C5 2.0 HDI Timing belt change schedule

THELABMAN · Unread post by **THELABMAN** » 11 Apr 2010, 17:06

Hi Folks,

I'm looking at buying a 52 plate C5 2.0HDI SX, it's done according to the advert 72,000 miles with a full Citroen service history but speaking to the chap selling it on the phone it doesn't show any history of a timing belt change.

He's a small semi-retired independent trader who bought the car for himself back in Oct but has moved onto a soft top for summer, he says that as far as he is aware this engine doesn't require a belt change to over 100,000 miles which seems an awful lot of miles for a belt.... what is the Citroen recomended interval and at what mileage would you recomend it be done at.... not sure if it's a 90 or 110 does that make any difference.

Regards

wheeler · Unread post by **wheeler** » 11 Apr 2010, 17:21

100,000 miles

THELABMAN · Unread post by **THELABMAN** » 11 Apr 2010, 17:40

Thanks for the propmpt reply wheeler, 100,000 does seem an awful high mielage is it safe to leave it this long or would it be best to change sooner....

I'm pushing my budget out for this even at £2,200 and won't have any spare £'s for a belt change right away and seller doesn't seem inclined to change it as part of the sale.

Unread post by **myglaren** » 11 Apr 2010, 17:40

Doing it at 80,00 wouldn't hurt either, budget for a new water pump and possibly tensioner at the same time, plus serpentine belt and tensioner.

THELABMAN · Unread post by **THELABMAN** » 11 Apr 2010, 17:42

what kind of cost are we talking of here for timing belt and serpentine plus tensioners

Unread post by **myglaren** » 11 Apr 2010, 17:55

It isn't certain that the tensioners will need replacing but if there is the slightest wear on them it is advisable.

I don't recall now with any certainty but I think that I paid around £250 for a full service that included water pump, belts, 1 tensioner and 1 DM pulley.
New coolant of course, renewed washers on the injectors too.

When I bought mine the cambelt change was supposedly to occur at 112,500 miles, which was just about what was on the clock when I drove it from the dealers.
The service book is rather ambiguous so I had it done at 120,000 miles and just as well. It had been done but one of the tensioners was failing and the pulley driving the serpentine belt squeaking so they got seen to before they failed.
Most people agree that the service schedule is overly optimistic and opt for a much earlier change, far cheaper than the repairs to a damaged engine if it does fail early.

THELABMAN · Unread post by **THELABMAN** » 11 Apr 2010, 18:20

God if a service to include changing the belts is coming in at £250 that makes the car almost £2500 a lot of dosh for a 52 plate C5, I think I'll either need to do some haggling or have a serious think of my other option of going for a Rover 75 with a timing chain and not a belt.....

Unread post by **myglaren** » 11 Apr 2010, 18:31

Considerably cheaper to do it yourself of course!

Timing belt kit
ECP seem to have a problem linking the right bits though - this is for a 2.0 petrol, as are all on the list.

Toby_HDi · Unread post by **Toby_HDi** » 11 Apr 2010, 18:48

If it's the same engine as the Xantia, that is the 8v HDi, GSF do the kit for £54.50 + VAT. Waterpump is £28.50 plus the dreaded.

Its not too bad a job on the Xantia, shouldn't think the C5 should be much different

Citroenmad · Unread post by **Citroenmad** » 11 Apr 2010, 19:31

100K OR 10 years which ever comes round first.

However, that seems way too long in my opinion and im starting to think about getting my 04reg C5 done which has 72K miles. Just to be safe.

Ive not heard of many cambelts going, but i was shocked to see a C5 2.0HDi on an 03 plate being broken for parts on ebay as its cambelt had snapped at 72K miles, only a year older than mine.

Our old C5 estate had 103K miles before its cambelt was changed on a 52 plate, that was a year ago.

Dont know why some last longer than others, but for peace of mind id be getting it done sooner rather than later.

£2200 for a 52plate SX and 72K does seem a tiny bit on the high side to me. Id be pushing for closer to £2000.

I was told a few weeks ago by a good mechanic friend, who sadly passed away two weeks ago, that cambelts on C5s HDis are much easier to change than on the Xantias, so there is more room. WHich makes sense, he also said they are very easy to do.

Ive not got round to getting a price for mine to be changed yet, but im asuming around £200-£250 for the kit, water pump and fitting.

Unread post by **RichardW** » 11 Apr 2010, 19:55

The belt set up on the HDi is very robust, as was the XUD before it. They rarely let go, and even if they do, the damage is limited to a few broken rockers, so not catastrophic. The job on the Xantia is about 5 hours including the water pump, so I'm thinking nearer £400 for the job on my 98k Jan 01 Xantia HDi 110....

Citroenmad · Unread post by **Citroenmad** » 11 Apr 2010, 21:08

£400 for a cambelt change seems steep.

Whats the price for the kit itself? Around £100 for kit and waterpump? Leaves £100-£150 for labour going by my estimate. Im sure ill get mine done for that, though im on very good terms with the garage i use.

Good to know there is little damage caused should it snap, though always best to get it done earlier in my opinion. Especially if you dont know how the car has been used.

The later HDi engines (NOT 2.0HDi 8v) are 150K miles between cambelt changes, or i think 100K miles if the car is used under hard operating conditions. Towing etc.

boristhespie · Unread post by **boristhespie** » 11 Apr 2010, 21:32

I paid 750 for service including belt change at Dealer a few years back. Got the last one done at the same time as I got my head gasket replaced. Replaces tensioner and pump all for 800

Citroenmad · Unread post by **Citroenmad** » 11 Apr 2010, 21:45

Thats an awful lot, shows why dealers are a little over priced!

I get cambelts done on every car i buy, im yet to have one cost over £250 for the full kit, water pump and labour.

Unread post by **myglaren** » 11 Apr 2010, 22:05

Have you the address and contact details for the specialist that you employed boris, may just be the man for the job.