Gdi Timing Belt Options

[stephenm2682]

hi, as anyone done there own on this model?

[stephenm2682]

helloo?

[steelywheels]

nope sorry, mines a sohc model.

might be worth grabbing a workshop manual off ebay (got one myself and found it usefull).

[Solouko]

Yes i have, i took the engine out to do it though

[stephenm2682]

Yes i have, i took the engine out to do it though

lol seems practical but a bit extreme. i take it it's a full days labour because of where the belt is, covered by alternator belt etc? or was it the same with engine out?

[Solouko]

With the engine out it was very easy, the only thing I was worried about was the direction of the belt. because you can see the timing marks and get to the tensioners you dont need to lock the engine which requires specialist tools, also it was easy to get the water pump changed, the covers off and all the ancilliaries and belts removed. However... getting the engine out in the first place is hard. There is not much room, about 20-25mm and to lift the engine out you have to disconect the gearbox whcih means you have to take the starter motor off which is right at the back and hard to get to. If i took the car to a guarage i'd expect them to drop the engine and then change the belt. if you can do that it would be done in about 2-3 hours if you had the manual handy, which i do, in PDF format on a laptop in my guarage. PM me if you would like a copy. By dropping the engine the axles will pop out of the transmission or you can just open the CV joints then it's just the wiring, there are only really 6 bolts and a few hoses to disconect. Even the gear linkages are quite easy to remove.

[stephenm2682]

hi yeah i have a manual, but does yours give info on cambelt removal & refitting? what tools are required to do it on car without dropping engine. how much were the parts you used?

[Solouko]

hi yeah i have a manual, but does yours give info on cambelt removal & refitting? what tools are required to do it on car without dropping engine. how much were the parts you used?

Yes, it gives very clear instructions. it only tells you what tools you need, but the tools are listed as mitsubish parts numbers, it doesnt use standard tools like screwdrivers ect.. I do however have a mitsubishi ENGINE manual which covers the whole 4G9 series engines and gives much clearer instrutions and diagrams of the tools in use so i was able to make my own tools. as for parts, you only need a cam belt and water pump, the water pump should really be changed with the belt because they ware together. I;ve checked my service history, and the timing belt cost £40 +vat i cant find the recept for the water pump nor can i remember what i paid for it, sorry.

[stephenm2682]

hi, what about tensioners, idlers, rollers?? what tools do i need & why?

[Solouko]

hi, what about tensioners, idlers, rollers?? what tools do i need & why?

idelers and tensioners you can normally work around as in you dont need to take them off but if my memory serves me right they do all come off with a normal spanner, and if you dont have a good set of spanners you shouldnt really be atemppting soemthing this big. I think i made my own tool for the auto tensioner, it has two small holes in it for the propper tool to fit into so that it can be pulled back alowing the belt to be slipped on. I used a bit of wood with a couple of nails in it. the get teh crank the bottom dead centre there is a half inch square socket head in the middle of the bolt holding the axu pully on, so to turn it just use a half inch socket ratchet which is also a really critcal tool for something like this. I'm getting a little agead of myself, if you want to do this without taking the engine out make sure you have something which can lift the engine, putting a jack under the sump will not work as you'll just end up denting it so that the crank hits it. I would recomend an engine hoist as it's the safest way of not krushing yourself or damaging your car but you can support the engine on the sump if you spread the load, i've made an engine cradle befor now from a block of 4 by 3 and jsut shaped it to fit round the sump, not on this car though.

[stephenm2682]

whats the axu pulley? don't see a description on the manual about a square bolt? i have all the tools and i've done timing belts before just not on something this awkward. don't leave much room to work do they (IMG:style_emoticons/default/auto.gif)

[Solouko]

whats the axu pulley? don't see a description on the manual about a square bolt? i have all the tools and i've done timing belts before just not on something this awkward. don't leave much room to work do they (IMG:style_emoticons/default/auto.gif)

you know, i could always be thinking of my friends lancer about that bolt having the square cutout in the middle of it =/ but the axu pully is the one which drives all your belts, it;s the one at the very bottom which bolts onto the crank, it's a double pully with two belts comming off it, one going to the alternator and one serving the power steering and air conditioning (if you have it). there's a single tensioner for the PS and aircon belt.... somewhere *checks the manual* ah yes... it's the small idler pully on the front, ther's a bolt to release the tension on it at the front. I cant actually go check the car at the moment becaue it's in the guarage having the hanfbrake and rear brake shoes replaced, i'm too busy fixing my fiat to do the 'risma myself right now.