timing belt?

[JPL]

how hard is it to change the timing belt and belt tensioner? Is it worth it to change it myself or should i just have someone do it?

thanks
jake

[Dave]

you can use the search function - it is your friend.

If you are at all mechanically inclined, it is not hard.

Remove hood.
Remove raditator and hoses.
Remove fan and fan clutch (need special wrenches)
Remove t-belt covers.
Remove water pump and replace.
Remove t-belt and tensioner and replace - make sure it stays at TDC on cam and crankshafts.

Reverse of removal for rest.

less than 2 hour job if you are speedy

[AdironRider]

2 hours! Damn man I doubt it will take that little time unless your a pro. When I did it it took about 4 times that much time. But my car was also pieced back together the last time it was done with air tools. So that made the process alot longer. I also took my time, as it was my first time doing it and I didnt want to fuck it up

[PeaveyBassist]

Took me about 9 hours the first time. I have only done it once. I didnt remove the hood either. Just lean over from the side. There is a write up on e30tech. I used it. It is very useful. its not a hard job at all, just takes a while. I dunno where Dave got that 2hr shit. He is old...

Will

[nando]

removing the radiator is uneccesary. I've taken off my head twice and replaced the timing belt by itself once without even touching it. and if you have an auto the tranny cooler lines make it a big pita ;)

it may seem a bit daunting your first time, but buy a bentley and make sure you have the correct tools. just take your time, a day is more than enough to get it back together. and once you have done it once or twice you can probably finish in an hour or two easy the next time.

[Dave]

Took me about 9 hours the first time. I have only done it once. I didnt remove the hood either. Just lean over from the side. There is a write up on e30tech. I used it. It is very useful. its not a hard job at all, just takes a while. I dunno where Dave got that 2hr shit. He is old...

Will

Ok, so add in the time I allowed to drain the radiator and go have a beer. 2 and 1/2 hours.

Taking off the hood and radiator just make it easier access. I also did it while the car was up on jack stands and so I had less bending over to do. Us old guys gotta watch out for the bad backs, you know.

[PeaveyBassist]

I took the radiator out, and had the car on jack stands. It was my first time with the timing belt thing. My first EVER "big" project on the car. My first ever project on a motor. So I wanted to make sure I did EVERYTHING right and exactly how the tutorial was. So... It took me a while ;)

Will

[kansas-ix]

yup first time does take a while no matter how long you stare at the belt positioning at TDC you wonder if it is right.

[PeaveyBassist]

Yea, the crank didnt stop at TDC and i thought it HAD to be there to pull the belt off. BUT I figured that if they both stop in the same place when you take the belt off, dont let them move when you put the new belt back on. They should still line up at TDC. I checked TDC on the crank and cam at least 3-4 times before I put everything back together and cranked it over. I was way nervous.

Will

[Nick325is]

I just did my timing belt a few weeks ago. It definitly isn't too hard of a job to do especially if you are somewhat mechanically inclined.
It may not be neccessary but it really makes it easier if you remove the hood and radiator first.
The only way to get it out of time is to rotate one of the pulleys while the belt is off.


good luck
Nick

[PeaveyBassist]

Even if one of them rotates... turn the crank by hand VERY VERY slowly and have somebody else watch for the TDC mark on the crank go by. Once its lined up, you need to stop turning and hold it steady. Then check the cam TDC mark and make sure its lined up. Then spin the crank 2 more revolutions by hand and double check timing marks. At least thats the way I did it. I wanted to be SURE that the marks were correctly lined up. Its actually easy to do. :)

Will

[Digitalwave]

removing the radiator is uneccesary. I've taken off my head twice and replaced the timing belt by itself once without even touching it. and if you have an auto the tranny cooler lines make it a big pita ;)

it may seem a bit daunting your first time, but buy a bentley and make sure you have the correct tools. just take your time, a day is more than enough to get it back together. and once you have done it once or twice you can probably finish in an hour or two easy the next time.

Taking the radiator off is unnecessary but only takes about 5 additional minutes to remove on manual cars. I recommend it for the extra clearance.

First time I did mine was about 3-3.5 hours at a leisurely pace. It's a simple project.

[Dave]

if you have an auto the tranny cooler lines make it a big pita ;)

My car is a manual. Forgot about that on the autotragics. Good point.