Started the cambelt change yesterday. I've got as far as old belt removed + both upper and lower timing belt covers removed.

Should be a simple case of fitting the new belt but I cant get it around the water pump pulley as I cant move it to release the tension.

I,ve removed the 3 bolts that are located on the timing cover that secure the water pump to the housing and put a screwdriver in the hole around the back of the pump/pulley and pushed towards the front of the car (clockwise) but it seems stuck solid.

Is there a bolt that I have missed cos this is the only part that is stopping me from putting on the new belt.

Cheers for any advice.........

Try hitting it with a hammer.. It will hev been there for years without moving.. Don't be too harsh tho!

Try hitting it with a hammer.. It will hev been there for years without moving.. Don't be too harsh tho!

Cheers for reply

I know that on the mk3 the water pump is the tensioner so I thought that it would move freely once the 3 bolts are removed.

I sorta just wanna make sure that I'm not missing something as it feels well stuck. It is definately the 3 10mm bolts around the water pump housing that secure the timing belt cover to the pump.

Did you have to really struggle to turn the pump clockwise to relieve the tension as I dont really wanna force anything.

if yr doing camblet - good idea to replace pump too.. as they can seize with age (ie. the bearing)

thereshould be a gap in it - wedge screwdriver in and level it fwd to loosen it

if yr doing camblet - good idea to replace pump too.. as they can seize with age (ie. the bearing)

thereshould be a gap in it - wedge screwdriver in and level it fwd to loosen it

Cheers for reply. Found the screwdriver gap no problems but it will not loosen. Just looked in Haynes manual and it shows a picture of the pump removed and you can see the grooves where it will slide as you push it forward so maybe I do need to get a screwdriver in and hammer it forward.

I was gonna replace the pump but dont wanna mess with removing camshaft sprocket as its all set to TDC ready for new belt. The pulley spins freely so should be ok

if yr doing camblet - good idea to replace pump too.. as they can seize with age (ie. the bearing)

thereshould be a gap in it - wedge screwdriver in and level it fwd to loosen it

Cheers for reply. Found the screwdriver gap no problems but it will not loosen. Just looked in Haynes manual and it shows a picture of the pump removed and you can see the grooves where it will slide as you push it forward so maybe I do need to get a screwdriver in and hammer it forward.

I was gonna replace the pump but dont wanna mess with removing camshaft sprocket as its all set to TDC ready for new belt. The pulley spins freely so should be ok

eh you dont need to touch the cam pulley to replace the water pump?

plus they are only 30 quid or summin, worth it for the piece of mind I've found, also you should at least replace the water pump o ring seal as its prob old a perished and will prob split as you move the water pump back.

just my 2p

J

the water pump has probably been stuck in that hole for about 15 years so it'll be nice and seized in. A couple of whacks with a hammer and bar to get it to rotate will sort the job out. If it's not working, hit it harder!

It'd be daft to not replace the pump at the same time as the belt, if it fails it'll do just as much damage to the engine.

You need to remove the cam pulley to take the rear plastic belt guard off to get the water pump out. Unless you cut it or can bend it out of the way.

You need to be pushing towards the back of the car to remove tension off the belt. My pump was stuck & wouldnt budge. It was a plastic one & i ended up cracking it. Had to chisel it out to fit a new one. With everything set to tdc you will have to hold the cam stationary to undo the bolt, to then be able to remove the plastic cover. It tells you in the haynes manual how to make a tool to hold the cam

^^^ Agreed, the pump has to be rotated ant-clockwise as viewed from the offside wing.

Also agree that it's better just to replace it now whilst you're at this point. If the pump is ali it'll react with the cast block & chemically bond itself in. It's not too hard to just lever & twist it out then slide a new one back in that's easier to adjust to get your belt tension.