Cam Belt Tension

I have just changed the cam belt on a 1.1 cinq sporting but i cannot get the rite tension.

The car won't start and the belt always slips 5 teeth, How can i get the right tension.

I have been using 90 degree pliers and pulling as the haynes book states and it's very tight but after trying to fire it is always 5 teeth out (have tried 4 times now and always 4 teeth out.)

Any ideas would be great as i kinda need a car !!

Just a thought, you haven't lost the woodruff key have you?

Cheers

PD

Wrong cambelt pitch?

Cambelt pitch ?? what is this and how do i check it.

Woodruff key?? what is this and how do i check it lol .

surely you wont of lost the woodruff key unless you have removed a pully (have you?)

I would go with the cambelt pitch or length.

btw the way I tention the belt is with a ring spanner and an allen key. put the spanner over the nut then put the allen key in one of the holes and force it against the spanner/nut to tension then tweek the nut tight (do it with the nut already tight enough just to hold the tensioner in position)

For cambelt pitch, hold the belt against each of the pulleys in turn. The grooves in the belt should engage exactly with the grooves on the pulleys. (FIAT changed the pitch a few times).

To check if something is moving when it shouldn't (suggest one of the little pseudo woodruff keys -- actually cast into the pulleys -- has broken) use Tippex to put a witness line on the pulleys and the retaining nut.

Pulley that drives the alternator is removed but nothing else.

How do i check the pitch etc, I visually matched belts up when i removed old one, both same size and teeth same size and space etc.

I can get it all in place. turn engine manually and now it slips/jumps 2 teeth over 3 engine turns.

i line all belt up put the tensioner in and get right angled pliers, pull as hard a s i can while partner tightens up nut. when i do this i can just about turn the cam belt 90 degrees at its longest point. belt seems very tight but still slips etc, although i cannot see where from !!!

Everything rotates freely without belt.

Woaaaahhhh

You check the tension after you have tightened the tensioner, not while you are tightening the tensioner.

Cheers

PD

Had my partners cousin (a mechanic) look at it and we seem to think its the crankshaft sensor.

Car wont fire up but everything moves fine etc, Ordered a new one will fit monday and hopefully problems solved.


Also car has lost a whole expansion tank of water in 4 days. No visable leak, What aint rite !!!

Head is fine and coolant system was bleed properly ???

Well, the fairies are unlikely to be drinking it. Either you have a HG problem, or water is leaking from somewhere you've not spotted yet.

I dont recon a duff sensor will cause the belt to slip.

sorry belt no longer slips car just wont start now,

Car has been parked up for 4 days and has lost no coolant so there is no noticeable leak but when car is running its losing water etc.

No visable leak on head gasket and oil is brand new (3 months old) etc and looks perfect.

Generally, problem with HGs is you can't see a leak. A co0mpression test (or a leakdown test, or a coolant pressurisation test) is the only way to be sure.

If it's loosing while running, suspect the water pump. Generally this won't be obvious unless you crawl under the car with the engine running and up to temperature. Of course, if it is, you'll have to take the belt off again...........

well i have just changed the water pump so hopefully tomoz when i change this sensor and get car running again i can check it all again.

Only loses water while running etc, had paper under car and no leak etc.

will post up tomoz hopefully when car is running again.

How did you solve the belt jumping issue?

Cheers

PD