[s-cars] timing belt replacement special tools

[Tom Green]

If you want to make sure you finish the job the serpentine belt failed  
to complete there are several shortcuts you can take.  The fact that  
you are asking seems to indicate
this will be your first belt change?  You want to look things over and  
find why the serpentine belt made such a mess.  Something may have  
failed to cause it to shred.  You
will need to order parts so why not get an orderly plan together and  
order a tool rental with the parts.  Blau has a special on and  Chris  
at Force Five also can provide parts
and tool rentals.  Or, maybe you live close to a lister who has the  
tools?

Usually a timing belt change is just a chance to screw things up.  You  
change perfectly good parts in the hope you are preventing a failure  
during operation, but the only
feedback you get is if you don't change the water pump or an oil seal  
and it fails, or you do something wrong.  In this case you can see the  
added value of your work, but
the screw up part still applies.

Tom

> Rich Dauenhauer <rdauenhauer at yahoo.com> asks?

> Greetings all well I got the dreaded call from the wife yesterday: "  
> The car started making this funny noise then just quit".? Further  
> protracted inquiry revealed that she heard a plastic scraping noise  
> for a MILE or TWO beforehand. Worst fears were confirmed when she  
> described belt material tangled around the front shroud and fan  
> area. Knowing the car (95.5 S6 Avant) is an interference motor? I  
> started drinking immediately and instructed her to call AAA and get  
> it back to the house.
> On my way home I picked up a Timing belt anticipating at least a  
> leakdown to determine if valve/piston smackage was going to put  
> damper on the WE and severe dent in my wallet.
>
> This morn I started tearing into it and first off the Serp. belt had  
> let go ..
> Pulling the upper Cam gear cvr I expected to find the wort but was  
> relieved to find the timing belt intact....barely! It was chewed to  
> sh*t but looks to have survived??
>
> So the question: Can I do the belt replacements w/o the special  
> tools outlined in the Bentley? How?
>
> Thanks
> Rich ?