Technical What tools do I need for timing belt / tensioner change?

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Technical What tools do I need for timing belt / tensioner change?

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Nov 20, 2011
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I'm thinking of changing my timing belt and tensioner (probably water pump too) on my Mk1 (hasn't been done in 16 years / 76000 miles).

What tools do I need for this job?

Any top tips or 'gotchas' to watch out for would be gratefully appreciated!
 
Thanks fingers. It is a Mk1. Do I need to take the inner wheel cover off?

Is this easy? How many pieces and bolts come off?

Thanks
 
It's a 30mins job easiest one you can do...jack the engine under the sump supporting with a piece of wood, unbolt the engine mounting, unbolt the mounting bracket from the head, remove the top belt cover with a couple 10mm bolts, unbolt cam sensor if u have one help the cover out, remove offside wheel, remove the front half of the wheel arch liner and the plastic cover under that, slacken the 3 alternator bolts and push the alternator to loosen auxiliary belt tension, unbolt the auxiliary crank pulley 3x 13mm bolts, remove the bottom cam belt cover with a 10mm bolt, time the engine so the crank mark lines to the housing mark at around 10 o clock and cam should line to around 9 o'clock u will see the mark on the head (have a look on here for timing marks so you know what to line it up too), unbolt the 13mm tensioner nut and remove tensioner and belt, unbolt the 4x 10mm bolts holding water pump on, clean the surface and all old gasket were the pump will sit, bolt new pump on with gasket supplied, but the new cam belt on with all slack on tensioner side, use some circlip pliers to pull the belt tensioner (or use 2 Allen keys in the holes against each other as a lever any size), tighten the 13mm nut on the tensioner, check all your timing marks are still correct, turn the engine over 2 times by hand (altho it won't knock its a clearance engine but put in 5th gear and turn the wheel off ground or from crank pulley up to you), put your bottom cover back on, put the auxiliary crank pulley back in with belt still round it as otherwise crank sensor comes in way of the aux belt going on, put back over the alternator, prise the alternator back to tension the aux belt and tighten all 3 bolts, put the top cover back on, bolt the engine mounting bracket back to the head, lower engine off the jack slowly to line the mounting back to the engine bay holes and bolt it down, put cam sensor back in if you had one, refit your wheel arch covers and wheel, start to engine and go for a McDonald's drive thru :p
 
Did mk 1s have a cam sensor? Also they dont all have a top engine mount at that side. The instructions above are for a 8valve engine only. Make sure the new belt teeth match the cam and water pump pulleys
 
Brin,

Thanks for your detailed explanation. You talked about turning over the engine. Forgive me for being a moron - how exactly do you do that?

Does the engine need supporting if I am removing the mounting bracket? My car is a 1996 Mk1. Would it also help to remove the ECU and charcoal cannister?

Thanks
 
Brin,

Thanks for your detailed explanation. You talked about turning over the engine. Forgive me for being a moron - how exactly do you do that?

Does the engine need supporting if I am removing the mounting bracket? My car is a 1996 Mk1. Would it also help to remove the ECU and charcoal cannister?

Thanks

Is it a 1.2 8v??

Yes you do have to support engine I just said put a jack with a piece of wood under the sump, to turn the engine just put a 13mm socket on the crack pulley and turn

If the ECU comes in the way. Which it probs will then remove it
 
It is the 1.0 or 1108 8v engine. So the engine thing is just one bolt and bracket that comes away on that side to aid access?

Thanks
 
My mk1 1.1 has no mounting bracket.

to be honest i dont remember having to do the engine mounting on a mk 1 either
however if it has and you do need to remove it you need to be doubly sure that your sump can hold the weight because if its original its highly unlikely due to rust
 
All copied, but it is still worth going through the right hand wheel arch?
Did you take the ECU off as it is a little in the way?
 
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