What is the timing alignment method for the Citroen C-Quatre?

[TaliaDella]

The following is the timing alignment method for the Citroen C-Quatre: 1. Remove the timing cover, slowly rotate the crankshaft, observe that each camshaft wheel has a hole, slowly rotate and align it with the corresponding hole on the cylinder head, and fix the camshaft with a special tool. If there is no special tool, you can make one yourself. 2. The crankshaft positioning hole is located at the rear of the engine. Find the end of the right half-shaft near the transmission, insert a special tool to fix the crankshaft. 3. Adjust the tensioner wheel position properly, ensuring it is neither too tight nor too loose to avoid noise. Adjust the pointer to the middle position, use a hex key to adjust left and right to select the middle position and fix it, and finally tighten the screw.

[OBriella]

I've repaired quite a few Citroën C-Elysées in the workshop before, and the timing alignment procedure is actually quite particular. First, rotate the crankshaft to the top dead center position of cylinder one, ensuring the mark on the crankshaft pulley aligns with the notch on the front cover. The camshaft must also be aligned, using a special tool to lock the positioning hole on the camshaft gear. Remember, the belt must be fully tensioned, otherwise it may skip teeth. Oh, and after installation, manually turn the crankshaft two full rotations to confirm the marks haven't shifted. This car is particularly sensitive to timing—being off by even two millimeters can cause valve interference. When replacing the belt, it's best to change the entire set to avoid breaking down halfway.

[LaMary]

Over the years of running my repair shop, I've learned that the key to installing a Citroën timing belt lies in three points: aligning the crankshaft mark with the triangular symbol on the oil pump housing, positioning the intake camshaft mark upward, and keeping the exhaust camshaft mark horizontal. Before installation, the camshafts must be locked in place using a dedicated pin inserted into the cylinder head hole. After fitting the belt, rotate the crankshaft 720 degrees with a wrench to reconfirm all marks have reset. This operation requires two people to cooperate—one turns the crankshaft while the other observes the camshaft positions. If the timing is off upon startup, the pistons will hit the valves, doubling the repair costs.

[VanAriana]

The timing system is the 'heartbeat metronome' of the engine, and the Citroen C4 uses a belt drive. The correct procedure actually consists of four steps: loosen the tensioner pulley, align the crankshaft locating pin with the engine block mark, secure the camshaft gear positioning hole, and finally install the belt clockwise. For the 1.6L engine, the timing mark is located on the inner side of the crankshaft pulley, which requires removing the right front wheel to see. Important reminder: When replacing the belt, the water pump and tensioner pulley must be replaced simultaneously. Rubber components begin to age after exceeding 60,000 kilometers. I've seen too many cases in the auto parts market where people tried to save money by only replacing the belt, only to end up stranded on the road.