2004 1.4 petrol Timing belt change.
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One question per topic.
Petrol engine related faults, like injectors, error codes, overheating.
You can post more topics if necessary, but only one question per topic.
One question per topic.
Petrol engine related faults, like injectors, error codes, overheating.
You can post more topics if necessary, but only one question per topic.
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- Posts: 13
- Joined: Wed Jan 09, 2019 7:53 pm
- Model: C3 2002-2005, Original shape model
- Year: 2004 (04)
- Engine Size: 1.4
- Fuel Type: Petrol
- Mileage: 50000
- Gearbox: Automatic PRND
- DPF: No
- LHD or RHD: RHD (UK)
- Been thanked: 1 time
So I have locked the Cams and crank put my own timing marks on there so I can see myself whether it's timed. There are a couple of marks on the cams bit they don't line up with anything?
I have then fitted the belt starting from the crank.
Tightened the tensioner as per instructions.....is it possible I've damaged it?
Unlocked both cams and crank turned it clock wise 2x full revolutions and it moved by the same amount. Is this most likely to be the belt then changing teeth and moving it out of time? I've watched it round and it doesn't seem to jump at all?
Maybe it's happening underneath?
Getting so frustrated 2 days trying to time the engine
I have then fitted the belt starting from the crank.
Tightened the tensioner as per instructions.....is it possible I've damaged it?
Unlocked both cams and crank turned it clock wise 2x full revolutions and it moved by the same amount. Is this most likely to be the belt then changing teeth and moving it out of time? I've watched it round and it doesn't seem to jump at all?
Maybe it's happening underneath?
Getting so frustrated 2 days trying to time the engine
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- Posts: 844
- Joined: Mon Mar 05, 2012 9:29 pm
- Model: C3 2002-2005, Original shape model
- Year: 2004 (04)
- Engine Size: 1.1
- Fuel Type: Petrol
- Gearbox: Manual 5 speed
- DPF: No
- LHD or RHD: RHD (UK)
- Engine name: TU3 (75 PS)
- Location: United Kingdom
- Has thanked: 46 times
- Been thanked: 35 times
Hello aturnernffc.aturnernffc wrote: ↑Tue Feb 05, 2019 11:13 amThe cams stay in sync but when I align the crank shaft up it's a few degrees out?
Your post suggests to me that you either have the wrong length of belt or you're not threading it properly around the pulleys. The side between the cam shaft pulleys and crank shaft pulley which doesn't have the tensioner needs to be tensioned while threading or you run the risk of being a tooth out before you've had chance to set the tensioner on the 'slack' side.
If at first you don't succeed, destroy all the evidence and pretend you never tried 

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- Posts: 2815
- Joined: Wed May 04, 2011 10:01 am
- Model: C3 2002-2005, Original shape model
- Year: 2002 (02)
- Engine Size: 1.4 (16v)
- Fuel Type: Diesel
- Mileage: 140000
- Gearbox: Manual 5 speed
- DPF: No
- LHD or RHD: RHD (UK)
- Engine name: DV4 16-valve diesel (90 PS)
- Has thanked: 220 times
- Been thanked: 109 times
The cam timing is done by locking both camshaft toothed pulleys with the right size drill bit or bolts.aturnernffc wrote: ↑Tue Feb 05, 2019 12:11 pm So I have locked the Cams and crank put my own timing marks on there so I can see myself whether it's timed. There are a couple of marks on the cams bit they don't line up with anything?
You can find a locking hole on the crank pulley, the one on the lower picture. This one is a diesel, but they have similar setups to the petrol.
Fit the belt, aligning the marks on it (if they are there) with the marks on the pulleys, over the crankshaft, over the cams keeping it tight as you go. This is a bit tricky but all the slack needs to be on the tensioner side, then waterpump and finally the tensioner.
Do the tensioner next by following the instructions about slackening it off and adjusting it to maximum.
Remove the locking pins
Do your 4 manual revolutions
Refit the crank locking pin
Do the tensioner again to set it to the normal running position
Remove the crank locking pin now the tensioner is set.
Do 2 manual revolutions and check the tensioner is indicating the correct position with its little arm.
(you may have a different tensioner, so it is better to follow the instructions that came with the belt kit).
To check the timing you re-insert the bolts into the timing places and if they fit, its good (but if the tensioner is showing correctly and its all the right parts, you should be spot on).
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- Posts: 13
- Joined: Wed Jan 09, 2019 7:53 pm
- Model: C3 2002-2005, Original shape model
- Year: 2004 (04)
- Engine Size: 1.4
- Fuel Type: Petrol
- Mileage: 50000
- Gearbox: Automatic PRND
- DPF: No
- LHD or RHD: RHD (UK)
- Been thanked: 1 time


Thank you all I think I was worrying about the wrong side when putting the belt out.
You are correct when the crank cam side of the engine needed to be tight.
I stripped it all down took your advice all of it. I then slowly went through the whole process. And wolaaaah it didn't move.
I also found the correct drawing which il post below to help others.
Again thanks to everyone who has inputted putting me in the right direction. I will let you know how the dreaded start up went.
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- Posts: 24
- Joined: Tue Dec 25, 2018 2:53 am
- Model: C3 2002-2005, Original shape model
- Year: 2005 (05)
- Engine Size: 1.4 (8v)
- Fuel Type: Petrol
- Mileage: 45000
- Gearbox: Manual 5 speed
- DPF: No
- LHD or RHD: RHD (UK)
- Engine name: TU3 (75 PS)
- Has thanked: 3 times
- Been thanked: 5 times
on the positive side of your 2 days of trying to get it set up - this topic will help many others in the future
Glad its sorted

Glad its sorted
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- Posts: 254
- Joined: Mon Dec 18, 2017 12:10 am
- Model: C3 Pluriel - with or without roof
- Year: 2003 (53)
- Engine Size: 1.6 (16v)
- Fuel Type: Petrol
- Mileage: 90000
- Gearbox: Manual 5 speed
- DPF: No
- LHD or RHD: RHD (UK)
- Engine name: ET3 16-valve (90 PS)
- Has thanked: 48 times
- Been thanked: 38 times
Please do. I am sure it will be fine.aturnernffc wrote: ↑Tue Feb 05, 2019 5:38 pm
Again thanks to everyone who has inputted putting me in the right direction. I will let you know how the dreaded start up went.
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- Posts: 13
- Joined: Wed Jan 09, 2019 7:53 pm
- Model: C3 2002-2005, Original shape model
- Year: 2004 (04)
- Engine Size: 1.4
- Fuel Type: Petrol
- Mileage: 50000
- Gearbox: Automatic PRND
- DPF: No
- LHD or RHD: RHD (UK)
- Been thanked: 1 time
Hello all.
I started her up and she ran like a dream.
Only problem is I've notice the notch on the tensioner has moved and seems to of tightened slightly is this normal or do I need to strip the whole thing down again.
I might cry should that be the case
I started her up and she ran like a dream.
Only problem is I've notice the notch on the tensioner has moved and seems to of tightened slightly is this normal or do I need to strip the whole thing down again.
I might cry should that be the case
-
- Posts: 13
- Joined: Wed Jan 09, 2019 7:53 pm
- Model: C3 2002-2005, Original shape model
- Year: 2004 (04)
- Engine Size: 1.4
- Fuel Type: Petrol
- Mileage: 50000
- Gearbox: Automatic PRND
- DPF: No
- LHD or RHD: RHD (UK)
- Been thanked: 1 time
Hi all so drove the car about 4 miles and now there's oil leaking out every where? What could of I have done to cause this it's coming from the side I've been working on but not sure exactly
The topic continues here
The topic continues here
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