Timing Belt / Water Pump DIY - Step by Step Pictures

[91greg325i]

I dropped my radiator fan when I was trying to unscrew it. It broke a blade off. Can I still use it????

I've never done that before, but I assume it would still work, just not as effectively. Look in the parts for sale section of classifieds and you can probably pick one up for relatively cheap if you do start to notice adverse effects of the missing blade.

[R32toE30]

I dropped my radiator fan when I was trying to unscrew it. It broke a blade off. Can I still use it????

[mkcman17]

hmmmm i didn't bleed mine at all.

[91greg325i]

Well I changed out the waterpump and timing belt with no issues. The car started right up. It overheated however within a couple of minutes so then I troubleshot it down to the aux fan not working. I wired the fan direct to the batt and it spun on both hi and low. I then took apart the rad switch and after playing with that for about an hour it dawned on me to check the fuses. Sure enough both the lo and high speed fuses were blown. I replaced them and the fan then worked but still overheated. I followed the bleeding instructions that someone posted and the temp dropped to the middle. With the accelerator down it actually drops to just above the blue. I left the aux fan wired direct at the rad switch so it runs whenever the ignition switch is on. I also dont have the thermostat in but will throw it back in tomorrow to try and keep the operating temp pegged in the middle.

Glad you got it figured out. It isn't uncommon for people to bleed the system improperly, so it may just be air working its way out. Glad you got it done.

[myfirst325]

Well I changed out the waterpump and timing belt with no issues. The car started right up. It overheated however within a couple of minutes so then I troubleshot it down to the aux fan not working. I wired the fan direct to the batt and it spun on both hi and low. I then took apart the rad switch and after playing with that for about an hour it dawned on me to check the fuses. Sure enough both the lo and high speed fuses were blown. I replaced them and the fan then worked but still overheated. I followed the bleeding instructions that someone posted and the temp dropped to the middle. With the accelerator down it actually drops to just above the blue. I left the aux fan wired direct at the rad switch so it runs whenever the ignition switch is on. I also dont have the thermostat in but will throw it back in tomorrow to try and keep the operating temp pegged in the middle.

[myfirst325]

Thank you both!

[91greg325i]

The Continental kit is the one you want. You can get it from blunt, Pelican, BMP, etc.

+1 Continental T-belt kit w/ a Graf water pump is what I always use. No issues so far, and I've done quite a few.

[TrentW]

The Continental kit is the one you want. You can get it from blunt, Pelican, BMP, etc.

[myfirst325]

Okay ready to start! Any recommended timing belt kits? After reading all this info I'm definitely replacing the TB WP Thermostat and also the camshaft, crankshaft, and I/M shaft seals.

[Luis325]

Nice writeup!

[imdashiz]

oh ok awesome. thanks.

[91greg325i]

without hitting the valves? so I somehow have to move both the crank and the camshaft at the same time

You may hit the valves, but its not like you are hitting them 3000 times per minute with a ton of force. It's one thing to hit them when the car is running, it is a completely different thing if you just nudge them while rotating the engine by hand. You realistically won't run into any trouble when rotating one, followed by the other.

[imdashiz]

without hitting the valves? so I somehow have to move both the crank and the camshaft at the same time

[91greg325i]

so what if i took off the belt without setting anything at TDC?

There are timing marks on both the head and the block that you can line up. The head has a nick in it at about the 2 o'clock position that should match up with a notch on the timing belt gear. The same principle applies to the block. Just match everything up, and you'll be good to go.

[imdashiz]

so what if i took off the belt without setting anything at TDC?