Potential Timing Belt Tensioner Problem

[HammieGB]

Hey there. Recently bought a 2003 Peugeot 206 cc 2.0l with about 141000 kilometers on the clock. Had to do some maintenance but nothing I did could fix a grinding rattling noise I was hearing, only below 2000rpm. Coming form underneath the plastic cover for the Timing assembly. Father says it could be the water pump or the tensioner pulley. How do I check this? Any ideas or recommendations. Do I have to have the engine removed to remove the cover and check? Is it a serious problem?

[gazza82]

Hey there. Recently bought a 2003 Peugeot 206 cc 2.0l with about 141000 kilometers on the clock. Had to do some maintenance but nothing I did could fix a grinding rattling noise I was hearing, only below 2000rpm. Coming form underneath the plastic cover for the Timing assembly. Father says it could be the water pump or the tensioner pulley. How do I check this? Any ideas or recommendations. Do I have to have the engine removed to remove the cover and check?

No but you will may to remove the engine mounting and support the engine from underneath.

Is it a serious problem?

Could be .. if it fails you run the risk of destroying the valves ...

Have you any record of it having a new belt fitted? If not, I'd get the lot changed including idlers and tensioners and water pump asap. Ideally they should be changed at least every 80000 miles (that's about 128000 km) or 10 years .. sounds like yours could be well overdue! (And far too long in my opinion having had a belt fail on another car at 73000 miles and then ending up with a big bill!)

[tenpole]

At the value of the cars it would not be worth fixing. How much can you get for a scrap 2056cc?

[HammieGB]

Got the cover off after having to basically strip the front left side of the car, got the cover off, cambelt was just a bit loose. Readjusted it, no noise or weird vibrations and car runs fine. Pulleys all looked fine, tensioner pulley working 100%. Will have to replace the pulleys some time anyway.

[HammieGB]

At the value of the cars it would not be worth fixing. How much can you get for a scrap 2056cc?

Well I took it to a friend mechanic of mine, who had everything we needed to lift the car and support the engine to take out mountings and whatnot. Readjusted cambelt, cost me nothing, retail value of the 2003 206 cc is about 72000 South African rand or close to 3500 GBP. So a free fix, replacing a faulty injector and doing detailing on the exterior cost me 130 pound, on a car I paid 1800 pound for totaling 1930 pounds, I can now Sell for 3100GBP. Sorry for not using the Pound symbol, but my keyboard has TWO $ symbols and a €.