Aux Belt Shredding

[Andmcit]

2.5 TD WITH AC.

The car has had a NEW correct length belt fitted monday last week as the original was
starting to break up longitudinally and was done but a pro indy as it's a fiddle of a job
that requires certain unique tools to access the pulleys etc.

Yesterday the new belt totally snapped without any noise/warnings whilst my pal was
at IKEA losing al hydraulic power as well as scaring him as the engine 'sounded noisy
on the top end somehow although the car starts and ticks over OK, just to hydraulics...'

When the car goes back to the indy with the RAC tomorrow is there anything my pal can
buy/prepare himself to sort etc as the specailist says he's never heard of this problem and
everything seemed to check out on the pulleys/tensioners etc last week when he fitted
the belt. In truth I'm not sure if he's seen many 2.5 TD's that's the problem.

It isn't signs of serious issues on the engine though heaven knows what, but it's easy for
him to get neurotic as he's spent a few quid on the car now and just got a shiny new
MOT on it last week too!! I was even wondering if it may have been stressed due to the
stupid rev the bollocks of the engine emission test...

Anyone here been here with this before?

Andrew

[xmexclusive]

Hi Andrew

Sorry to hear about the 2.5 problems. I have managed to avoid it so far but have seen a number of reports (CCC & here) of difficulties. Little & Large has put up a number of posts having had some problems with his 2.5 belt and is living with a XM Centre jury rig fix I think. I seem to recall others reporting problems. It is very difficult to access and work on the belt/tensioners and not easy to examine them for condition. From memory the tensioner spring is handed but this is not obvious and it can be reassembled wrongly and its mounting bracket bends with use. Longitudinal belt break up suggests missalignment problems which were tolerable (trouble free) with an older slightly streatched (loose) belt. A new fully tightened belt might not have been so tolerant of missalignments. Replacement parts for the tensioner are somewhat expensive. Will see if I can find the items and put together a summary.

Regards

XMexc

This post has been edited by xmexclusive on June 17, 2007 10:52 am

[Andmcit]

Thanks John, any help will be appreciated if just to understand more what's wrong.
The Cit Indy is popular to many on different forums and the're regularly recommended
although in truth I can't recall their name - they're in Cheltenham though.

The last belt that came off did have a 5th of it's width split off and it did finally
snap clean across this width section still leaving the remainder keeping everything going.

I can't see any obvious misalignment and all the pullleys appear to run smoothly
although they are such a git to see.

Andrew

[xmexclusive]

Hi Andrew

In terms of seeing 2.5's with this belt arrangement the chances are low as my guesstimate is that less than 25% of 2.5's are fitted with aircon. Most UK bound 2.5's were made in 1994/1995 with aircon only on the exclusives (all cars) and just a few VSX estates fitted to special order. By 1997 when aircon became fairly standard very few 2.5's were manufactured for the UK.
My understanding is that a tensioning bracket can bend very slightly with time altering both the alignment and the tension across the belt. An old belt will have enough give/wear not to cause trouble having grown old, worn and flexible and can live with the missalignment. Putting a new belt on without renewing or refurbishing the bracket often seems to give trouble.
The belt on your friends car needs to be examined by the fitting garage. It should be possible from the mode of failure to deduce the cause of the failure. The least likely is manufacturing fault, very unusual but not unknown.

Regards

XMexc

This post has been edited by xmexclusive on June 17, 2007 01:01 pm

[xmexclusive]

Hi Andrew

Have just had a look through the service history of my 2.5 estate with airconditioning. About 18 months ago it had the belt/bracket/tensioner etc replaced by Solent Citroen as part of a level 3 service at 112k miles. They also replaced the water pump. It was then 8 years old. Total work cost virtually £1600 inc vat with the belt and associated bits costing about £300 with £330 labour. Water pump labour cost an extra £234.

Regards

XMexc

[mebedforduk]

Andrew

Make that two belts, mine went tonight

Well half has and the rest is flapping.

Its a bugger as I need the car in the morning so will have to risk it

Another GSF belt will have to do, springy bits too expensive

Everyone cross you fingers only 80 miles to go

Mark

[mebedforduk]

Found a simple way to change the belt, may not be with the blessing of Mr Citroen.

Will post in the self help file section

5 Min job