Timing Belt

Antichrist · Post by **Antichrist** » Sat Aug 04, 2012 5:21 am

In terms of quantity of swear words, Busted knuckles, Special tools, etc...

What can I expect to run in to when doing the timing belt on a 2003 2.0?

I forgot to ask the previous owner when it was done last, but most people are liars when selling their cars on Craigslist, so it wouldn't have mattered much anyways.

I don't see a whole ton of room to work in there, and wanted to know if it's a simple job and I'm missing something, or if the engine comes out, etc... Oh.. and I love where they hid the alternator lol.

If I do this, I'll most likely just replace everything on that side... no sense having to tear into it again for a water pump or alt..

Kelevra · Post by **Kelevra** » Sat Aug 04, 2012 5:36 am

I haven't done it myself... but if you plan on it. make sure you have a hydraulic jack as you will be jacking the engine up and down and up and down

Antichrist · Post by **Antichrist** » Sat Aug 04, 2012 6:01 am

LOL Man that's not what I wanted to hear... although I've got a jack, what a pain.

Something else I thought of since I'm putting the cart before the horse here... What is the easiest way to thoroughly inspect the belt?

Post by **occasional demons** » Sat Aug 04, 2012 6:11 am

Remove it. But even at that, there is no telling much. They look the same with 10,000 miles as they do with 100,000.

Overall the job isn't terrible, just time consuming. First time, expect to take the better part of the day.

Rent a balancer puller from AZ, and an installer if they have one with the 12mm x 1.75 pitch bolt. You don't want to strip the crank threads putting the pulley back on.

Now that I know what I'm doing, it might take 2 hrs tops, taking my time. Could do it faster, if I wasn't so anal about things.

NyNeon0813 · Post by **NyNeon0813** » Sat Aug 04, 2012 8:02 am

The first time doing it take ur time... Remember how everything comes off and goes on. Its not that bad.. plus its good experience

stdlystdmufn · Post by **stdlystdmufn** » Sat Aug 04, 2012 12:13 pm

yea its not that bad but if you don't like where they put the alt then you're gonna hate them for using that motor mount plate/ps belt tensioner.

NyNeon0813 · Post by **NyNeon0813** » Sat Aug 04, 2012 1:52 pm

^Haha def. That was the most annoying part, atleast for me

nerox · Post by **nerox** » Sat Aug 04, 2012 5:06 pm

first time i did mine it took me a weekend, although at least half a day was pulling off the crank pulley, there is a how-to on here somewhere.

be sure to have a tonne of tools and label all the screws & bolts so you know where they go back on.

its not a difficult job really but its just a PITA

second time i did it was part of a head rebuild but id guess it took about 5-6 hours (includes cleaning everything up ... OCD )

Jerome Adams · Post by **Jerome Adams** » Sun Aug 05, 2012 11:09 am

It really helps to have someone who has done it before! You have to raise the engine quite high and then drop it til you think you are about to break something and then raise it again. You need at least one other person helping you to get the motor lined back up and bolted in.

gcretro · Post by **gcretro** » Mon Aug 06, 2012 8:57 pm

occasional demons wrote:Remove it. But even at that, there is no telling much. They look the same with 10,000 miles as they do with 100,000.

that is so true. I got mine done and the mechanic gave me all the old parts. Both the belt, tensioner and the water pump looked absolutely fine!

I am thinking about cutting a small top part of the timing belt cover so it serves as a inspection cover. Thoughts? I am thinking about hot I can "fasten" it back on...

INVUJerry · Post by **INVUJerry** » Mon Aug 06, 2012 10:05 pm

I run with no covers, as well as a bunch of People on here. I like being able to pop the hood to see everything. Best thing you could do is cut off part of the outer timing cover.

I did the timing belt and water pump with old style tensioner on my NYG in about 4 hrs really taking my time. The only special tools you'll need are the crank pulley puller, install tool if they have it, and an impact gun GREATLY helps unless you have superman arms.

7654800neon · Post by **7654800neon** » Tue Aug 07, 2012 10:29 pm

It's not bad and I also have my covers off the hardest part is pulling the pully

gcretro · Post by **gcretro** » Wed Aug 08, 2012 10:38 am

7654800neon wrote:It's not bad and I also have my covers off the hardest part is pulling the pully

I can't remove it now, my timing belt job is already done.

But rather have to cut the top portion off with like a hacksaw. And then have to figure out way fit the cut portion back perhaps with a velcro or something like that...