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Frequently asked questions about cars and motorcycles

Replacing Timing Belt and Water Pump on Citroen C3 1 Diesel

Model: Citroen C3 FC, FN - Years 2002-2009
Part: Timing belt

Let's see how to replace the timing belt on a Citroen C3 1.4 HDi first version. Disconnect the battery, loosen the front right wheel, lift the car, and place it on axle stands. Remove the wheel, the wheel arch liner, and the lower protections. Drain the cooling system (for which we recommend one of our specific tutorials). Remove the auxiliary belt, lock the engine flywheel with a timing pin, then unscrew and remove the crankshaft pulley. Use a jack under the timing cover, unscrew and remove the engine mount from the passenger side. Now, you can remove the timing cover. This is the critical phase for timing and replacement. Lock the three timing points with the appropriate kit: crankshaft; camshaft; high-pressure pump. Rotate only clockwise using the camshaft bolt. Loosen the timing belt with an Allen key and then remove it. Unscrew the 7 bolts holding the water pump and collect the residual fluid; this allows you to remove the pump and gasket. The new pump must not run dry: immerse it in coolant and rotate it 12 times before installation. Fit the new gasket and pump. Now, install the new belt (the arrows must point clockwise). The route is: crankshaft/pulley belt/camshaft/water pump/high-pressure pump/tensioner. The tension should allow for 33 free teeth between the camshaft and the engine. Make 2 complete turns and check the timing with the three pins. Reassemble everything, including the auxiliary belt, reconnect the battery, refill, and bleed the cooling system. Start the engine and check for any leaks.

Posted on 10 February 2026 by ScegliAuto

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