any tips/tricks on changing timing belt

[jimzz2006]

I have a 2003 Hyundai Sonata. It has 72,000 miles, recomended change interval is 60,000 so I am pushing my luck.

I got a Gates timing belt/water pump kit from rock auto. Had a mechanic lined up to do the job, but he recently had surgery and it is gonna be a month or 2 before he is wrenching again.

I am paranoid of the belt breaking and losing the engine. Is this something a somewhat handy diy-er can do? Any special tools needed?

the engine is a 6 cyl 2.7

thanks

 

[bazzateer]

I've done this:

1. Take a craft knife and cut the belt lengthways all the way round leaving approx 1/3 of the width still on the cogs to maintain timing. Remove the 2/3 wide section.
2. Now place the new belt onto the cogs alongside the remaining 1/3 width of the original belt.
3. Once the new belt is 2/3 of the way on remove the 1/3 of the original belt (cut it off) and push the new belt the rest of the way on.

This will keep the timing as it was before and beside maybe loosening off/tightening up the tensioner is all you need to do.

 

[Boomer343]

Did a Google search and came up with this...
http://www.hyundaiforum.com/forum/hyundai-sonata-19/2003-sonata-timing-belt-replacement-7911/

So it looks like the worst is that it is a tight fit and getting the crank pulley off will be a pain. If you are replacing the water pump then using bazzateer's idea won't work an you should replace the water pump. I'd be replacing tensioners, idlers etc as well if it were mine.

Looks like a nasty one to be cutting your teeth on and there is zero room for error so you may want to get a price quote on getting the job done.

 

[jsaw]

Line up the timing marks when you start.use a paint stick to put marks on the belt where it lines up with the timing marks. Take the old belt off. Lay it next to the new belt and transfer the marks to the new belt.when you are going back together it is a lot easier than wondering if one of your marks is off 1 tooth.some belts come pre marked.

 

[iggy05]

I have done a number of them in dodges. Just make sure to bring everything to top dead center on all marks. Ussually there are marks on the cam and crank to show where it is. My best recommendation is to mark where the cam is to the outside housing. I think the post about marking the belt to the other belt is ok but it may come up incorrect for the cam lineup if the belt has stretched over time some. I also suggest doing a couple of rotations somehow once you install the tensioner back on. I would say the crank bolt and socket but you may tighten it on and it won't come off. On the dodges I would just do a qwick short crank with the starter and check but I did not have to remove a motor mount. This will make sure that tension was good or it did not jump a tooth. It happened to me once so it is possible.

 

[Drew_flux]

The engine is interferance, be afraid of a snaped belt, Not the worst belt to change. One think to watch is the front bank has a habit of rotating when the velt is removed.

 

[jayoldschool]

Just use the "mark the belt and the pullies" method. No need to worry about TDC. White Out or paint on one tooth on the cam sproket and belt, one spot on the crank and belt. Remove belt. Do the water pump and tensioner. Take old belt, count notches between paint marks. Mark new belt identically. Install new belt, putting the marks back where they belong. Done.

 

[aka Larry]

Definietely match-mark the cam gears and belt to the housing along with the crank pulley too. The new belt will have the same number of teeth so just count and transfer the paint marks onto the new belt. Once you have the new one on and the tensioner in place, rotate the crank two revolutions to be sure all those marks still line up. If they do, stick a fork in it...it's done.

Remember you're not on a clock, just take your time, and do it right.

 

[Nickshelby]

When I do timing belt changes on my ducatis, the easiest method is making marks on the cam gears and crank gear with a paint pen so that it marks the gear and the corresponding tooth of the belt. Then count the number of empty teeth between the paint marks and mark the new belt the exact same.

Proceed to install so that the paint marks line up all the way around. It's much easier than it seems. Just take your time.