CriticalVery commonEngine

Citroen C3: PureTech 1.2 wet timing belt degradation and oil-pickup blockage

PureTech 1.2 wet timing belt degradation and oil-pickup blockage is a very common engine fault on the Citroen C3 on the 2017 onward cars, and we rate it critical. Putting it right costs $1,400 to $5,000 at New Zealand independent workshop rates. Below is what goes wrong, the symptoms to notice on a test drive, where to look, and what to ask the seller before you hand over any money. It is one of 8 documented faults on the Citroen C3.

Vehicle: Citroen C3
Engine: 1.2L
Years: 2017 onward
Fuel: petrol
System: Engine

This page covers the Citroen C3 as a model. Some faults only affect particular engines or build years — enter a plate below to narrow the list to one car.

All Citroen C3 faults8 documented faults on this model

What you are looking at

No photograph available

We do not hold a verified photograph of the Timing belt yet. We would rather show none than show a picture of a different part.

What goes wrong

Third-generation C3s use the PSA 1.2 PureTech three-cylinder (82 non-turbo and 110 turbo), whose timing belt runs inside the engine oil. The belt degrades early - swelling and shedding rubber fibres that block the oil pump pickup and vacuum pump, starving the engine of oil and in the worst cases wrecking it or costing brake assistance. The problem is so widespread that PSA/Stellantis cut the belt interval to 6 years/100,000 km, issued European recalls and service campaigns on 2013-2017 builds, and ran extended goodwill schemes overseas. Oil dilution from short urban trips accelerates it. Budget a belt-and-pickup-clean on any PureTech without proof it has been done.

What you would notice

Low oil pressure warning light
Rough running or misfires
Engine warning light with camshaft/crankshaft correlation codes
Whirring or rattling from the belt end of the engine
Black rubber debris visible under the oil filler cap

How to check it

Where to look. Timing belt inside the engine at the cambelt end, visible through the oil filler; oil pickup in the sump

Remove the oil filler cap and look at the belt with a torch - a healthy belt has crisp square teeth; a swollen, shiny or ragged belt means the job is due now.
Check the service history for annual oil changes with the correct spec oil and for a documented belt replacement.
Ask the seller directly whether the wet belt has been done - on an unverified car, price the job into your offer.

Parts involved: Timing belt.

What it costs to put right

$1,400 to $5,000 at New Zealand independent workshop rates. That is for this job on its own, not for the car.

An estimate, in NZD, for the repair as normally carried out. What a specific car costs depends on which part has failed and what it damaged on the way — treat this as the floor for a negotiation, not a quote.

Ask the seller

“Has the wet timing belt been replaced, and is there an invoice?”
“How often has the oil been changed and with what oil?”
“Has the low oil pressure light ever come on?”

Now check the Citroen C3 you are actually looking at

Everything above is true of the model, and it is free. What it does not tell you is whether THIS car has been looked after: its odometer history and whether the reading has ever gone backwards, whether there is still money owing on it, whether it has been reported stolen, how many owners it has had and what it is really worth today. That comes from the official records for that plate. Enter the plate for the free details, or get the full history and a market valuation from $13.49.

Not sure what you would be paying for? See what a full KickTyres check includes.

Where this comes from

The failure described above is documented in the sources below. The inspection instructions and the cost estimate are KickTyres’ own interpretation of them.

Fleet News - 'Fleets warned of engine-killer wet timing belts'
Wheelbase Garage - 1.2 PureTech wet timing belt guide
NTN-SNR TECHinfo bulletin - 1.2 PureTech Turbo timing belt
Peugeot Forums 'Timing Belt Issues and Recalls' threads

Citroen C3 buyer questions

Is puretech 1.2 wet timing belt degradation and oil-pickup blockage serious on a Citroen C3?

We rate it critical and very common on the Citroen C3. Third-generation C3s use the PSA 1.2 PureTech three-cylinder (82 non-turbo and 110 turbo), whose timing belt runs inside the engine oil. The belt degrades early - swelling and shedding rubber fibres that block the oil pump pickup and vacuum pump, starving the engine of oil and in the worst cases wrecking it or costing brake assistance. The problem is so widespread that PSA/Stellantis cut the belt interval to 6 years/100,000 km, issued European recalls and service campaigns on 2013-2017 builds, and ran extended goodwill schemes overseas. Oil dilution from short urban trips accelerates it. Budget a belt-and-pickup-clean on any PureTech without proof it has been done.

How much does it cost to fix on a Citroen C3?

$1,400 to $5,000 at New Zealand independent workshop rates. That figure is for this job on its own. A car showing the symptoms on this page is usually worth either walking away from or negotiating down by at least the repair figure.

Which Citroen C3 years are affected?

Our research records this fault on the 2017 onward Citroen C3. Build dates move around, especially on imported cars, so treat the range as the years to look hardest at rather than a guarantee either way. The official records tell you the exact build and first registration date for the car in front of you.

How do I check for it before I buy?

Remove the oil filler cap and look at the belt with a torch - a healthy belt has crisp square teeth; a swollen, shiny or ragged belt means the job is due now. Check the service history for annual oil changes with the correct spec oil and for a documented belt replacement. Ask the seller directly whether the wet belt has been done - on an unverified car, price the job into your offer. Look here: Timing belt inside the engine at the cambelt end, visible through the oil filler; oil pickup in the sump