broke down...not literally

well i have finally broken down and started buying parts for my 98 winny. Changed out the fuel filter the other day...first time i think in about 100000miles. not as dirty as you would think. Bought some ATF to do power steering flush, i have the chocolat syrup syndrome going on...but that'll be later on. ANd tomorrow i am gonna attempt to change the tensioner. It's pooched, i will try to get some pics before i take it apart, but the tensioner is actually on an angle, the belt no longer ride flush on it...like i said pics to follow. So except not having the 18mm wrench I am all set. Wish me luck. I will be leaving for afghanistan next week so i am hoping to have a followup done on here before then.

ok well i replaced the tensioner today, and belt. The tensioner was shot, unfortunatly i do not have pics of it. But if you look at the pic in this thread http://www.automotiveforums.com/vbulletin/showthread.php?t=498646&referrerid=376254 , mine looked exactly the same with the gap and such. removal of the tensioner was failry easy once i broke the 18mm bolt, took about an 2 ft extension to do it. Next on the agenda, rear shocks spark plugs and coolant flush.

Rear shocks are not too bad to do at all. The plugs on the rear will need to be attacked from under the vehicle though.

When you flush the coolant, make damn sure you get all the air out of the system! Fill the coolant, leave the rad cap off, and start it up with the heater on full hot (vent mode) and get it to operating temp. After it's good and warm, you may have to rev the engine a few times to get the air pocket out.

My second day at the dealership I work for, I had one overheat when the customer left due to an air pocket.