1.8L Lower Timing Belt Cover
catback23
12-28-2004, 05:28 PM
My buddy and I are trying to find and fix a coolant leak coming from the water pump area in his '91 Escort GT. We got as far as taking the top and middle timing belt covers off but the lower one is the problem. We took all the bolts out and it's loose and free to pull out BUT the oil dipstick tube is right in front of it on the right side and preventing us from even getting it past the timing belt idler on that side. How to you get it off? We tried to take the dipstick out by unbolting the support clamp and yanking up on it with a pair of pliers but it doesn't seem to be budging, I dunno if it can even come off this way so I didn't even try to get a vice grip and crane on it. Help with this would be much appreciated.
catback23
12-28-2004, 10:20 PM
BUMP
Does anyone know if the oil dipstick tube is removable?
Does anyone know if the oil dipstick tube is removable?
94GTscort
12-29-2004, 07:15 AM
as i mentioned in my post, in order to access the lower timing belt covers, you need to take off the waterpump pulley to get more clearance. YOU DO NOT NEED TO TAKE THE OIL DIPSTICK TUBE. I was able to do the job without touching it. In order to remove the waterpump pulley, you need to loosen the alternator adjust bolts and p/s adjust bolts so that you can get the other belts off of the waterpump pulley. Best bet to find the location of these bolts is in Chilton's Manual. Make sure to take the bolts off from the bottom by accessing them from your passenger side wheel fender. Couple of advices on getting your timing belt off, have your friend hold on the brake pedal while removing the crankshaft pulley hub bolt. Because this bolt is on really tight, you should get a long breaker bar or something. Also, if you are working on waterpump like I did, you would probably need to take the A/C compressor bracket off, so you can access the bolts that hold the waterpump inlet pipe. I found out that it is easiest to take off the black cylindrical thing (i am assuming it is the horn) by the powersteering fluid reservoir. It makes a nice big whole to pull and put the waterpump back in. Good luck with the repair.
94GTscort
12-29-2004, 07:17 AM
why didnt ford/mazda make it easier for us to work on???
94GTscort
12-29-2004, 03:12 PM
let me make a little correction to my previous reply. While I was putting my pulleys back on, I realized, you need to take both the crankshaft pulley and the waterpump pulley. Sorry about that.
catback23
12-29-2004, 07:21 PM
Ok we didn't get to crankshaft pulley yet but we've already taken off the water pump pulley (without touching the alternator I might add) and the top and middle timing belt covers, the lower timing belt cover is complete unbolted as we can move it all about. I'm assuming your dipstick tube was bent farther to the front of the car than my buddies because his comes up right in front of the timing belt idler (the pulley mounted in front of the water pump for the timing belt). This is our problem because the lower timing cover covers this one idler and the dipstick tube blocks us from pulling the cover toward the front of the engine enough to get it past the idler....I say this with the assumption that you remove the lower timing cover by taking off the part by the idler first, maybe your suppose to take the bottom (by the crankshaft) out first. We don't know because he's mechanically disinclined and I'm to lazy to try the hard way. But do tell did you have to remove the crankshaft pulley to get the cover out and if so did you pull the part by the crankshaft out first or did you work the top off first.
94GTscort
12-30-2004, 07:56 PM
I did remove the crankshaft pulley in order to give the lower belt cover more clearance. I do remember though, that I did have some trouble pulling the cover off since the dipstick gets in the way. But with more clearance, you should be able to wiggle it out of there (ie. without removing the dipstick.) I also suggested to get rid of your other belts, since you would want alot of space to work down there. Not to mention, you gonna have to take them out later anyways. So just to clarify, heres the procedure...
1. Remove the upper timing belt cover (there should be two bolts)
2. LOOSEN the waterpump pulley bolts.
3. Loosen the alternator adjust bolt and take out the alternator belt.
4. Loosen the p/s adjust bolt and remove p/s belt.
5. After you take all the 2 belts out, remove the waterpump pulley and the crankshaft pulley. You should be able to take the pulley out without removing the big black bolt holding the crankshaft pulley hub.
6. Unscrew one bolt off the middle timing belt cover (I think it was located near alternator)
7. Unscrew 3 bolts holding the lower belt cover. Try and wiggle it out of between idler and the dipstick. I noticed I kind of had to muscle it out of there (since its plastic, it bends enough...)
The rest of the procedure to remove the belt, I could get into if you are interested. I just finished working on my belts and waterpump today, but the timing seems to be really off. Do you think I could adjust it by the distributor?
1. Remove the upper timing belt cover (there should be two bolts)
2. LOOSEN the waterpump pulley bolts.
3. Loosen the alternator adjust bolt and take out the alternator belt.
4. Loosen the p/s adjust bolt and remove p/s belt.
5. After you take all the 2 belts out, remove the waterpump pulley and the crankshaft pulley. You should be able to take the pulley out without removing the big black bolt holding the crankshaft pulley hub.
6. Unscrew one bolt off the middle timing belt cover (I think it was located near alternator)
7. Unscrew 3 bolts holding the lower belt cover. Try and wiggle it out of between idler and the dipstick. I noticed I kind of had to muscle it out of there (since its plastic, it bends enough...)
The rest of the procedure to remove the belt, I could get into if you are interested. I just finished working on my belts and waterpump today, but the timing seems to be really off. Do you think I could adjust it by the distributor?
catback23
12-31-2004, 11:27 AM
Thanks we'll try that if my bud is up to it. He's tired of fixing his car all the time now and he wants to just get another used car. I can't say I think it's the best choice since he's in financial hardship atm and fixing his car may be cheaper than buying someones problems, but alas he's free to be foolish if he chooses so. I just hope he gets off of his fresh everything trip. New used car, new rental house, new cell phone, basically everything he can buy new.
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