Cam Belt Problem JX 1.6TD

[Russell_Allen]

Hello All

Help needed by newbie

Had an issue on the way home last weekend, cruising along at circa 60mph

Sudden screeching noise followed by a cloud of smoke - clutch dipped and ignition off, coasted into a layby

Thought it was the turbo or similar but no signs of any oil or obvious distress. On closer inspection it appeared that the wheel ringed in the photo below (not my engine BTW) had seized  for a few seconds - the cambelt was intact but badly worn on the smooth side, at first I thought this was the cambelt tensioner gone south. I got the vehicle relayed home as I didnt want to risk Cambelt failure. The engine will start  and run fine and the pulley is now free, no oil light, no nasty noises . Im not sure what this pulley drives (waterpump, oil pump, etc) I would like to investigate further  but cant seem to find any info - possibly a fault in the engine or maybe  a bit of rubbush flicked up off the road and jammed it temporarily - I dont want to put a new belt on and hope for the best !

any assistance greatly appreciated



many thanks

Russell

[colinthefox]

That pulley drives a camshaft (I presume it's the relic of the old camshaft from long ago when this was an overhead valve engine). That shaft drives the vacuum and oil pumps and is driven by the smooth side of the belt. If the shaft gets jammed for any reason, then the belt would slide over it causing the problem and smoke you mentioned.

The belt will have to be changed anyway, so while it's off you could check for anything that might prevent it rotating. Pull out the vacuum pump, and while it's off you can see the end of the oil pump shaft inside and rotate it with a screwdriver. While you're checking the vacuum pump be VERY careful how you lever off the vacuum hose or you will break off the non-return valve.

It might have just been a piece of grit flipped up and jamming the wheel (You do have a cam belt cover fitted, don't you?)

It's unlikely to be that shaft seized, as it runs in lubricated plain bearings, and as you say, it rotated again later.

[Russell_Allen]

Hi Colin

Thanks for the reply thats exactly what i wanted to know

I'm down to three possibilities

1. Vacuum Pump seizure - possible and easy to check if its damaged/worn

2. Oil Pump seizure - unlikely as it has good oil pressure but possible - sump off to check, £50 to replace the pump anyhow

3. Bit of crap off the road jammed it temporarily - The cambelt cover is still in place but only properly covers the Cam, Injector pump and tensioner wheels.




Many thanks for your help

Russell






 

[colinthefox]

Here's what the cover should look like, with a lower section. Sounds like you're missing the lower bit. That might explain how/if a foreign body got in.

[davidoft1]

How have you come to the conclusion that that particular pulley seized ?

[Simon Baxter]

That's the intermediate shaft, nothing to do with Cam shaft relics I'm afraid.
It drives the vacuum pump for the brakes then indirectly the oil pump.
If it truly did stop turning then A) I'd be really surprised and B) you need to be removing the brake vacuum pump and checking it, maybe pull the top off and see if one of the vanes has disintegrated and jammed it.
There is a possibility the oil pump locked up but I very much doubt that.
Another possibility is that the intermediate shaft bearings are flaking, you'd have to remove the haft to check those which would mean engine out. They are also a pain to replace.