Printable Version of Topic

Posted by: bhorste Jan 17 2013, 12:17 PM

The wife's ride is due for a timing belt change. While I'm a veteran of changing one on a Beta engine, I've never done an Alpha. It looks a bit more daunting due to a couple things:

1) the A/C plumbing runs across that side of the block (and right where you need to access).

2) It actually has a pulley for each camshaft.

Since some of y'all have Accents or similar I'm wondering if I'm going to be cursing myself for even thinking of attempting this myself. I'm also figuring I'll tackle the water pump, since it's at 120k+.

Posted by: Bobzilla Jan 17 2013, 01:44 PM

Done some single cam Alpha t-belts (3 to date on the old 2000). It's not really any harder than the beta. Wit hteh DOHC alpha, making sure you get the engine to TDC before pulling the belt is a little more important. The swift was like that, as long as you had the cams on "the marks" you were good to go.

Posted by: bhorste Jan 17 2013, 01:50 PM

Did you use anything to get the pulleys to stay put once you got to TDC? How did you work around the A/C stuff? I'm guessing I'll have to undo an engine mount like on the Beta to get-r-done as well.

Posted by: Bobzilla Jan 17 2013, 02:50 PM

the side engine mount, just like the beta has to come loose/off. once it's out of the way it's not so bad. IIRC, there's enough flex in the ac lines to get to what you need.

Posted by: bhorste Jan 17 2013, 02:56 PM

Sure hope you're right. Don't have all the necessary bits to do it yet, but it does need to happen. Too bad I can't use my ramps to lift it up, too. Just a bit difficult when you have to take the RF wheel off.

Posted by: Bobzilla Jan 17 2013, 03:16 PM

if you were closer I'd say bring it by one weekend and we could knock it out pretty quick.

Posted by: bhorste Jan 17 2013, 03:38 PM

IN's not that far from here, but assembling the parts will take some time. Never mind that I'd probably have to leave my pregnant wife without her car for a day.