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Is it worth fixing a 7 year old C8?

We bought our family C8 from a Citroen dealer in March 2005 with a 5 year warranty. The car has been well looked after and serviced in accordance with manufacturer's recommendations. We have learned recently that it has a leaking head gasket and made arrangements with our local mechanic (not Citroen) to repair at the end of this month.

Last Friday, however, it broke down on the motorway when the cam belt suddenly broke. I understand that when this happens damage can be caused to the engine/valves. The Citroen service manual states that the cam belt should be changed at 100,000 miles for our car.

Our C8 has only done 83,000 miles and is 7.5 years old. Do you think it is worth trying to fix the car? Is the leaking head gasket and sudden cam belt failure unusual for the age and mileage of the car, and somthing worth taking up with Citroen? If we needed to scrap the car, how might this best be arranged?

Asked on 20 September 2012 by RTurner, Southampton

Answered by Honest John
Always worth trying Citroen because there is a condition with the C8 whereby screenwash water drains onto the cambelt cover and causes premature failure of the belt. Citroen has rectified the situation in the past at up to 99,000 miles. See: www.honestjohn.co.uk/carbycar/citroen/c8-2003/?sec...d
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