PSA Dizzler - cambelt query?

[pogweasel]

OK, so I guess this is firmly in Reginald Welfare territory but there may be others who can help....2.0HDi - DIY cambelt-able, or a major arseache? Its a Picasso ( ) for 'Er Indoors. If it's a garage job, is it major hassles or an easy in/out?Car's done 95k so it's pretty much due, but it's the spec she wants, within reasonable distance, and is priced comparable with the 200K+++ ex-airport jobs, so obv of interest. Any advice gratefully recieved.

[Ross_K]

I don't think it's overly complicated compared to the old XUD.The people over at FCF are the all-knowing ones when it comes to French engines:http://www.frenchcarforum.co.uk/forum/v ... hp?t=22673

[pogweasel]

Ta

[retrogeezer]

Or the Cit Pic forum is great too...if you haven't seen it already, here is the link:http://citroenpicasso.org.uk/picasso/index.phpHad a 2001 HDI from March 03 to March 08....thought it was a great car (depreciation was a bit tough to swallow though) That said, it did everything we needed it to for 5 years with no dramas whatsoever.....first few holidays with my newborn (at the time!) it was great as we could take everything apart from the kitchen sink.Look about on there and you will see a few posts from me, but not for a while. I did a 'how to' on stopping the CD player skipping. My brother has the car now...

[Richard]

HDi cambelt procedure is identical to the XUD apart from two things. You don't have to lock the fuel pump and the belt tensioner is manual instead of the automatic tensioner the XUD had. It's actually pretty much the same engine.As ever with a transverse engine the biggest factor is access. I chickened out on my Xantia but my mate did it and said it was marginally easier than the XUD.

[Father Ted]

^^^ What he said, but access is more of a cnut on the Pick & Bling than it is on say the 406 or Xantia ( esp, if it has air con)Go for the 90BHP 2.0 over the 90BHP 1.6 though every time as its less stressed and should last longer. Siemens fuel pumps have a habit of self destructing though about 70 or 80K so try and find a Bosch example.

[r.welfare]

Not my territory at all, as I have wimped out every time I need to do one, but it looks relatively straightforward. Getting the crank pulley off (and the aux belt before that, if it has the stupid Allen bolts holding the tensioner on, which are made of butter) is probably the hardest part, followed by locking it. Buy a mid-80's Mazda 323 if you want the simplest transverse-engined cambelt change known to man For longterm ownership happiness, I'd cut the change interval down a bit - I always do my 405s every 36k, 'cos 72k seems a bit long in my book. I assume the HDi has a 100k interval from what you are saying, which seems insane for a piece of reinforced rubber - but what do I know...Shame they didn't do the Picarsehole with the 1.9TD - keep a grand down the back of the sofa for the inevitable fuel pump explosion

[Richard]

Shame they didn't do the Picarsehole with the 1.9TD - keep a grand down the back of the sofa for the inevitable fuel pump explosion

It's not completely inevitable. Change the fuel filter regularly and replace the lift pump (£100-£150ish I think) at the first sign of metal particles in the filter housing.The main problem seems to be that the plastic filter housing isn't rigid enough to be effective under pressure. Some people have suggested replacing the filter assembly with the metal canister type from a VW.

[Richard]

Buy a mid-80's Mazda 323 if you want the simplest transverse-engined cambelt change known to man

The simplest transverse engined cambelt change I've ever done was the Renault Savanna. It's got a Clio engine in a car twice the width, you can practically stand in the engine bay while you do it. I did do a Mazda 626 once and it was pretty easy. The total cost to the owner of a broken belt was £7.

[pogweasel]

Well, we looked at it, tested it, did not buy it.Got there to find it was pretty poorly spec'd, no Aircon, no captains armrests, no load cover, no shopping trolley, picnic table missing, no anything really. Also the interior plastics seemed to be very ingrained with dirt, despite obviously having been given a once over. Clutch was a bit juddery too. Add in the cost of the cambelt and then removing the ghey northern ireland registration and it really wasn't worth it. Felt alot like a 'comedown' after driving the focus. Acres of elephant's-arse-effect hard plastic. I'd forgotten about that. Bl00dy testicles.

[Richard]

What about a C5? Acres of room, especially in the estate, cheap road tax on the HDi and dirt cheap to buy cos they're ugly as sin. The estate has such useful features as an opening rear window and a button in the boot that raises or lowers the back end for loading.

[retrogeezer]

Must have been a base LX model.....SX has the a/c and armrest things (which I found essential with the high seating position) Careful with the Desire 'special' edition as it does not have the armrests either.

[pogweasel]

Well 'Er Indoors has found an 'Exclusive' at a nice price now, but it's in ruddy Southampton, so not sure what to do.

[Guest]

Well 'Er Indoors has found an 'Exclusive' at a nice price now, but it's in ruddy Southampton, so not sure what to do.

