Timing Belt Change

[MaesMV6]

Originally Posted by CateraMV6

Now thats the spirit... sorry for jacking up this thread.. but I think there are alot of Catera Owners in the Mid west region so we can do something like IL, IN, OH, MI meet somewehre in the middle... where its closest to everyone...

maybe we should start another thread. in oklahoma atm, been waiting for an excuse to go up to ohio and see some of my friends up there.

[Logandiagnostic]

We are the guys that have the rental kits available. GM tool J-42069.

I just did my wifes 2003 Saturn VUE belt about 6 weeks ago. Not to bad, about a 4 hour job start to finish. Taking my time and pictures etc.

The only problem was my tensioner did not match the GM online service manual for Saturn 2003. Screwed with that for 30-40 minutes. When I looked up 2001 Catera there was the version I had.

The VUE had 120K on before I did the belt. I would cringe everytime she started it. Got into some warm weather so I went ahead and replaced the belt.

We have five J-42069 kits right now.


Logan Diagnostic LLC
www.ledfix.com
www.airbagcrash.com
www.logandieselusa.com

[rinverso]

i love jumping on my cat now.....now that my timing belt, tensioner, heads and 12 bent valves have been replaced by my extended warranty company. at a cost of $4,600. $100 of which i had to pay, and also without a car for three weeks. its running like new now, but if i was suspect of the timing belt or tensioner. i'd be weary, especially with the restrictor engine in this german car.
a word to the wise is sufficiant.
robert
btw. this occured 3 months ago

[Hemi_Tom]

If you need the complete timing belt tool with instructions, I rent it out for $50.00 a week plus shipping. A few folks on this list have rented it with no problems. You can e mail me for further information at Mail@AutoTechUnlimited.com

Tom Hunsaker

[szaeske]

I am getting ready to do my timing belt on my '97 that i bought a few weeks ago with 130,000 miles. I did check with the dealer and the mechanical water pump, all pulleys and the belt were changed at 60,000 miles, but as it is well documented, i need to get this changed ASAP. I was planning on buying the timing component kit (includes belt, tensioner, and 2 idlers), the mechanical water pump, and the serpentine belt while is was in there and had everything apart. I was looking at rockauto for all the parts. I have bought a few parts from them already and i have to say, there prices are unmatched by any of the GM wholesale sites and they ship quickly and even answer there phones when you call to ask about a part. I really liked dealing with them.

A few questions for anyone that may have already done this:
1. is there any difference between the GATES TCK285 kit and the ACDELCO TCK285 kits? I have been doing a lot of reading about this and thought i saw someone mention there may be some difference in the belt reference marks or something. Sorry i don't have any specifics regarding posts and where i saw this. The search on this forum isn't very good and i simply can't find the post i am referencing.

2. Does anyone have any pros/cons regarding all the different water pumps available. I won't bother listing all the P/Ns, but they have gates, acdelco, airtex, cardone and so on...just wondering if anyone may have had any bad luck with a particular one.

3. Then of course, same question for the serpentine belt....they have gates, dayco, and acdelco available.

4. Is there anything else i should do while i am in there with everything apart? I know there are a few more things i may have to address soon, such as HCV, oil cooler/exchanger, etc...but didn't remember reading about anything else to do while replacing the timing belt.

I have emailed Tom at Autotechunlimited regarding the alignment tool and am waiting to hear back, so i hope i have everything covered.

I am going to really try to document the hell out of the job with pictures for everyone's future reference when i do this job. I read through several of the european threads that Elvin provided in this thread and others regarding our timing belts and none of them seemed to be as complete as they could be, so i will try to fix us up here on this side of the pond with something similar. I just hope i can post the pics when i get going. I am new here and don't even know if i am allowed to post pics since i don't have many posts yet, but i will certainly try.

thanks and wish me luck

-scott

[flossinon24s]

ive got the kent moore kit that I would be willing to rent out. with printed off step by step directions from gm

[Logandiagnostic]

You will need the tensioner wrench.

The Kent Moore kit has the tensioner wrench. The Baum kit does not include the wrench. A Craftsman wrench will not work as it is too shallow.

I dont think the 'tom' kit has the needed wrench.

We have a couple Kent Moore kits available, and of course, several Baum kits. Our rental kits include the required wrench. 30 day rental.

As for the engine. Used for about 10 years. The are several configurations. Mostly related the different pulley assemblies etc.

Some Saab's have a adjustable lower tensioner. Many latter (Saturn/Catera) versions have a fixed pully.

Bank 1-2 tensioners. Several different versions available. Also updated tensioners. I think the rule for the tensioners is 'black is bad, brown is good.'

All use the same timing belt. That being said, the belt has paint marks on it for direction of rotation, TDC, and cam marks. But being there is more then 1 version. Most belts have 2 sets of TDC marks, and multiple cam TDC marks. The trick is figuring out which paint marks to use.

It should be noted: TDC marks for both the crank at engine are at the bottom of the engine. Not to be confused with BDC.

The job can be done. IF you have the tool. Certainly easier then installing a TCC transmission solenoid on a Northstar L480 PO741 issue.

Picture is AWD Saturn VUE timing belt change. Using Baum 4145 kit.

Logan Diagnostic LLC
www.ledfix.com/timingbelttoolrental.html
www.airbagcrash.com
www.logandieselusa.com

[szaeske]

Originally Posted by flossinon24s

ive got the kent moore kit that I would be willing to rent out. with printed off step by step directions from gm

can you email the details to szaeske@yahoo.com?

thanks,

scott

[srinne]

I have a lot of pictures of the timing belt in my "engine removal" thread. It might help to see it before you start tearing apart your engine.

[szaeske]

Originally Posted by srinne

I have a lot of pictures of the timing belt in my "engine removal" thread. It might help to see it before you start tearing apart your engine.

yes, I have gone through your thread many, many times. very nice thread BTW. Tons of good information in there. I certainly wasn't trying to slight your thread. I just thought it would be cool to have the timing belt/tensioner procedure itself documented with pictures.

thanks,

scott