23-09-2013, 01:23 PM
My 2004 Picasso (2.0 HDi) needed a new cambelt as it's now 9 years old and has done 45000 miles. I know it's not a Berlingo but the same engine is used in the Berlingo and I thought members of this forum would be interested in my experience.
I had the cambelt fitted at my nephew's garage in Llandudno, at the same time as new front discs and pads. On collection it started fine and sounded normal. On the way back to Manchester, approaching Runcorn after 45 miles and doing 70mph the engine suddenly lost power and started making very loud banging noises and lots of smoke at the back. To cut a long story short we were rescued by a Runcorn motor engineers at 5.30pm on Friday night who towed us in and then took us to the rail station. I was due to go to France in the car on the following Sunday. We had to go in our "spare" car, a Ford Mondeo. On our return we picked up the repaired car from the garage. Apparently they have come across this problem twice before. They say that the bolt which secures the tensioner to the engine block is not sufficiently hard and the threads shear, releasing the tension in the belt which then slipped a notch, hence the noises. I was lucky - only the 2 valves in No 2 cylinder needed replacement. The garage (Scottspecautos of Halton Road, Runcorn) told me they now always use the original bolt when fitting cambelt kits as the quality of the bolt included in the kit cannot be guaranteed. This kit was by a company called Continental something. It cost £560 to repair the damage. My nephew assured me he used the correct procedure and torque settings when fitting. I have found him to be very meticulous in his work so I believe him.
So, the message is to make sure when having a new cambelt on the DW10 engine, that the fitter is aware that this bolt is critical and if in any doubt about the quality of the new bolt, then use the old one. At least it has stood the test of time, and is probably a Citroen component.
I had the cambelt fitted at my nephew's garage in Llandudno, at the same time as new front discs and pads. On collection it started fine and sounded normal. On the way back to Manchester, approaching Runcorn after 45 miles and doing 70mph the engine suddenly lost power and started making very loud banging noises and lots of smoke at the back. To cut a long story short we were rescued by a Runcorn motor engineers at 5.30pm on Friday night who towed us in and then took us to the rail station. I was due to go to France in the car on the following Sunday. We had to go in our "spare" car, a Ford Mondeo. On our return we picked up the repaired car from the garage. Apparently they have come across this problem twice before. They say that the bolt which secures the tensioner to the engine block is not sufficiently hard and the threads shear, releasing the tension in the belt which then slipped a notch, hence the noises. I was lucky - only the 2 valves in No 2 cylinder needed replacement. The garage (Scottspecautos of Halton Road, Runcorn) told me they now always use the original bolt when fitting cambelt kits as the quality of the bolt included in the kit cannot be guaranteed. This kit was by a company called Continental something. It cost £560 to repair the damage. My nephew assured me he used the correct procedure and torque settings when fitting. I have found him to be very meticulous in his work so I believe him.
So, the message is to make sure when having a new cambelt on the DW10 engine, that the fitter is aware that this bolt is critical and if in any doubt about the quality of the new bolt, then use the old one. At least it has stood the test of time, and is probably a Citroen component.
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