[urq] Timing belt cover removal tips

[fdekat]

Date: Sat, 6 Aug 2005 13:56:01 -0700 (PDT)
From: steven j <michellepfeiffersx at yahoo.com>
Subject: [urq] Timing belt cover vs shouldered nut
To: urq at audifans.com

>Thanks to the aux radiator being in the way (I know
>better because with my CGT I pop off the grill and
>have great access to the engine front) I spent two
>hours trying to remove the lower shouldered nut  so
>that

>Any tips? - I loosed the belt for the hydrolic pump,
>but I didn't get enough slack to remove the belt. 

Remove the adjuster bolt complete. (Undo the nut that the adjuster bolt
threads into, that way, you don't have to run the adjuster bolt all the way.
You then get WAY more slack on the belt. You pretty well have to have the
belt off, to be able to move the aux rad out the way..


> Iremoved the top rubber  mount for the aux radiator -

I have found that on my urq, I can move the whole aux rad (sort of) out the
way,    without undoing the water lines. 
In the end, it IS quicker to move it out the way, than mess about trying to
work behind it.

First, remove the PS belt completely, as above.
Undo the "L" bracket at the top of the aux rad, then undo the two bottom
bolts on the rad, from below. (You need some extensions on the 10mm socktet,
in order to reach).

Once the aux rad is loose, you can (painfully) work it across the front of
the motor, towards the rad side of the car. Be careful of the fins (And you
may find it easier to dismount the PS pump completely, leavng it's lines
still in place). Now there should be only one more bolt holding it on..

You can not get somewhat better access to the timing belt cover.
Once you do get the cover loose, it's still a bit of an adventure working it
out from where it lives.  But it can be done!

When you get the cover off, pay attention to what bits come from behind the
cover fittings. The studs behind are of different lengths, and it's not hard
to mix up the loose sleeves that go behind the cover fittings, that prevent
the timing cover from getting squished. 

(Don't forget to put those sleeves back  on, when reassembling. You don't
want to have to pull the timing cover out from it's home more than once, if
you don't have to!)

>Do I have to crank the engine to get the PS pump belt off? 
Not if you remove the adjuster bolt..

>Does anyone have a favorite plier that works just great for accessing the
>lower nut?  

Vicegrips tool of choice here, too!

Regards,

=Frank=