and is still exposed to the same air. I would get it changed if you love your car.
Ben (Would like to get to love something with hydro-pneumatics)
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Hi Ben,
Point taken about the cost of re-acquiring another XM, but even though mine's in very good condition (1996), the mileage just kills the price stone dead (lucky to make £500)! I'm looking to change car in the next couple of weeks so probably won't replace that belt after all....
One word of warning, though - just be careful with large Citroëns, as the bug might bite! I've got a couple of CX's for when I'm feeling particularly perverse!!!
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Auto boxes are much kinder to engines than manuals because the auto changes up more readily than a driver with a manual. It also doesn't allow the engine to labour.
In the "old days" when mechanical parts wore out quicker than the body rusted, the extended engine life between rebuilds compensated for the extra cost of rebuilding an auto gearbox.
Nowadays, very few engines or auto gearboxes are rebuilt as their life has extended and labour cost is now very high.
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Hi LHM
I've had a couple of cx's over the years and loved them both, but they drove me to distraction with the electrics. Still, I'd love another and have been looking round for a cheapish GTi but to no avail. Where have they all gone?
Nick
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LHM,
CCC member?
Have you owned this XM from new so you know the belt hasn't been changed or is it just an assumption?
On this family of engines I do the belts at the usual 50K as an insurance but it has to be said they are not known to be belt breakers. On most I've found the tensioner bearings pretty rough by 120K +. Also the inevitable increase in small oil leaks over 100K can contaminate the belt.
nick,
If you want a CX GTi join the Citroen Car Club. In this months magazine there were 4 for sale, 7 last month.
No idea what you call cheap but here are two random examples....
CX25 GTi Turbo. 1986. 110K. Taxed, short MOT. VGC. Present owner 13yrs. £850
CX GTi Turbo. 1985. 117K. Near perfect in grey. A/C. Good tyres. Years MOT. Present owner 14yrs. No sensible offer refused!
If you didn't need a GTi there are two CXs (CX22 Safari & CX 2.4 Pallas) free to good home!!
MM
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I wish I hadn't seen that,Middleman! That '85 turbo looks just the job! Bet it's in Drumnadrochit or somewhere. I was a member of the CCC years ago, perhaps I should rejoin. Now how can I convince she-who-holds-the-purse-strings that an electrically-challenged french car is just what we need? And can I sneak CCC membership past her eagle eyes on the bank account?
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nick,
>>Bet it's in Drumnadrochit or somewhere.
Well as good as...Honiton, Devon.
Unless you live near there, in which case you name is on it already!
MM
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MM,
I knew it! I live in the depths of Lincolnshire. I've decided to rejoin the CCC though and hope a good 2400 or 2500 turns up on the doorstep.
I'm familiar with CX's but not the GTi's. Anything particular to look out for? Tell you what, I'll start a new thread and see if there is a CX GTi guru out there.
Nick
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I share your sentiments [auto Passat, 213,000] - original belt, but tension pulley changed at 160,000ish as started to whine.
I don't think auto makes any difference - a labouring engine tends to wear the metal bits inside but not the cambelt, the valves are just as easy to open and close.
I think cambelts break either because they get fried by the seized pulleys they drive, or by getting loose so that one day on starting the engine [the time of most stress on a belt] they jump a few teeth, pistons hit valves which stalls camshaft pulley, belt snaps, big bill.
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LHM,
How about posting the XM on the XM group at Yahoo groups? I am a member of that forum. It may be just ideal for a parts machine for a XM devotee.
And whilst I'm at it... I did a search on "LHM" on the archive in order to get some background on my XM. Not much use, as all it does is bring up loads of your posts...arrgghh :))
Rob
XM 2.5 VSX Estate
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