timing belt

[daveyboyz]

is it a good idea to replace water pump and belt tensioner when changing
the belt?

[snshddog]

I say yes. I try to convince my customers of that any time the water pump is run off the timing belt. Most agree with it but some don't. Half if not more of the customers that refuse to spend the extra on a pump end up with a leaking pump within a year. I figure this is from the tighter but correct tension of the new belt taking out an already weak pump bearing. Tensioner and idler pulleys I judge when I get in there and they are usually ok.

[lowsonoma1999]

The water pump isn't ran by the timing belt on an Accent, so it isn't necessary. If the pump starts leaking in the future, you won't need to remove the timing belt to get to it. Just change the belt, and you should be good. The tensioner is a spring, not hydraulic. We only change it if we find it weak when changing the belt, and I think that has only been maybe 2 times in the 8 years I've been here.

[daveyboyz]

Well I went at the timing belt today, and I gave up and put it all back together. Problem is the four bolts holding the pully for the water pump.
I cant get at them. I have maybe a half inch between the inner fender
and the pully. How in the hell you supposed to get a socket or wrench
in between there?? Why the bonehead engineers never made an access hole through the inner fender is beyond me. Also the crank bolt looked ugly rusted. I may need an impact for it....but I gave up when I could not
get access to the water pump pully bolts...PITA. If anyone has done this
job and has a tip or trick before I hole saw a hole through the inner fender?? Thats my next plan...just put a couple rubber plugs in it later. Not like Im going to keep this GEM for another 5 years....may 4 or so LOL.