V40 won't start after aux belt shredded

wishbone · Post by **wishbone** » 30 Jan 2011, 13:32

Hi, this is my first post here and i'm hoping you guys can help!

The other day the aux belt shredded on my V40 2000 1.9d. This was not the first time it has happened, a couple of years back it did it and took out the cam belt, pully and three valves!

So this time I was wary and imediately dipped the clutch and cruised of the dual carriageway. Engine was just ticking over but did cut out by itself just as I was coming to a stop. I got a tow home and tried to start it. No luck.

I checked the cam belt and cam pulley they were ok so I checked the valve timing and it looked a tooth out. I re-timed the valve timing, pin in the bottom, tdc, 3 marks on the cam belt lined up. I got a new aux belt fitted it and spent £100 on a new tensioner. Car wouldn't even fire!!

I cracked the injectors off and theres good flow of deisel there. Next, a friend suggested checking the cam/valve clearance cos if it was too big it would show up valve damage. I tried but all inlets are a bit tight and one exhaust, the others are ok. Not what I expected if there were bent valves!

I have no idea where to go next!! Any ideas anybody???

wishbone · Post by **wishbone** » 31 Jan 2011, 12:31

Oh by the way, if I squirt easy start in the air intake, the engine will fire up.... but only till the easy start runs out!!

Anyone?

Post by **jimmy57** » 31 Jan 2011, 13:44

looked for damaged wires. There must either be an important sensor lead damaged or a power feed for injection pump.
It will run on ether if you didn't turn ignition on and jumpered the right connections on starter. I guess that does at least mean the valves aren't all boogered up and t belt didn't break.

wishbone · Post by **wishbone** » 31 Jan 2011, 14:27

Thanks for that, I am hoping the valves are not damaged!! Bothers me what else though.

i did look for damaged leads etc but couldn't see anything that side of the engine.
There is fuel getting in though cos if you crack the injectors off it comes out, also see a little white smoke at the exhaust and smell unburnt Deisel. So I guess there has to be power to the pump. Pump timing is fixed I think by the cam belt? Or does the crankshaft position sensor or similar govern the point of injection??

Is there anything I can test?

Post by **jimmy57** » 31 Jan 2011, 22:18

I'm not sure which fuel system is on that engine. I think that is a PSA diesel and will have electronic injection system. Fuel at injectors doesn't mean that is injecting fuel into cylinders.

wishbone · Post by **wishbone** » 01 Feb 2011, 14:30

Well that would make sense I guess. I'm going to have a go at cleaning the crankshaft position sensor and double check the timing again. If it still won't start it's going to have to go in to the local garage for compression test and hook up to diagnostics. There has to be an error code if it's electrical, right? A friend did try the diagnostics but his snap-on kit wouldn't talk to the ECU!

ed7 · Post by **ed7** » 02 Feb 2011, 08:26

You should be able to use a generic 'noid' light to check for a signal at the injectors. If none, then that may direct you toward the crank sensor. No signal= no diesel into the cylinder.
Is this a single rail system?
Ed

wishbone · Post by **wishbone** » 09 Mar 2011, 12:34

Well I thought I'd let everyone know what this turned out to be. Took a while to get there and the help of a local mechanic!

There were two problems, firstly the crankshaft position sensor had packed up. No idea why realy but I guess maybe due to all the jump starting? Once that was done the car would fire but not rev up. Further inspection showed the camshaft pulley key had sheared but it had tightened on to the camshaft. So the theory is that it was slipping the valve timing. Amazingly it didn't bend any valves!! I guess I was lucky there!

Running fine now but i'm a bit worried about the shredding aux belts. Even though I changed tensioner i'm still worried it will go again and with the crap design of sucking bits of belt in and breaking the cam belt I think it may be time for a change of car!

Thanks to all for your help though.

Post by **precopster** » 09 Mar 2011, 15:08

As this isn't a common occurrence on this model I would have the aux belt system thoroughly checked for alignment. How is the idler pulley? These can wear on one side giving a slope to the belt.

Usually there are some tell-tale signs or wear on the edge of the belt before it just shreads. I know because I just shredded my 960 belt (bent all valves) and it was obviously wearing on the edges.

Just be sure it's not something minor as you could be throwing away a perfectly good car.