405 timing belt renewal

Anup Pahari (apahari@erols.com)
Mon, 04 Jan 1999 20:14:47 -0500

The fall was "replace TD head" season for me. This winter it is replace
89 405 Mi16 timing belt. I have gotten as far as removing the following
: timing chain cover (top and bottom), , top right mounting bracket arm,
crank pulley. Looking into the timing belt housing area I notice it is
a little wet with oil; not dripping wet, but clearly a little oil is
getting in there. The belt itself does not look to be oily. I have
been told that oil is one of the things that kills timing belts
prematurely so I definitely want to get to the source of the oil
seepage.

It seems oil can get in there from at least three sources; 1) leaky
valve cover gasket, 2) leaky cam seals, 3) leaky crank seal.

The first two I can pretty much eliminate because the cam sprocket area
looks dry and upon lifting the valve cover gasket I noted no tell-tale
signs of oil getting into the timing belt area from the junction between
the upper-inner timing belt cover and the right side of the valve cover
gasket. That leaves the crank oil seal.

Before I go ahead and actually check the crank seal I wanted to get some
opinions and experienced views on whether I am looking in the right
direction here. One thing that I also suspect is the head gasket
chiefly because the oil stain actualy begins around the level of the
head gasket and moves downwards. The car does not have many miles on it
(65K) so I hope it is not the head gasket. Are Mi16s known for oil
seepage into the timing belt area from the head gasket? If this is head
gasket issue will retorqueing resolve the seepage?

Also, how does one undo the crank sprocket bolt without the aid of air
tools? Haynes suggests putting on 4th and having someone hold the
brakes firmly. Any risks in doing this?

If there are any other things experienced hands know about timing belt
renewal on the Mi16 please advise (yes I know about special locking pins
-- i have devised a pair -- and about the seem-gauge, don't have one,
but will take to dealer after initial tensioning).

thanks in advance.

Anup Pahari

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