Timing Cover Removal 95 LX 1.9L

[dlbdata]

95 Escort LX 1.9L with Air Conditioning and Power Steering. I've removed the engine mount and the 2 nuts holding the timing cover on. But the timing cover just will not come off. It won't pull up, and it won't pull away at the bottom. It seems like the crank pulley is preventing the bottom from pulling out, and something is preventing it from pulling up. Any tips on how to get the cover off? I've got Haynes and Autozones instructions, and they make it sound like it should just pull right off.

[FlowTymz]

To fully remove the timing cover assembly you have to remove the serpentine belt tentioner, it fits so close to the timing cover it will not remove or install with out it removed. We recently done a head job on one at the shop and basicly had to pull the entire engine about 8 inchs up to get to everything, everything is so tight it's hard to get to just one thing

[Davescort97]

Originally Posted by dlbdata

95 Escort LX 1.9L with Air Conditioning and Power Steering. I've removed the engine mount and the 2 nuts holding the timing cover on. But the timing cover just will not come off. It won't pull up, and it won't pull away at the bottom. It seems like the crank pulley is preventing the bottom from pulling out, and something is preventing it from pulling up. Any tips on how to get the cover off? I've got Haynes and Autozones instructions, and they make it sound like it should just pull right off.

I did one on my 95 wagon 1.9 SOHC. There are 2 more bolts at the bottom of the cover. It will be easier to remove them if you take off the crankshaft pulley first. Also, you may have to jack up the engine about 4 inchs to clear the left motor mount which may have to be removed on the engine side.

[sixleggedinsect]

Originally Posted by dlbdata

95 Escort LX 1.9L with Air Conditioning and Power Steering. I've removed the engine mount and the 2 nuts holding the timing cover on. But the timing cover just will not come off. It won't pull up, and it won't pull away at the bottom. It seems like the crank pulley is preventing the bottom from pulling out, and something is preventing it from pulling up. Any tips on how to get the cover off? I've got Haynes and Autozones instructions, and they make it sound like it should just pull right off.

man, i can relate to this.

just checked the forum. perhaps you've already done the job. when i changed the belt/pump i coudlnt get the cover off without forcing it. i had the chilton's and the haynes and followed all the directions. i tried diddling around with it this way and that and rotating and twisting and every combination i could think of. in the end, i just forced it. it broke off a tiny tab of plastic which doesnt matter, but it coudl have been worse. i figured if i broke it badly i could pick another one up at a junkyard.

i had a look at the factory service manual for my car a couple weeks ago. im pretty sure i read over the timing cover removal instructiosn and it said the same stuff as the haynes.

a lot of folks told me that some escort timing covers were tricky- had to be removed 'just right', but i never did find that just right.

good luck.

anthony

(ps- you prob know this already, but CW says change the water pump at the same time)

[dlbdata]

Originally Posted by sixleggedinsect

man, i can relate to this.

just checked the forum. perhaps you've already done the job. when i changed the belt/pump i coudlnt get the cover off without forcing it. i had the chilton's and the haynes and followed all the directions. i tried diddling around with it this way and that and rotating and twisting and every combination i could think of. in the end, i just forced it. it broke off a tiny tab of plastic which doesnt matter, but it coudl have been worse. i figured if i broke it badly i could pick another one up at a junkyard.

i had a look at the factory service manual for my car a couple weeks ago. im pretty sure i read over the timing cover removal instructiosn and it said the same stuff as the haynes.

a lot of folks told me that some escort timing covers were tricky- had to be removed 'just right', but i never did find that just right.

good luck.

anthony

(ps- you prob know this already, but CW says change the water pump at the same time)

Yes I finally got the timing cover off. Hopefully this will help someone else out. What did the trick for me was not only removing the damper & motor mount, but also taking out the large bracket that it attaches to. This allowed me to rotate the timing cover forward a bit further and then lift it up. It also involved loosening all the clamps for the electrical cables & power steering hoses. This provided just enough room to get the timing cover out. Before doing this I also broke a small piece of plastic off the cover, but it shouldn't hurt anything.

I did also replace the water pump, lower radiator hose and serpentine belt. That lower radiator hose was a challenge too. Definately use some grease on the hose before trying to get it back on. I also soaked it in boiling water and stretched the opeing with the old timing belt tensioner (just the right size to stretch the opening). Between the heated hose, cold engine and the hose grease, I got the thing on. Earlier I had spent 2 hours trying to get the hose on before pulling it off again, and doing it again using the grease etc.

The serpentine belt was OK, but the easiest way I found was to pry the tensioner with one hand, and work the belt over the crankshaft pully with the other hand (reaching through the wheelwell).

Hope this helps someone out.