Timing Belt / Water Pump DIY - Step by Step Pictures

[91greg325i]

is an '85 325e ETA supposed to not have the tensioner spring? Bc I am right in the middle of a HG job and I see a hole for where it should be but no spring there...Thoughts?

My guess is that it is supposed to have a spring. The spring is there to get the right tension before tightening the tensioner. I would order a new spring and pop it in there, but I am more cautious than most. You're probably fine as long as the bolts are tight. Maybe someone with more experience can chime in here on the matter.

[june3o]

If I wanted to just replace my radiator, I'll just follow steps 1-8 right?

[Kommando]

If I wanted to just replace my radiator, I'll just follow steps 1-8 right?

Pretty much, you may not have to remove the hood, that makes it easier to access for the later steps.

[worangejuice]

Pretty much, you may not have to remove the hood, that makes it easier to access for the later steps.

Plus youre car will look MADMAX badass with the hood mounts looking like turrets

[Thizzelle]

this diy needs a redo not as informative as it should be. No torque specs or anything about changing cam shaft seal which you would do as your there. Also no info about TDC this diy sucks and I'm sad because it's from r3v. Which is always the place to go. I had to use other sites :'(

[91greg325i]

this diy needs a redo not as informative as it should be. No torque specs or anything about changing cam shaft seal which you would do as your there. Also no info about TDC this diy sucks and I'm sad because it's from r3v. Which is always the place to go. I had to use other sites :'(

Honestly if you can't replace your timing belt and water pump using this DIY like the people in the 9 pages before you have, you may want to take it to a professional.

This DIY does not cover the cam seal. People can choose to replace it or not. I didn't need to replace it, so I chose not to cover it in my write-up.

Step 29 refers to assuring proper alignment (you don't have to be at TDC, they just have to be aligned correctly) so maybe you didn't read that far...

Good luck with the project, sorry you didn't find my write-up adequate.

[Thizzelle]

I did it fine, car started up perfect and bleed the coolant. I used other sites tho with more detailed info.

[ohthejosh]

In step 14 can someone highlight or circle the 3 bolts im suppose to loosen? I got confused and loosened the pulley bolts

Thanks

[CabbE30]

I just did all this and now I have a leak at the bottom of the water pump. Im assuming I have to pull it all apart again just to put some sealant on there?

[5Toes]

Yup use black RTV and lay a thin bead, then with a glove smooth it out

[GOT8SPD]

In the process of changing the belt I found out that the timing was off by 1 tooth so either the belt slipped from being so old or someone set it a tooth off. The car ran pretty good before but is alot smoother now. I'll post pics of how the timing was in the morning.

Edit: Just do the cam seal while you are at it. It took no more than an extra 15 minutes MAX and cost 2 bucks or so.

This is what i'm worried about most...how do you know if your timing is correct besides how the car runs? Is there anything else that must be hooked up in a precise manner? (ie, this part has to line up to this part).

Do you have a part number on the cam seal? Thanks!

[Vspec]

Yup use black RTV and lay a thin bead, then with a glove smooth it out

Between pump and gasket or gasket and block?

[agent]

Why is this still not a sticky?! The OP went to the trouble not only to write it, but also to host all the pics for it somewhere that hasn't been cut off for maxing out the bandwidth restrictions.

Surely a post that's been up for 2+ years with this many hits and no broken images is deserving.

[amcink]

Need major help i'm stuck

My camshaft sprocket does not have the notch in order to align it with the TDC mark on the head.
I'm stuck since i also took out the crankshaft pulley and the lower timing belt cover so i cannot locate the TDC.
Should i just reinstalled everything and then try to find the TDC for the crankshaft and camshaft.
I also forgot to mention that i have not taken the sparkplugs out; therefore cannot turn the camshaft sprocket or crankshaft
Here it is the camshaft sprocket and camshaft area.

[e30moneypit]

My camshaft sprocket does not have the notch in order to align it with the TDC mark on the head.
I'm stuck since i also took out the crankshaft pulley and the lower timing belt cover so i cannot locate the TDC.
Should i just reinstalled everything and then try to find the TDC for the crankshaft and camshaft.
I also forgot to mention that i have not taken the sparkplugs out; therefore cannot turn the camshaft sprocket or crankshaft
Here it is the camshaft sprocket and camshaft area.

they cam sprocket and crank both have marks they are just super filthy!!!! Clean them up they are there. It is there on all cars your car is no exception.

On the cam sprocket you will see a 1/4 inch arrow on the inside and you will notice on eof the teeth is notched close to the head tdc mark.

the crank wheel same thing its there just not as deeply notched as an I........ just clean.....