Pro Chain 1.2 PureTech conversion kit targets Stellantis timing belt issue

An independent European company has created a conversion kit intended to tackle one of the best-known issues affecting Stellantis’s 1.2 PureTech engine: its oil-immersed timing belt.

Developed by Pro Chain, the kit replaces the original arrangement with a metal timing chain. It has been designed for several engines fitted over recent years to models from Peugeot, Citroën, DS, Opel and other Stellantis brands.

The issue has been acknowledged by the manufacturer, which has established a customer support programme, but this conversion could now provide an alternative remedy. Pre-orders for the kit are already open, although pricing has not yet been confirmed.

The timing belt and oil pickup issue

Pro Chain’s assembly replaces the factory system with a metal chain and, according to the company, is intended to improve the durability of the setup by removing the degradation risk associated with the belt.

Over time, the oil-immersed belt in the original system could deteriorate, shedding particles that contaminated the lubrication circuit. In the most serious instances, this debris could block the oil pickup, reduce lubrication and lead to severe engine damage.

Pro Chain’s 1.2 PureTech conversion kit

This is where Pro Chain’s proposed solution comes in. The company offers a conversion from belt-driven timing to a metal timing-chain arrangement through a complete kit containing the chain, sprockets, guides, tensioner and oil feed line.

According to Pro Chain, it is a “bolt-on” solution, meaning no structural modifications to the engine are required. Installation is said to be comparable with a standard belt replacement and uses the same timing tools.

Compatibility with 1.2 PureTech engines

The company categorises its conversion kits by the relevant engine, matching the technical engine designation with the code shown in the VIN and the code stamped on the engine block.

Pre-orders are now available through this parts supplier’s website. Initial deliveries are expected to begin at some point in the second half of 2026, though the company has yet to announce the full kit price.

Meanwhile, Stellantis is speeding up its move towards different engine solutions and technologies.

The group has already introduced updated 1.2 turbo engine versions fitted with a factory timing chain, although its industrial strategy indicates a gradual replacement of the French architecture with another one already used within the group.

The plan is to give the FireFly engine family, developed by FIAT (formerly FCA), a more prominent role as the global basis for many Stellantis models.