I started about 9:00 this morning to replace the Timing Belt, Front Oil Seals, Water Pump, Accessory Bushings and Drive Belts. The hardest part was making sure I didn't leave out any steps and didn't scratch any of the shafts.

Everything seemed to go ok. I took most people's advice and got the pvc pipe and I am REALLY glad I did. The only problems I did encounter was getting the first seal (camshaft) in and getting the crankshaft seal out. I broke a the tip about (3/4 of a mm) off on the crankshaft seal. (I cleaned it out on the inside.) I think it just went flying through the engine compartment or got stuck in the seal, because I was pushing the pick into the seal itself, not under it. I will get a seal puller for next time.

After I got everything back on and the timing marks lined up (you really cannot see the crankshaft marks at all. I lined up 1 line with the cam and 1 line with the intermediate shaft. It worked out that way when I was testing it.

I put most of it back together, enough to start it anyway, without the water pump and with the accessories (ps, alternator, a.c. compressor)

It started right up and seemed to idle like a charm. when I gave it the gas it was sluggish, but probably due to the lack of tune-up stuff and a dirty fuel filter and other things that have never been done.

All in all I spent about 4 1/2 hours removing EVERYTHING, getting the oil seals in, getting the timing belt and tensioner on, doing the accessory bushings and Quadruple checking everything. Had to stop because of the threat of rain. I rained after I got all of my "stuff" put away.

Tomorrow will attack the water pump and thermostat and as soon as the drive belts come in, will put those back on.

I figured the timing belt was "self-centering". I got the belt a little off and rotated the motor about 4-5 times by hand. It ended up about 1/16" back form the front of the camshaft and intermediate shaft.

The oil seals did not leak and the car seemed to run fine for about 3-4 minutes until I shut it off.

Thanks again to everyone for their help and suggestions. I know what to do and what not to do next time.

Sorry for the terribly long post.

P.S. I figured out that using the old belt on the Tensioner, I pulled it back and locked it into place (it is spring loaded). After I got the new belt on, released the tension.

Thanks again..

Todd :-)
--
1990 245 Wagon - 187000 miles; 1988 244 Sedan - 123000 miles

For future reference, and with apologies for not mentioning it before - here's my trick for lining up the marks on the new belt.

Use some Wite-Out (or similar) and mark the belt on the front edge where the cross stripes are. Mark the cam and intermediate gears and back plate marks, too. the belt edge is sooo much easier to see when bent over the fender.

Then mark the belt and crankshaft pulley - but make the marks four teeth counterclockwise from the factory mark and belt stripes. That way the belt and pulley marks will touch when things are lined up right.

Good job - enjoy the ride AND the rush; Pay yourself $80 an hour.

Bob

:>)

"when I gave it the gas it was sluggish"....Oops, not so fast. I think you made the typical error, off a tooth. Pull the cover back and line up the cam mark. Make sure that is TDC with some method, maybe the straw in the spark plug hole. Then remove the distributor cap. It better be pointed dead straight at the tic mark on the lip. I bet it is not and you will be re-doing the job. Sorry, but everyone runs into this one at first.

Robert,

I did check everything again. ALL of the marks line up. The car has not been driven much in the past year or so. I checked the crankshaft, intermediate and camshaft marks. They were all dead on...Not with the belt.

Todd :-)

OK, just keep it in mind. The bog, or lag on first acceleration is a hallmark of the one tooth error. That is what I suspected from your description, but I could be wrong.

As soon as my water pump and new belts arrive, I'll be doing the same thing (new timing belt, seals, tensioner, drive belts, water pump and thermostat) on my 83 245. I may have a few questions!