There's a rattle which looks like it's from the higher positioned aux belt pulley although there's
enough of a visible vibration to suggest the spring/damper on the casting is weak at idle; I can't
even get my hand in there to tug the pulley to see if there's any play/rock. When the engine is
revved it goes quiet and all seems happy. Additionally, any pulley noise goes away altogether
when the car is on the lowest suspension setting and no strain is transmitted through the belt
from the hydraulic pump! Where do I start!!?

Do I spend my hard earned on a new spring, a new aux pulley idler or swap over the hydraulic
pump and alternator with good second hand items (I'm not in a hurry to mess about with the
AC compressor here mind!!)

Am I right to be very paranoid about a collapsed aux belt wrapping around the main timing
belt under its cover or will there be no harm done if the aux belt snaps or collapses due to a
failed pulley tensioner?

Does anyone know if the system is the same as that found on the the Xantia XUD TD AC aux
belt tensioner? (as in identical as that'd be nice and handy ) Come to that, is the 2.5 one
different or the same too!?

Anyone able to shed some light here? Guys? Heeelllp

Andrew

Hi Andrew

2.5 and Xantia are different and not swappable. I also think the 2.1 is different yet again but not had a loose one to compare with the other two. I seem to recall a few reports of dead engines from belts that went. Not something I personally would want to take risks on.

Regards

John

Andrew,

The LATER S2 xantia TD XUD with auto tensioner and air con also suffer badly, I can hear a weak spring with my ear, the spring does get weak and allow it to flap, but what also happens then is the bearing the tensioner pivots on can wear and allow the pully to tilt to one side thus then wearing a groove in the aux belt, thus then splitting it ALONG the length of the belt, its this small part then that wraps itself around the bottom crank and causes the known disaster..

I could imagine the 2.1 being the same as the 1.9, have you any way of getting a picture? I have a NEW spare tensioner unit BUT no pully, if you find the bearings are worn but your pully ok...

Sorry I didn;t answer your quiery.. Yes the Weak spring will cause the flapping which then goes after rising the revs, Seen a few XUD's lilke this.. the spring is available seperatly, and there is different length springs too..

Rgds
Paul

Thanks for the replies!

I've had a close look at a spare Xantia 1.9 TD air con carrier bracket that the two pulleys and spring
mount onto and got my head around what its all supposed or trying to do then had a very close look
at the Xm 2.1 tonight with a good torch! The damped tensioner pulley that is sprung looks brand
spanking new, as does the big 7" spring with the belt looking very new too. As the car is a recent
purchase with limited info on it's past spannering I'd go so far as to say someone's been here before
and chucked some cash at it and been disheartened by failure to stop the noise which really does
sound like a dry bearing on re examining it which firmly points a finger of suspicion at the other idler
offset cam style pulley which looks hundreds of years old...

I've tried to get a lever against the pulleysto determine if there's any play but cannot get any
movement; as I say, its really noise rather than a significant movement and I'm now ok with the
idea that the spring damper will get a bit of movement that will patter the attached pulley ever
so slightly.

Unless the neighbouring AC compressor has a dry bearing I'm now thinking of taking the plunge
for a new idler cam mounted pulley; does anyone have access to citroen's parts price data base
to raise a price as I cannot get it fully displayed on my applemac as the poxy browser that is
used by Citroen needs a PC only plug-in...

Andrew

Paid a fruitful visit to the GSF branch in Cardiff a week ago ostensibly to buy a set of front
brake pads for the 2.0i TurboCT and had a chat with the manager there about the pulley
tensioner I'm concerned with on the 2.1TD. Initially, they didn't show a listing for the 2.1 on
their usual system but the guy did pull up another system/search which DID show the additional
idler that I want showing fitment for a 2.1 along with the catalogue listed spring damper and
swing bracket idler pulley as listings for the Xantia XUD 1.9TD aircon system and best of all
they had everything in stock = far better than my local mob in Swansea...

I've now got the eccentric idler pulley or ribbed belt tensioner as it's called, and from closer
inspection of the car it appears right for the system fitted on the 2.1 so we'll see if there's any
problems. It'd be a nice fix if it does stop the noise I'm worrying about for 30 odd quid too.
Now 'just' need to contort myself into the wheelarch and get it sorted.

Andrew

Hmmmmmm I thought so ........

The haynes book of laughs also confirms in its Squmatic diagram of tensioning/fitting the Aux belt that the 2.1 has the same set up as the 1.9 td with Air Con...

I thought I was nearly right....

Rgds
Paul

Hi Andmcit.

The idler pulley is 70 mm dia and 29 mm wide cit part no 5751.29.

Robert

Thanks Robert.

Interesting measurements; are these on the parts listing or from one you have beside you!?
I've measured the new one here ready for fitment and the diameter is the same figure but
the thickness is 27mm. Could be a problem! We'll see.

With thanks to RichardW on FCF I have these figures:

Just realised; there's no problem here with the thickness!!

The measurement of 27 is the actual roller thickness but the centre boss is standing proud by
a few mm as clearance, about 1.5mm on the inner face and the remainder on the front face.

Fingers crossed!

Andrew

The 29mm is from the parts list.

All three items are listed in the INA catalogue and the likely source for your supplier. Good saving.

Robert