VTS/GTI Cambelt tension

  1. L-plater Joined: Jun 2007 Posts: 51
    #1
    Hi all,

    New to this so sorry if this has been covered as can't seem to find it.

    Replacing my belt & tensioners on my Pug/Citroen 106GTI/VTS and just want to know what kind of tension people use on tensioning the belt. My old 205GTI was sprung loaded so not sure about these!

    Asked Peugeot & they said I need a special tool using SEEM units which is £hundreds!

    Any advice much appreciated!

    Cheers,

    Matt
  2. Saxperience Forum Bum Joined: Jun 2006 aylesbury buckinghamshire Posts: 4822 Astra Turbo, saxo vts, punto turbo
    #2
    Yeah citroen use a seems tool to set the tension but u can do it manually, sometimes it can be a bitch and might need a couple of attempts to get it spot on, check out my guide mate, http://www.saxperience.com/forum/showthread.php?t=65315
  3. L-plater Joined: Jun 2007 Posts: 51
    #3
    Excellent, just tighten until you can twist 45 deg on longest length?

    Great guide mate! Just another quick question if ok. Putting in CAT CAM 708s and have been told the hyd lifters need to be replaced when using a new cam shaft. Is this true as these lifter sets seem to be £200 plus!!

    Thanks again for your time,

    Matt
  4. Frequent Poster Joined: May 2006 Posts: 691 Mk 1 VTS poseidon blue
    #4
    Quote:
    Originally Posted by stevenet15 View Post
    3) The cambelt tensioner now needs to be set, citroen use a tool called a seems unit to do this but you can do it manually.
    apply pressure to the rear upper part of the tensioner pushing down and towards the front of the vehicle untill the cambelt is at the desired tension then tighten the 13mm tensioner bolt (20nm).

    the job is now complete, start the car and then go for a drive, if the engine seems like its whining a little then you may have over tightened the cambelt, to sort this redo the procedure but slacken the belt off slightly if required.

    I was going to ask the same question… its an awesome guide but that’s the only thing that was missing – the desired tension? I heard 45degrees too but is that defiantly just on the longest section? What happens if it’s too tight? My last belt slipped a tooth and I don’t want that to happen again… so would say 30degrees make the belt too tight? Will the whining do the belt any harm?

    Chears
  5. Saxperience Forum Bum Joined: Jun 2006 aylesbury buckinghamshire Posts: 4822 Astra Turbo, saxo vts, punto turbo
    #5
    u have missed the other steps in that quote, just use common sense realy jsut get it tight but not to tight and i personally start the engine with the cambelt cover off that way i can see if its to loose (bouncing) or to tight (whining) then adjsut it accordingly eiter slacken it off a bit or tighten it a bit, its also important that u slacken and then tighten the cambelt sprocket bolts for it to spread the tension accross the belt evenly if not one side might be tighter then the other

    1) slacken the 6 camshaft sprocket bolts and rotate the sprockets fully clockwise.
    2) fit the new cambelt on lining the white markings on the belt up with the indentation markings on the crank/camshaft sprockets. (Teeth 1, 52, 72)
    3) The cambelt tensioner now needs to be set, citroen use a tool called a seems unit to do this but you can do it manually.
    apply pressure to the rear upper part of the tensioner pushing down and towards the front of the vehicle untill the cambelt is at the desired tension then tighten the 13mm tensioner bolt (20nm).
    4) next tighten the 6 camshaft sproket bolts that we loosened earlier (10nm).
    5) remove the timing pins and rotate the engine 4 times using a ratchet 4 times then reinsert the timing pins at TDC.
    6) slacken the camshaft sproket bolts slighty to allow the tension to even out accross the belt and then tighten back up (10nm)
    7) instal the cambelt covers, engine mount and alternator parts in reverse order to takeing them off.
  6. Frequent Poster Joined: May 2006 Posts: 691 Mk 1 VTS poseidon blue
    #6
    Ahh thanks for that! It was just the bit where you said “desired tension”… wasn’t too sure exactly what that was I’ve heard it’s tricky to do and you really need to do a few before you get an idea of the sort of tension that’s needed… guess you will have a good idea being a mechanic...I'll just have to use a bit of common sense combined with a bit of guessage
  7. L-plater Joined: Jun 2007 Posts: 51
    #7
    Thats a great help, cheers mate!

    That 10nm torque tightening, is that applied on the square drive on the tensioner itself?

    Sorry to keep pestering you mate, just want to make sure I get it right!

    Kind Regards,

    Matt