Hello,

First of all, I would like to thank you for your effort to answer questions.

Secondly, I would like to ask about an issue that I had with my Peugeot 407, 2007 Model. I was driving the car when it suddenly stopped. I tried to restart the engine but with no success. I took the car to the dealer and they mentioned that they are suspecting that the “ cylinder head valves struck and locked the piston, in this problem timing belt and other connected parts completely damaged”. However, I am not quite sure if the problem can happen in this order or the timing belt get damaged first and then cause other parts to be damaged.

The timing belt was replaced by the dealer in July last year and the car has not done more than 20,000 kilometers since that. I am concerned that the dealer is trying to avoid responsibilities with regard to the timing belt, hence, they are saying that the cause of the failure is something else which eventually caused the timing belt to get damaged.

I would really appreciate to get a detailed description of the above scenario if it can happen as mentioned by the dealer.

Regards

Mahmood, July 2013

When the timing belt is renewed I would always recommend that all the idler and tensioner pulleys be renewed at the same time, together with a brand new water pump. The reason for this is that although it costs more than just replacing the belt, if the old water pump is left in situ, if it seizes, or if the old pulleys fail, then the new timing belt will snap or be thrown, with the catastrophic consequences that you describe.

Many owners choose the cheapest price for renewing the belt, which can work out a lot more expensive in the long run if the additional work described above is not carried out at the same time.

ChicksFan, August 2013

if camshaft has not siezed due to low oil pressure then usually belt faults cause pistons to contact valves.can be with any idler/adjusting/water pump pulleys that the belt runs on having bearing faults or being loose/bolts missing,belt incorectly adjusted-too tight or slack,foreign matter/debris between belt teeth and other gear teeth,especially if any belt cover is insecure or missing! causing belt to jump teeth.providing camshaft has not been starved of oil/siezed pretty sure that belt problems will have caused failure.

k, August 2013

Arthur,

After the belt was changed, we didn't have any starting problems at all. Everything else was working fine and normal.

Mahmood, August 2013

I think the best thing for you to do in this case is pay for an independent inspection from the AA or RAC as its going to be hard to prove the deal has done anything wrong

Sorry its not much help

jackD, July 2013

This is very odd indeed I've worked on cars for over twenty years and I've never heard of this all I can think of is. was the belt tensioned properly to start with this can make the belt slip which would allow the valve to touch the piston with a diesel engine it would only take the belt to be out 1 tooth and the valve would hit the piston. Ok after the belt was changed did u have any starting problems (I.e taking a longer to start than normal,firing but not starting straight away)

arthur, July 2013

seems ODD.timing belt failure usually lead to bent valves and piston collision however tensioner failure can cause belt to slip/jump.Just seems not right to me!!

Steve, July 2013