P38 Diesel Belt Snapped

I have a 1995 2.5 DSE manual. Strangely the tensioning arm that connects to the hydraulic ram seems to have sheered off just below where it connects to the ram. Consequently the belt came loose, wrapped itsself up and snapped.

I have a garage close to me (within one mile) which I use. I was going to drive the car there as it wouldn't overheat in that short distance (no water pump drive). I have found however that the car will no longer start (luckily the belt snapped in my road and I was able to get into my drive). Would the non starting be as a result of there being no belts at all on the engine now?

Also has anyone else heard of the tensioning arm sheering like mine has?

Anyone got any ideas as to how much I would be looking at for new hydraulic ram, tensioning arm, belts and labour?

You have to love P38 ownership, I spent over £500 getting it through its last MOT (corroded rear brake lines meant making up new ones from the rear to the front of the car)!

Cue_Ball said:

You have to love P38 ownership, I spent over £500 getting it through its last MOT (corroded rear brake lines meant making up new ones from the rear to the front of the car)!

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I do hope you got more than a brake pipe and an MOT for that price!

As for non-starting, I can only assume that it is not starting because the snapped belt has caused some other damage; prehaps wiring to a sensor or similar. Very difficult to say without being able to see it

P38s are awful, i spent about 10k in 4 months and it still dint work!!!

Cue_Ball said:

Also has anyone else heard of the tensioning arm sheering like mine has?

Anyone got any ideas as to how much I would be looking at for new hydraulic ram, tensioning arm, belts and labour?

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Your answers are below.

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How is it not starting? Not turning over, or not firing when turning over?

Obviously with no accessory drive belt your alternator is not charging, but assume the battery is ok and charged up?

It is cranking over fine but isn't firing (apart from the odd splutter now and again). Obviously I have to charge the battery after trying for a few minutes but the same thing applies after charging again.

I thought that the accessory belt drove the water pump, altenator etc and was not linked to anything fuel or cam realted.

I have just spoken to a friend who owned the Vauxhall Omega with the same BMW engine, he reported that the tensioning arm sheered in exactly the same place at roughly the same milage but his started and was driven onto the recovery truck.

You're right, it is separate from the timing.

Check you have fuel going to the injection pump, look for air bubbles in the clear tube; check the inertial switch is not activated, located in the drivers footwell.