Timing Belt, Do It Yourself?

[Four-Fifty-X]

I have a 2001 LX, and it's due for a timing belt. Can't affort to pay the dealer right now, so some questions:

-How difficult of a repair is this to do yourself? I have always worked on all my cars. I accustom to repairs like: water pump, radiator, alternator, pulleys, valve cover gaskets, aux fans, etc. on BMWs.

-It there a good guide/DIY on this? I can't find anything

-About how long, roughly, does the repair take.

[ArmyofOne]

I have a 2001 LX, and it's due for a timing belt. Can't affort to pay the dealer right now, so some questions:

-How difficult of a repair is this to do yourself? I have always worked on all my cars. I accustom to repairs like: water pump, radiator, alternator, pulleys, valve cover gaskets, aux fans, etc. on BMWs.

-It there a good guide/DIY on this? I can't find anything

-About how long, roughly, does the repair take.

On the 1UZ, it isnt as difficult as on the V6 for the simple fact of space. But it is still a LARGE job. there is a reason the average dealer charges $1,000+ for this service. Its a PITA. Having done 2 (both on LS's though) I can honestly say, Its kind of a bad design. These motors really should have gears (NOT CHAINS) instead of belts. It completely ELIMINATES the need for TB change and solves the noise/reliability problem a chain has.

While doing a timing belt, the engine WILL come out of time. If you are confident you can get it back, Have at. Its Not an easy job tho.

[ArmyofOne]

I have a 2001 LX, and it's due for a timing belt. Can't affort to pay the dealer right now, so some questions:

-How difficult of a repair is this to do yourself? I have always worked on all my cars. I accustom to repairs like: water pump, radiator, alternator, pulleys, valve cover gaskets, aux fans, etc. on BMWs.

-It there a good guide/DIY on this? I can't find anything

-About how long, roughly, does the repair take.

On the 1UZ, it isnt as difficult as on the V6 for the simple fact of space. But it is still a LARGE job. there is a reason the average dealer charges $1,000+ for this service. Its a PITA. Having done 2 (both on LS's though) I can honestly say, Its kind of a bad design. These motors really should have gears (NOT CHAINS) instead of belts. It completely ELIMINATES the need for TB change and solves the noise/reliability problem a chain has.

While doing a timing belt, the engine WILL come out of time. If you are confident you can get it back, Have at. Its Not an easy job tho.

Hey Army...

When you say "out of time".. do you mean cam timing or ignition timing, or both?? Is it something you can control or not??

Cam timing. Ignition is electronically controlled (or should be on an 01). being that the ignition is not controlled by an "old school" distributor that rides the cam, it is controlled electronically by the comupter, usually via 4 ignition coils (it may be 2, or even 1.)

You can control the loss of cam timing, but you have to make a "Shim" to hold the cam gears in Place. VERY difficult to do. Its actually easier to let the motor lose timing and just realign with the timing "nicks" on the pulleys. When removing the belt, it is going to be IMPOSSIBLE to do so without moving the cams, inless you put a shim in there. and IF you manage to get the shim to stay in place (2 ppl helps), it will be as easy as "off with the old and on with the new". If it has VVt-i watch it, as it is an interference motor. I cant remember if the 01 V8's were or not. Be very careful, If the pistons hit the valves, even ever so gently, it could be disastrous.

[eatingupblacktop]

If it has VVt-i watch it, as it is an interference motor. I cant remember if the 01 V8's were or not. Be very careful, If the pistons hit the valves, even ever so gently, it could be disastrous.

Especially careful when torquing the crank pulley!!!