Citroen C5 2.0HDI 110LX 2002 '52' Auto 80,000miles - Possible head damage

Honest John Back Room » Technical matters
View Threaded
Fri 23 Mar 2012 07:44
Citroen C5 2.0HDI 110LX 2002 '52' Auto 80,000miles - Possible head damage - Reece Jones

Hi there guys,

I'm looking for a bit of advice regarding what could possibly be wrong with my car... a few days ago, on my short drive to work, the engine started making some strange noises. Nothing too loud or severe, but noticeable. I continued to work, and turned off the engine. The car would then not restart at all.

I called out the AA, who spent a while digging around under the bonnet and plugged in the diagnostics, which was showing PO380 - Glow relay over current and PO340 - Sync - Cam to crankshaft, signal improbable. He then took out the Camshaft sensor, the end of which was physically smashed! The cam belt however is still intact. His verdict was possible timing out.

Now I have a decent 'basic' understanding of engine mechanics, but im hoping someone with a better understanding can help me out.

1) what could have possibly caused the camshaft sensor to be broken like that without the cambelt breaking?

2) is it possible to see if there is any valve/head damage without taking the head off? would it be visible from under the rocker cover? I understand that on these engines the vales are vertical, so rockers tend to break before valves bend? please correct me if im wrong! also could the pistons be damaged too?

3) I am HOPING!! that I can just replace the camshaft sensor, cambelt (and probably water pump and crank pulley while im at it) reset the timing and all will be ok! Does this sound like a reasonable assumption? or am i dreaming?! As there was no major noise/smoke and the car was driving ok until i turned it off.

Unfortunately I can't afford to get the head/engine reconditioned or replaced, and I have read that extracting valves etc on these engines is a bit of a pain to say the least, so I need to find out for sure what the extent of the damage is. I may just have to cut my losses and sell for spares or repairs, which is a shame because otherwise it is a great car! fast, smooth comfortable! and I have spent quite a lot of money on it (as i'm sure most c5 owners have!)

Any advice is very gratefully recieved

Cheers

Reece

Reply | Report as offensive | Link
Fri 23 Mar 2012 08:43
Citroen C5 2.0HDI 110LX 2002 '52' Auto 80,000miles - Possible head damage - hardway

Seen all kinds of things in these,cam phase sensor is set to an air gap,only way I can see for this kind of damage happening is the cam/drive sprocket moving,possible sheared sprocket key,loose sprocket or broken cam shaft.something has to have impacted it.

Anyway,as soon as the cam cover is off you'll know,not as easy as it sounds,these have a injector seizing in problem,and they have to come out befor the cam cover can come off.point of interest is the original rocker arms,hydraulic lifter and securing yoke on these have been modified by manufacturer,so I renew every one,all valves,pricey but it doesn't do this again

On ballance given it's age it's probably dead,sorry.

Reply | Report as offensive | Link