Abandon the idea completely and buy this instead:

1979 Plaxton Supreme IV

 

Just think how delighted your missus would be if you rolled up in that - she'd think you were forward thinking (lots of room for extra kids) and enterprising (could drive old biddies to the seaside in it for £15 a pop, Pogweasels of Biggleswade!). There's absolutely no chance you could fail.

[pogweasel]

Abandon the idea completely and buy this instead:

1979 Plaxton Supreme IV

 

AWESOME.

[pompei]

And you could re-enact classic On THe Buses episodes. Winner!

[pogweasel]

Well after some faffing

 

Seems we will be pootling off to purchase this one in a couple of days time.

 

 

'53' reg "Exclusive" with all the bells & whistles, 128k with full history and a clean record. [/img]

[Mr_Bo11ox]

Theyre OK those things, I seemed to end up with them quite often as hire cars in France, Styling is pretty cool and nice + big inside, but a bit anodyne to drive I found, if comfortable. Get a towbar on it, make a decent a-frame dragger if its a 2.0 deezle. Hey whats happening with project 'pearl necklace'?

[retrogeezer]

full length roof too....was an expensive option I think. How much out of interest??? I sold my July 2001 Y reg HDi SX to my brother for £3500 back in march which was £500 less than the others he had seen with much higher miles. (mine had only done 56000)

[pogweasel]

Put it this way, it's about half what it 'books' at. Same money we paid for the focus a few years ago, again that was about half what the forecourt value was. I know what you mean Reg_Bo11 about 'anodyne', but agree the big 'captain' chairs are quite nice.As for it being "GR8 4 A-FRAMIN'" I have been told in no uncertain terms that I am not allowed to put a towbar on this one Which leaves a dilemma. I could fit up the van for that but (a) it's probably crap for a-framing as it has f*ck all torque, and ( when it gets replaced (v.soon) I am eyeing up a smaller one. So that's out. Just leaves the BMW, which is more than 'grunty' enough, but ruinous fuel-wise.... :evil:'pearl necklace' is temporarily on-hold while I faff over this financially....

[r.welfare]

Nice. Vomit-inducing seat trim, or leather?Not sure what the crack is with these glass roofs, the old man has just taken delivery of a Qashqai with one, it doesn't open but has an electrically-powered sunshade. Seems pointless to me but it's standard fit on that particular spec. That + black leather = seating surfaces at the same temperature as the sun after a sunny day parked up, shorts are out!

[garethj]

There's absolutely no chance you could fail.

You're not married, are you? If Mrs Pog is happy, the motor's not too expensive and it doesn't go wrong I reckon that Citroen is a result

[pogweasel]

Well, the silver one fell through in the end.

 

Just imagine, in 2008 a car dealer who does not have the facility to take a credit card. MONG.

 

Anyway, we have made a blezz up to Norfolk today to pick up this...

 

 

Slightly lowlier 'SX' model, teensy bit older, but still at a very reasonable price. Seems "OK". Can't say it exites me, apart from the multi-function MPG-o-meter... my 'best' during the trip was 114mpg on throttle whilst stuck behind a tractor, worst being 25mpg giving it full 'beans' on the A14 slip-road. Average for the trip was 58.7.

Other than that, perfectly adequate. Oh, apart from the brake lights packing up en-route home.

[Father Ted]

Hmmm, Makro wheeltrimz there FTL!

 

I have a set of 15" Blingo items thay would look better yours for either pick up or postage costs. Will try and post a pic.

 

(Like the above)

[Ross_K]

Other than that, perfectly adequate. Oh, apart from the brake lights packing up en-route home.

Bad earth behind one of the rear light clusters?Things like aftermarket radios or towbar electrics can play havoc with the multiplex wiring if they're not installed properly too...And those trimz have to go.

[Richard]

Bad earth behind one of the rear light clusters?Things like aftermarket radios or towbar electrics can play havoc with the multiplex wiring if they're not installed properly too...

Don't I know it! Our C5 had a bad earth in the brake lights and it made the centre light stay on dimly all the time and the suspension would only work with the ignition off.

[Volksy]

Keep da Trimz.. or at least till it sheds them from natural selection.

[pogweasel]

Well, you were all wrong on the brake lights. Switch at the top of the pedal had a poor connection. Now sorted. Apparently it's a common problem.Tr1mz will probably stay.

[Ross_K]

Well, you were all wrong on the brake lights. Switch at the top of the pedal had a poor connection.

You always expect the worst with a Citroen.As you'll find out...

[r.welfare]

Even VAG-based stuff suffers from that brake light switch issue!Ditch the wheeltrimz and get Father Ted's though, those jippo Mondeo LX-style offcasts look awful - if only for keeping them in the shed until you come to sell it