Hi there

[SJD]

New member couple of weeks and already need help with TIMING BELT AHHHHHHHHHH !!!!!!!!. I am pretty good on the old spanners but not familier with wrx impreza just need some one with experiance to put me straight on a couple of points. cheers .

[Mortster]

Take the rad right out first. makes it much easier to work on. What pointers do you need?

[andy-m]

i recently did mine. (On a GC8)

there is also a diagram somewhere on the net (That I cant find now) which shows the timing marks, so have a search for that.

I dont live too far from you so if you get realy stuck, let me know. I usualy check the forums once a day.

I wont bother describing the whole procedure as you said your good with spanners, but theres a few things that could have sped things up if i had known beforehand:-

Take the tensioner off once the old belt is off. use a g-clamp to compress it again and insert a small allen key in the small hole it has to keep it compressed, then re-fit it.

when all the timing marks are lined up, the passenger side cam valve springs will be compressed. so when you fit the new belt, line up the drivers side cam marks and the crank first. for the passenger side cams you will need 2 wrenches to hold them in the right position while you put the belt on.

you dont need to take the rad out, although that will give you more room to work. i got away with just removing the radiator fans.

EDIT:-
Found the timing marks diagram here
http://forums.sidc.co.uk/lofiversion...p?t136414.html

[SJD]

Thanks chaps have put second post on explaining all have a look and get back to me if poss thanks again

[SJD]

Having real bad time cannot for the life of me get it lined up and noticed that new tensioner is doing the same when i hhought it was lined up. Does the tensioner come straight out or does it take a while cos if it takes a while just bought one for nothing

[andy-m]

when i did mine. I thought it was all lined up but when the tensioner took the slack up, the pasenger side cams went out. took me about 3 goes b4 i finaly got it right. it just takes a lil patience.
as for your tensioner problems, I never had that. sounds like the shaft may have got damaged n is preventing it from taking up the slack in the belt. when u take it out n let it come out, can u prevent the tensioner from extending with your hand? cuz if you can, its 2 wee, which would explain why its not taking up the slack when installed and you need to replace it.

Hi. Firstly welcome. What year scoob is it. If it's pre 98 and has the cylinder type tensioner then it's under imense tension, you have to compress it and put something in the little hole to keep the shaft in. A little tip get the belt on the left hand pully, use a pair of mole grips to lightly hold the belt in place then work the belt around the idler and continue to work clockwise to the top right hand pulley then keep going clockwise until the whole belt is on. It did take me a few tries 1st time. Once you've done a couple it's a doddle. Drop me a pm with your number if you need any help. I also have the manual on pc if you want me to email it to you. Make sure you change idler pulleys and tensioner.

[SJD]

GOT IT ALL BACK TOGETHER AND RUNNING THINK MAY BE TOOTH OUT BECASE WHEN DRIVING JUST DONT FEEL RIGHT, NOT PULLING AS SHE SHOULD ,TURBO BOOSTING UP O K BUT GOT NOISE KINDA WHISTLING FROM ENGINE NOT NKOCKING SO DONT THINK ANY DAMAGE DONE THERE , BEEN TUGGING CAM BELT ALL OVER PLACE THINK MIGHT GET ANOTHER ONE JUST IN CASE.TO BE HONEST NEED TO TAKE TO SPECIALIST OR SOME ONE TO DO IT FOR ME WILL PAY FOR WORK BUT WOULD LIKE TO WATCH SEE HOW TO DO IT.I AM IN THE CATFORD/FORESTHILL AREA WAS GONNA CONTACT SLOWBOY RACING ANY THOUGHTS ON THIS! SORRY SCOOBIE PEOPLE FEEL LIKE I LET THE SIDE DOWN , .WORKED ON MANY CARS OVER YEARS AND GOT ANOTHER PROJECT AT MOMENT GOING ON ELSE WHERE BUT CANT GET THERE NO TRANSPORT,LOVE SCOOBIES ALWAYS WANTED ONE BUT GOT TO ADMIT SHE HAS BEAT ME !!! THANKS FOR THE HELP NEVER BEEN PART OF A FORUM BUT YOU ALL SEEM A DECENT BUNCH OF FELLAS GOOD TO BE PART OF SOMETHING. SO PLEASE HELP HELP HELP ONLY HAD CAR THREE WEEKS BEEN OFF ROAD FOR 8 DAYS NEED HER BACK

[SJD]

Sorry forgot to mention its a 97 wrx facelift,and once again thanks

[andy-m]

still lookin for a decent mechanic for our area myself !!

sry 2 hear it didnt go 2 well. If you dont manage to get anyone to sort it and decide to have another go at it yourself next weekend, let me know. I may be free on sunday afternoon n i can come have a look. I'll know if your one tooth out easy enough. took me 2 few goes 2 get it right myself cuz things move when your trying 2 get the belt on that last wheel.
plus its easier with a second person to hold a spanner on the cams to stop them moving.

One tooth out and it will be poor on performance, the belts are tough, i doubt you have damaged it.
Is the tensioner a cylinder with a plunger at one end,sits horizontally, as MY96/97 was changeover year.
Always turn the engine over by hand a few rotations to check that all is free, its not unknown for people doing it first time to get a pulley 180deg out.

[SJD]

Thanks for your advice and offers of help just very cheesed off with it at moment only had the car three weeks and been of road for over a week now not sure am going to do got friends at brands hatch area dont know if to have stab again myself (with help) or take it somewhere .i live in foresthill/catford area and heard good things about slowboy racing who were based in foresthill ,but as usual just my luck they just moved to brands .to be honest want to sort it myself but feel like if i go near it will smash the living s##t out of it !!!!!!

to top it all off was supposed to be going drift racing all next weekend suppose thats out the flippin question now . Oh well once again the devil farts in my face!!!