Anyone change their own timing belt?
12-06-2003, 11:58 AM
#1
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Join Date: Jun 2003
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Anyone change their own timing belt?
My Z6 has about 156K on it and to my knowledge the timing belt has never been replaced. Before I strap on this turbo here, I think I might want to change the belt. Honda quoted me $270 to change it. I put on my own adjustable cam gear so I think I might be able to do it myself. I'm sure some of you have done this, I'm just looking for some pointers or should I just take it to a shop or the dealer to do it. I also don't have a timing light but I'm sure I can borrow one somewhere. I'll have to look in my service manual and see how tough its going to be. Thanks.
12-06-2003, 12:28 PM
#3
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Re:Anyone change their own timing belt?
I was just parusing my service manual and it looks like a bitch. But maybe I'm just a bitch. I think I'm gonna do it myself. Its cold now, so maybe I'll wait a few months. And in the meantime, my belt will probably give and my valves will have a nice little get together with my pistons. It will be a splendid affair, I'm sure. Tea and Crimpits anyone? :P
12-06-2003, 12:34 PM
#5
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Re:Anyone change their own timing belt?
Yeah, it looks easy as ---- when the engine is pulled but in the car, looks tight. The Honda dealership quoted me $270 so maybe a good independent shop will do it for less. You never know though.
12-06-2003, 12:46 PM
#6
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Re:Anyone change their own timing belt?
its one of the easiest task, very easy, you dont even need a manual, just at what you need to remove, the remove driver side engine mount, power steering, ac, alternator belts, crank pulley, uper and lower belt cover, you have acces to your timing, loosen tensioner,and remove belt. BUT ONLY DO ALL OF THIS AFTER YOU SET EVEYTHING AT TDC.
12-06-2003, 01:01 PM
#7
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Re:Anyone change their own timing belt?
Yeah it's pretty easy, I did mine.
Set everything at TDC, remove timing cover... take off all the belts, take off the PS pump (if you have it) and move it aside, have your car jacked up, put a jackstand under your oil pan, take off the drivers side engine mounts, and let the motor rest on the jackstand, jack up the body of the car letting the motor stay put on the jack.. so it will come halfway out from the bottom of the car... With the tire off you have easy access to everything. Buy a water pump too, b/c when you have the belt off it's the time to change it. It's easy, just a few more bolts, it's driven by the timing belt. Then put the new belt on, it's kinda easy, push on the tensioner a little bit (the spring doesn't put it tight enough, you just want it a little tighter), and put it all back together. Very easy. I used a goodyear gatorback belt. Total cost, $25 and 3 hours.
Set everything at TDC, remove timing cover... take off all the belts, take off the PS pump (if you have it) and move it aside, have your car jacked up, put a jackstand under your oil pan, take off the drivers side engine mounts, and let the motor rest on the jackstand, jack up the body of the car letting the motor stay put on the jack.. so it will come halfway out from the bottom of the car... With the tire off you have easy access to everything. Buy a water pump too, b/c when you have the belt off it's the time to change it. It's easy, just a few more bolts, it's driven by the timing belt. Then put the new belt on, it's kinda easy, push on the tensioner a little bit (the spring doesn't put it tight enough, you just want it a little tighter), and put it all back together. Very easy. I used a goodyear gatorback belt. Total cost, $25 and 3 hours.
12-06-2003, 03:03 PM
#9
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Join Date: Mar 2003
Posts: 21,479
Re:Anyone change their own timing belt?
Ok, nobody has said anything about the crankshaft pulley being a mother ------- bitch. I hope you have a big impact to get it off or at least a gigantic breaker bar and some friends to help hold ----. 
What I did so that I never ever had to deal with that damn thing again was I cut the timing belt cover off with a dremel. I could change my timing belt in about 3 minutes like that.
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What I did so that I never ever had to deal with that damn thing again was I cut the timing belt cover off with a dremel. I could change my timing belt in about 3 minutes like that. __________________
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