|
I had mine snap on me and I got away with no damage. Anyways, I did do it myself, it is a pain, but saves you a lot of money than taking it to a mechanic. Where to start? Take the alternator off, the power steering pump off and tension pulley for it. But first take the cruise control off, makes things much easier. Then power steering, then alternator. Make sure you support the engine AND car. Support the engine with a block of wood between the jack the engine (probably best to put it under tranny). Take the valve cover off and all the things that connect to it. Take the driver's side tire off. Take the splash and engine guards out from underneath on the driver's side, cuz you'll have to get to some bolts on that side as well as the crank bolt. Take the engine mount off on the drivers side, then you'll have the timing belt cover to take off. They'll be a tensioner once you get the cover all off, loosen that, should just be a spring, make sure that goes back on right when you put it all back together. If you can, have someone that's done this before there with you. Once you get the new belt on, make sure you have the cam gears lined up, and the #1 piston at Top Dead Center. #1 will be the piston closest to the cam gears. Easiest way to do this is use your oil dipstick and stick in the spark plug hole, while you're turning the crank bolt stop whenever the dip stick is all the way up and not coming down or going up. You'll understand when you get there. At this point make sure you have the cam gears lined UP, man this is long. If I remember right you have to take the crank pulley off too. Use a 19mm, and if you can get an impact air gun you'll be good to go. Leave the spark plugs in because they keep the compression higher in your engine so its a little easier to break the bolt loose on the crank pulley. Then just assemble in reverse order, remember to connect everything back up and try to leave some bolts screwed in to original places that way there's not too much more confusion. Hope this helps and I hope you have help when doing this. Good luck. Phew, my fingers are out of breath.
__________________
Gonzo
|
