306oc - Peugeot 306 Owners Club & Forum

Hi all,

Has anyone managed to change the cambelt on a 1.8 16 valve (XU7 JP4) engine with the engine still in the car?

On mine, there is not enough clearance between the camshaft pulleys and the inner wing to get a torque wrench in to tighten up the camshaft bolts after the new belt had been fitted. These bolts are not something that I would like to leave up to my 'calibrated elbow'! Any advice?

Thanks in advance!

Not done a 1.8 but have done several 2.0l 16v engines where space is equally tight. Have you got the cam pulley with the single central bolt or the ones with 3 separate smaller bolts? If the former then put on a load of locktight n do it up fairly tight. I presume you have a cam holding tool to assist with that? If you're a good judge if such things then I'm sure you'll be fine. I expect every belt change on these cars with the engine in situ has been done without a torque wrench!

Thanks for that. Yep, mine is the one with the single central bolts. Need to check the cal cert for my elbow though, it might be out!

plenty of space to torque them up

I'm guessing I never jack the engine high enough then!