Technical X250 Ducato timing belt replacement

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Technical X250 Ducato timing belt replacement

MJFERGUSON

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I'm in the process of replacing the timing belt and water pump on my 2.3 X250 Ducato. I have loosened all the bolts holding the timing cover in place but don't seem to have enough room to physically remove it. Has anyone else done this job? Does the cover lift upwards and be removed from the top or do I have to remove the air conditioning compressor and then pull the timing cover out from below? I'm tired and frustrated at present and wishing I hadn't ever started the job. Any advice gratefully received. Thanks.
 
Hi
unfortunately not in English but gives you an idea of what's involved but not your problem with removing the cover. Have you downloaded a copy of the X250 eLearn from the downloads section?
2.3 Belt replacement ? -


& on bench belt removal & 2.3 engine disassembly.


2.3 on an Iveco in English. -
Cheers
 
Last edited:
Thank You. Yes, I downloaded the elearn manual from here. Its very good and I am following the process they describe. Unfortunately I am at the stage where I have loosened all the bolts that hold the plastic timing cover in place as they say -"1. Undo fixing bolts (1a) and remove protective timing control cover (1b)." The problem is that I just don't have enough room to remove the cover. The elearn manual doesn't mention anything about the air-conditioning compressor. I'm wondering whether I have to remove that in order to slide the plastic cover out from underneath?
 
According to later document, you have to remove the compressor and its mounting plate before removing the timing cover.
 

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Thanks for all your suggestions. Today I removed the air conditioning compressor and its mount. Using an iron bar I was able to move the engine slightly to the left hand side in order to create space to drop the plastic timing cover down and out from below. After removing the tensioner and pulleys I undid all the bolts holding the water pump in place but could not separate it from the high pressure fuel pump :bang:. The water pump had to be removed from the van with the fuel pump attached to it. On the workbench the fuel pump was eventually freed from the old water pump and refitted into the new one. It was a very tight fit. Once the new water pump, belt etc had been fitted the engine had to be encouraged to move slightly left in order to create the space to refit the plastic timing cover.
I would suggest that this is not a job for the faint hearted. If it wasn't for the support of my son in law (an experienced mechanic) I would not have been able to complete this task. I wouldn't attempt it again myself.
 
A very thoughtful and helpful analysis of the job, thanks.

Four years ago I came to much the same conclusion and paid a local mechanic who specializes in motorhomes and therefore Fiats to do this job and at that time he recommended not changing the waterpump unless it was leaking (perhaps he'd come across the same issue as yourself!)

As it will soon be time to visit him again I'm debating about the water pump issue again and wondering whether to request a change this time.......just wondering if you changed your pump as a precaution or due to mileage? (my 2009 built van has only done 30,000)
 
Personally I would leave the water pump alone if it is not leaking and working. I can sort of understand why Fiat recommend the water pump replacement when it is changed on a mileage basis of 192,000km as it is for my X290's but not on an annual basis of 5 years.

It appears to me that you will be on your third belt at 48,000 km whilst a high mileage van is still on the first at 190,000km. Do these belts really deteriorate so much on low mileage vehicles to justify all this expense? My Ford Fiesta timing belt is changed at 100,000 miles or 10 years. Are Fiat ones poorer quality?
 
I got my tame mechanic to replace the cambelt and tensioner on my 2011 x250 at 5yo. As I was then working in a motorfactor I also took along a water pump to use if needed as it’s driven by the same belt.

He fitted the pump anyway, as it was there, and when I looked inside there was evidence of coolant weeping and could have failed any time.

We always advised to replace a cam driven pump at the same time as a belt.
 

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