Do I really need to change my timing belt

[mikeedler]

At BMW they will tell you also- atleast at my work, you dont need to change it either. You can take it off, but if you do, just put it on in the same direction it came off(so the belt runs the same way). They actually make tools to check and retension timing belts, so ignore the kiddies.

[chrisesteschiro]

Thanks guys......I didn't have my bentley handy....so off to work I go....

[kommissar]

you guys are idiots :p

if he just changed it and it only has 2000 miles, he doesn't need to do it again just to do the waterpump. not neccesary at all. You don't have to loosen the tension on the belt at all - you can remove the waterpump separately without touching the belt. just make sure the tensioner is tightened down really well. you don't really need the tensioner spring for anything but the initial installation of the belt. once the tensioner is tight it's just dead weight.

Nando is right, you don't need to take tension off the belt to change the pump, as the spring is used only for the initial installation of the timing belt. You can change the pump without changing the belt.

[Erick]

Ditto. :p

[nando]

Listen to nando, he has over 9000 posts. :D

j/k. Seriously though... I agree with nando.

shit.. when did that happen? I'd say I have no life, but I post mostly from work :p

[nando]

Nando, I only joking.

lol no prob

[StereoInstaller1]

Nando, I only joking.

[Erick]

Listen to nando, he has over 9000 posts. :D

j/k. Seriously though... I agree with nando.

[blunttech]

yes

hi

[XXX]

yes

[nando]

that's why you leave it out :p

[///M42 sport]

like nando said, don't need to touch tensioner when replacing waterpump. The tensioner is already bolted down and won't move when removing the waterpump, therefore tension is maintained on the belt. If anything, the spring that attaches to the tensioner makes putting the waterpump back in a pain in the ass.

[Dave]

Pull the radiator and just change the pump. If you give yourself the extra room (not much extra work to do it) it can be done fairly easily. Leave the belt in place.

[nando]

you don't need to change it - you have 2000 miles on a fresh belt right? change your water pump, and leave the belt alone (don't even take it off). why waste your time and money? everyone just assumes you can't change the waterpump without removing the belt. it just happens that it's easy to change them both at the same time, and they both have the same service interval (about 50,000 miles) - so the real lesson here is, change your waterpump next time you redo your belt. :p

[chrisesteschiro]

r3v's great......first few post calling me an idiot, followed by dont change it............It's not a matter of money its, the time involved to wait for it to ship to me.......