Technical Timing belts, again! (Becky and her pal)

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Technical Timing belts, again! (Becky and her pal)

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Over the last few months I've posted about timing belts here in the Panda section and also in the Punto 2012 section. I have a particular interest in finding out whether they can be changed without the specialist locking tools which Mr Haynes and others say you must have after several small local garages say it can be easily done without.

Part of my motivation in this is that I don't like to disturb stuff that doesn't need to be disturbed (let sleeping dogs lie). So not slackening the camshaft sprocket bolt holds a great attraction for me. I changed the Panda (Becky) belt in this way by marking the belt and sprockets with tippex. Checking, using the timing tool kit, after doing this showed the timing to be absolutely spot on. There's a detailed post about this (Becky's timing belt). Now I've got my older boy's Punto (2012 1.4 8 valve so it has a hydraulic variator sprocket on the cam) I've just changed the belt (full Gates belt and water pump kit, as I did with Becky) using the same tippex method and using the timing tool kit to check afterwards. Again absolutely spot on!

So it looks like the tippex method works just fine, with just the one possible fly in the ointment. If the timing is incorrectly set up before you start then it will be the same when you finish. So if it's the engines first belt change since leaving the factory or you can be absolutely sure of the history and know the last time a belt was done it was done "right" then you're ok. Otherwise, by all means do it my way but check with the timing tools after the new belt is on.

The advantage for me is that from now on I can do belts on these two cars by the tippex method which means I don't have to remove the cam cover which makes the whole proceedure much simpler and quicker

By the way, I still haven't done a Phonic Wheel relearn on Becky and she still hasn't thrown a "hissy" over it! Becky's cam sensor is on the front of the cover and reads directly on the sprocket so I was thinking that doing the tippex method might help avoid the need to do it. (I really don't like the idea of all that unloaded revving up!) The Punto sensor reads against the back end of the cam itself so I guess that if you loosen the sprocket bolt you will definitely be in for a reving up session! I'm not going to do the Phonic Wheel relearn on the Punto (as the relationship between cam and sprocket has not altered). It'll be interesting to see if it remains as "happy" as Becky is?

The Punto engine with the sensor in the back of the cam cover (that is the opposite end to the sprocket and belts) has, in the timing tool kit, an aligning plate which fixes into the hole where the sensor goes on the end of the cam cover. It's quite difficult to use and I really couldn't see what it was "aligning"! The cam cover goes on just great without it! However, in retrospect I now realise that what it's doing is setting up the gap between the end of the sensor and the segmented disc on the end of the cam by controlling the fore and aft positioning of the cover as you tighten it down! Nothing that comes with the kit tells you that!

So, I've found out a great deal about this 8 valve engine family that I didn't know just a few months ago and I'm sure there's more to learn yet as Becky, her pal the Punto (must find a name for him, I think he's a him?) and l journey onward to greater adventures!
 
ALWAYS turn the engine CAREFULLY after fitting a new belt to check the timing marks line up.

This is the Fuzz Townsend method. But it gets awkward if you need to replace tensioner and water pump.

 
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I'm combining the cam belt job with a major service on the Punto. The belt was done by early afternoon yesterday but I like to give the sealant on the water pump and cam cover an overnight to be sure it's set. So I was doing spark plugs - filters - cleaning, glaze busting and lubing front brakes - etc until supper time. This morning I filled up the cooling system and filled the engine with oil (previously drained whilst hot). The exciting moment of start up passed without incident and I ran it up 'till hot to get the thermostat open and release any trapped air. I was under the bonnet for all this with hand on top hose feeling for the 'stat to open and topping up with coolant as needed (didn't need much actually). So all looking good! Until I went and sat in the divers seat. The engine check light was on and a notice in the digital display saying 'check engine'. As you will know, I'm intentionally not carrying out the Phonic Relearn proceedure just to see if the ECU picks up on the belt change (the Panda, Becky, is still ignoring it. No light yet and driving beautifully) so I thought, oh well, the Punto, with its hydraulic variable pulley and differently positioned cam sensor must just be more sensitive to change!

Oh! Camshaft sensor! I did plug the wire back in didn't I? Oh dear, no I didn't! After remaking the connection the light was still on so I just thought, ok it's logged the fault and I'll need to get my MES out and clear it. Anyway left the engine running whilst putting the front wheels back on, rechecked coolant level and all looking good so went to turn the engine off and the "check engine" light has gone out! I'm currently doing battle with the rear drums which don't want to come off, even with the hand brake cables disconnected, ridged drums I'm sure. So tomorrow, when I've finished with the back brakes, I'll run a whole system scan and see what comes up. Fingers crossed!
 
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