Thinking about changing timing belt by myself this weekend
 

I saw the DIY tutorial on another website and it looks fairly straight forward. Anyone have any advice? This will be my first time doing any timing belt but I'm am pretty mechanically inclined.

My car is an '02 WRX manual transmission. Parts is roughly $310 for the timing belt, rollers, tensioner, water pump, and thermostat. If I was to be doing it myself, it would be this Saturday at a friend's shop in SF. Anyone interested in helping out? It would be even better if you've done it before yourself.

I hear its easy. Drain and pull the radiator, loosen the alternator, take the belt off, remove the water pump, put new one on, put belt on, tighten. Reinstall radiator, refill and youre done! Sounds like a 5-minute job

[QUOTE=subaruwrx;2672004]I hear its easy. Drain and pull the radiator, loosen the alternator, take the belt off, remove the water pump, put new one on, put belt on, tighten. Reinstall radiator, refill and youre done! Sounds like a 5-minute job[/QUOTE]

It's always easier said then done. :p

I've heard they take a while to do.
Good luck dude and tell us how it went

Valves are ~$30 each, plus labor. :)

[QUOTE=Paul@dbtuned;2672078]Valves are ~$30 each, plus labor. :)[/QUOTE]

:lol:

Its not too bad if you are mechanically inclined and take your time doing it. Definitely take out the radiator to get more space to work. I don't know how people are able to use impact wrench to break the crank pulley bolt loose. I took the radiator out and bought like 3 different impact wrenches but they were all too big to fit in the space. I think if you used a 3/8 impact wrench with a regular socket or if you had a small 1/2 impact wrench with a regular(non-impact) socket you might have enough room. I was able to get mine off by using a breaker bar with a cheater(jack handle) Hardest part would probably be getting the timing belt back on and making sure everything is lined up. Having this tool makes it almost idiot proof. [url]http://buy1.snapon.com/catalog/item.asp?P65=&tool=all&item_ID=57330&group_ID=1552&store=snapon-store&dir=catalog[/url]
[IMG]http://lh6.ggpht.com/_f_pXIC8C99c/SmikDpM_UmI/AAAAAAAAFdU/8vGRYqd5X9Q/s400/DSCF2441.JPG[/IMG]

so when do you have to change the timing belt on a wrx or STi?

:sign0012:....:welcome:

105k

[QUOTE=Paul@dbtuned;2672165]:sign0012:....:welcome:

105k[/QUOTE]
Im sure you know better than I, but I thought it was part of the 120k service?

[QUOTE=soggynoodles;2672044]It's always easier said then done. :p

I've heard they take a while to do.
Good luck dude and tell us how it went[/QUOTE]

Easy but time consuming...

my friend did it last summer in his garage... basically took him two days.

i did this last summer its not bad but it will take a while, I had to do it twice because I forgot to put one of the new pulleys on the first time it only took me a 1 and a half the second time, don't forget to mark the the gears and line the up the belt with the timing mark on the block and good luck

Help guys...

I have lined up the timing marks on the belt and sprockets and everything. I even triple checked it. Then I hand cranked it to ensure that there is no funny noises or stops in the way. All was good. However, my question is that once I've put the timing belt on and start up the engine to let run for a second, the timing marks on the belt are no longer anywhere near the timing marks on the gears. Is that right? I've cranked it by hand probably about 10 revolutions and it's off by a tooth or two, then six teeth, then offset -5 teeth.

Is it only important to ensure that the timing marks are "set" only when the belt is initially installed and after that the marks will never match up? I'm all done but that's my only hangup and I don't want to put it back together until I know that's right.

TIA!

hmmmm i honestly dont know.. but if i had to guess i would think you would want them lined up all the time. Is the belt tight enough?

I'm pretty sure that the marks are there just to get the initial timing set up