I've been in the process of replacing my timing belt for like forever now. I have another car so I just kept putting it off. But now I finally go and get some progress done and my timing belt tensioner is completely stuck. There are two bolts that need to be turn with a hex wrench in order to loosen it. Both of these can't be turned without it being stripped. What should I do?
This post has been edited by lvDave: Oct 11 2007, 05:42 PM
did you try to pump the fucker full of WD-40?
You might have to lock onto the bolt heads with a pair of vice grips, it may come loose then.
200sxkitcar @ Oct 12 2007, 03:34 AM
You might have to lock onto the bolt heads with a pair of vice grips, it may come loose then.
Keith @ Oct 11 2007, 09:56 PM
Thats what I had to do on my old ca18et, because I roundede out the hex.....ending up just getting a new pair of tensioner bolts since I destroyed the old ones with vise grips
The tensioner is not too much money, I'd replace it. It should move around (pivot) on one of the bolts. It is possible someone WAY overtightened it and locked it down, but I kinda doubt it. You could go to the dealer or I'd try and find one in a junkyard car. If not I may have an extra that I could send you. Follow the FSM on tightening procedure for that thing so it goes on right when you do go to replace it.
Yeah, the bolts were a dealer item at the time.....seems like one was around $7, and the other one was around $12.
The tensioner you can get from Auto Zone, Kragen, etc.....and are cheap, as 200sxkitcar said
dont use lubricant or vice grips...go to the local hardware or home depot and purchase a can of map gas and a torch. heat that mofo up. it wont take long, maybe a minute or two. then put on your hex bit and loosen it. it should come loose with ease once heated. if the tensioner itself is shot out just go to the local wreckers and get a new one. you'll know if its shot out as it should spin freely and not have any sort of 'weird' sounds to it. just use common sense dude (IMG:style_emoticons/default/smile.gif) if you're unsure about one you find at the wreckers....find a few other cars adn check those. thats the fun bit about the junk yard, you can experiment and rip shit apart without fear of repicussion. good luck
