Timing Belt Change

[Matty Moo]

there are 2 different ways to route the serp belt. one way for the shorter belt, and one way for the newer belt. You already know to put it over the idler pulley last..

I'm betting your belt you have is the shorter one. The last dayco serp belt I bought showed both ways on the cardboard sleeve. My old belt went on differently than my new one.

swell job on the tool.

[MadeInJapan]

yes, I tried both routings too...and for the shorter belt but neither way worked...after wrestling with it for over an hour I gave up...nothing seemed to work- I chalked it up to the belt being wrong in AutoZone's computer.

[wheelsup]

I almost gave up putting the serp belt on and had it towed, that's how frustrating it was...

For my serp belt tool I bought a nail removal pry bar from Lowe's for around $3. Actually I bought 4 and luckily 1 fit, so I returned the others (and I think actually returned all 4, it was a long day). I refused to spend $25+ that IPD wanted unless I had to. I tried the quarter trick but completely distorted them.

Your tensioner pulley looks pretty new though, mine was a lot worse off than that.

Once I put new pulleys/belts/wp on it, it runs nice and quiet, no squeaking. I'm glad I replaced everything. I can't believe you had that much trouble with the torx, with my HF tool I can take that thing off no problem. Was there any rust on the threads? Looking at that you're lucky you even got it out without pulling the engine!!

[MadeInJapan]

I was bound and determined.
If you could remember the part number for that pry bar from Lowes, or even could measure it for length, etc., or better yet, post a picture, I'd really appreciate it.
MIJ

[phils94850]

the timing belt tool works great !! total cost to make was 15 bucks. I got everything at Ace hardware. I looked everywhere for the pieces and Ace was the only ones that had everything.

Great job.. madeinjapan

[wheelsup]

What'd you make? Is that the accessory belt tensioner relief 1" adapter tool that you're talking about? I looked for a 1" adapter at Harbor Freight and couldn't find it.

What'd you buy at Ace? I need one as my accessory belt tensioner bearing seems to be going bad and the crowbar method I used last time just isn't how I want to do it again.

[phils94850]

yeah wheels... i printed out the pic that (madeinjapan) posted for the tool he made for the serp belt tensioner and took it up to ACE hardware and they had everything. It works great.

i had an extra serp tensioner i had took off the wifes car and took it up there with me to make sure the 90 fit. Im sorry i didnt get the size of it though. Maybe you can ask madeinjapan if he remembers the size. I guess you could take diff sizes out with you and try til the one u need fits..

[anmartin44]

i believe the it's a 1 inch square

[DCT5Rs70]

So I found an easyer way to do it, without the cam lock tool that is. I have a cvvt cam on exaust side and needed a TB change at a buddys house... I pretty much had every tool I needed except the cam lock tool. (Damn)
I set the exaust cam where it needed to be and put the cam sensor ring back on but made a mark on it and the head to indicate where I was. had a buddy hold the 10mm ratchet still while I walked the exaust cam into place and but the TB on in order Crank-Intake cam - exaust cam - WP then tensioner! No more P0014 and wow. Pulls like it did when I built it.

Worked just as if I had the tool but I did not!

I will post pic's soon!

[mtd240]

This was the first major job (unless you consider a Tune-Up to be major) I did on my 850.

I used this "tool" to remove the serpentine belt. Worked flawlessly - 20-30 seconds to turn and lock the tensioner.

I grabbed a GearWrench Torx socket with a pair of vicegrips (set to "insanely tight"), and used that to loosen the tensioner bolt. It came out easy, with a small pipe extension on the vice grips.


Unfortunately...I think the timing is one tooth off. Seems a bit sluggish; rather it seems to be a pretty flat acceleration up to speed.