replaced all belts
May 12, 2004, 04:12 PM
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replaced all belts
ooh boy! that was a good 5 hours. dunno how many people are gonna change their belts themselves, but here's a few heads up(not the acual procedures).
i changed the PS/AC belt, alternator belt, water pump, and timing belt. the two smaller belts are really easy. they shouldn't be a problem at all.
when removing the engine mount(to get to the timing belt), you'll need to disconnect a power steering hard line. make sure to refill the reservoir back up. you'll hear a rhythmic grinding sound when you start the car cuz your PS fluid is low. it'll eventually go away. it scared the **** out of me cuz it's the first time i've ever heard it.
also, don't break the bottom timing belt cover. the crank sensor wire is integrated into it so if you break a certain part of it, expect to pay a bit for a new one. the actual sensor isn't part of it, just the wires.
since i had a lift at skool to use, i used one hand to hold the flywheel with a crowbar(through a little panel at the bottom of the flywheel housing held by two 10mm bolts) and the other hand with the torque wrench on the crank pulley bolt. that was pretty easy. you could probably do it on your back though. when the belt is on and the tensioner tightened up the slack, make sure you turn the crank clockwise twice(with the crank pulley bolt, no pulley) and make sure your timing marks are still aligned.
the water pump is pretty much bolt-on. there's no gasket so you have to use permatex or loctite ultra grey gasket maker. it's the equivalent to the mitsu oem stuff. let cure for an hour before putting in new coolant.
besides making sure your timing marks on your cam/crank are lined up and never turn them independently, you should be okay.
i changed the PS/AC belt, alternator belt, water pump, and timing belt. the two smaller belts are really easy. they shouldn't be a problem at all.
when removing the engine mount(to get to the timing belt), you'll need to disconnect a power steering hard line. make sure to refill the reservoir back up. you'll hear a rhythmic grinding sound when you start the car cuz your PS fluid is low. it'll eventually go away. it scared the **** out of me cuz it's the first time i've ever heard it.
also, don't break the bottom timing belt cover. the crank sensor wire is integrated into it so if you break a certain part of it, expect to pay a bit for a new one. the actual sensor isn't part of it, just the wires.
since i had a lift at skool to use, i used one hand to hold the flywheel with a crowbar(through a little panel at the bottom of the flywheel housing held by two 10mm bolts) and the other hand with the torque wrench on the crank pulley bolt. that was pretty easy. you could probably do it on your back though. when the belt is on and the tensioner tightened up the slack, make sure you turn the crank clockwise twice(with the crank pulley bolt, no pulley) and make sure your timing marks are still aligned.
the water pump is pretty much bolt-on. there's no gasket so you have to use permatex or loctite ultra grey gasket maker. it's the equivalent to the mitsu oem stuff. let cure for an hour before putting in new coolant.
besides making sure your timing marks on your cam/crank are lined up and never turn them independently, you should be okay.
May 17, 2004, 08:57 AM
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i pretty much only saved in labor. if a mechanic can do it in 4 hours at maybe $80/hr (i can't remember what a mechanics rate is) so i supposed that would be $320. parts alone is close to $200. that's timing belt, alternator belt, PS belt, and water pump.
May 18, 2004, 05:15 AM
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That total job on a 4-banger is usually in the range of $500-$700 depending on the rates for labor. In upstate NY the rates are $66 an hour. For my Civic I had the water pump and timing belt done, and it came to $340, so add the other two/three belts and it would have been up over $500.
Did you have a factory service manual to help you, or did you just fly by the seat of your pants?
Did you have a factory service manual to help you, or did you just fly by the seat of your pants?
May 18, 2004, 10:34 AM
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i had a service manual and an extra set of hands at the time. i really only used it for torque specs and the pictures in case i ran into any trouble like a bolt i couldn't see. you could probably do one without a manual cuz it's pretty much the same as any other car.
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Nov 15, 2004, 01:17 PM
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Originally Posted by rhyzin
i thought you did this last nite?
any way heres pics what i just did last night be4 it got to dark..
Nov 15, 2004, 02:23 PM
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they were all still pretty good. just changed them for good measure. no cracks or anything. teeth still looked good, just kinda shiny and worn on the outside.
