Timing Belt Change - Aftermath

Post by **Eddystone** » 08 Oct 2020, 07:18

Did the timing belt, water pump, et cetera job this week. Here's what happens when the star bolt in the tensioner pulley (stupid engineering decision which could have been a sturdy hex bolt) is either poorly made or messed up by the previous owner. There was NO WAY I could get enough torque on this sucker to remove it. After trying and trying and modifying tools, I finally resorted to grinding/cutting it off with the Dremel too with a cutoff blade. Believe me that takes a while. When you're done, it looks like this:

All of the components after maybe 60k miles seemed OK except for the hydraulic tensioner and the water pump. The water pump was leaking badly, and that's why I did this job. The hydraulic tensioner may be good, but I cannot depress the pin AT ALL on this thing. seized, or is it really that stiff?

Here is the crap water pump that I removed. There are no manufacturer markings on it. Anyone recognize this brand?

I'm thinking this is an off brand of some sort or wasn't replaced last time the belt was done. I used all top quality parts this time around.

Post by **abscate** » 08 Oct 2020, 09:40

Funny you should post this up

I'm doing GrunHilde water
Pump , green 1998, and it is the first time I've seen the water pump pulley with the notches " missing"

My 1998 AISIN VOLVO one has the same look.

Post by **amblerman** » 08 Oct 2020, 11:42

Was the pump leaking from the gasket failing or the pump housing itself?

Post by **erikv11** » 08 Oct 2020, 11:59

Hydraulic tensioner can only be compressed in a vice or c clamp etc, hand tools won't do it.

Gold stars for getting that thing Dremeled off.

Post by **Chuck W** » 08 Oct 2020, 12:57

erikv11 wrote: 08 Oct 2020, 11:59 Hydraulic tensioner can only be S-L-O-W-L-Y compressed in a vice or c clamp etc, hand tools won't do it.

Edited that for you.

I recently put one back into service after removing from a low-mileage service stint. Just put it in a vice and put a 1/4 turn on it every so often, until I could get the pin into it for storage.

Post by **Eddystone** » 08 Oct 2020, 14:13

amblerman wrote: 08 Oct 2020, 11:42 Was the pump leaking from the gasket failing or the pump housing itself?

It was the seal on the shaft, as far as I could see. Couldn't feel any wobble in the shaft bearing, but the fluid was coming from the shaft and had left stains. I assume that's a freeze plug there. It looks like hell but was simply being dripped on.

No casting marks whatsoever on this pump. There's a chance that the last person to do the timing belt didn't change the pump. The timing belt itself still looked pretty good. Not on its last legs.

Post by **Eddystone** » 08 Oct 2020, 14:17

erikv11 wrote: 08 Oct 2020, 11:59 Hydraulic tensioner can only be compressed in a vice or c clamp etc, hand tools won't do it.

Gold stars for getting that thing Dremeled off.

I think that if I had just left it on there, it would have been fine. I just didn't want to wonder if it's time would soon be up.

I know it is just my imagination, but the car seems to run better.

Also found a little crack at the base of the return tube on the coolant reservoir.

befarrer · Post by **befarrer** » 08 Oct 2020, 22:33

That water pump also looks like the one that was on my 98, it had the 3rd notch missing on the pulley, was OEM Volvo. I find you can put a bunch of torque on those Torx bolts, but only if you have the correct size, the next size down usually fits, but loosely, and destroys the bolt, it also needs to sit all the way into the bolt.

850oldschool · Post by **850oldschool** » 09 Oct 2020, 09:33

Eddy, did you wedge the engine over toward the driver side to have enough room to get in there with the Dremel?

Post by **Eddystone** » 10 Oct 2020, 03:06

850oldschool wrote: 09 Oct 2020, 09:33 Eddy, did you wedge the engine over toward the driver side to have enough room to get in there with the Dremel?

I had a strong cutoff wheel on the three-foot extension which allowed me to lay the Dremel on top of the engine and get into the area pretty well.