Astra Turbo (z20let) Timing Belt Install - Part 2 of 2

Warning. Serious damage may occur to your engine if the timing marks are not correctly positioned. Only undertake if you have the tools and the confidence for such a job.
Please source other advice and guides to compliment this video.
Time lapse installation video of installing the z20let timing belt. Removal and install of water pump is in part 1.

[cyril]

Excellent work and rare tutorial! All that’s missing is a tutorial on changing the valve end seals with disassembly of the cylinder head and everything would be perfect!

[grannystone]

In case you are struggling to put drive belt back on, the tensioner is sprung loaded. Get the belt wound around coming back up to the alternator checking its engaged in the pulleys OK. Then with a 15mm preferably a long one tighten the the tensioner bolt ( i.e turn clockwise) further and it will give you slack to get it over the alternator pulley.
You might need a helper or a bit of pipe over the spanner as it needs a hefty turn to give enough to get the belt on.

[beko]

Brillaint video! And it only took you 5 minutes! SWMBO's Meriva A 1.6 8v is quite overdue for a belt, may have to attempt it. You make it look so easy!

[Musterhund]

I adore guys who are able to do such operations! I can only chanche brakepads and exhaust pipes

[cipmars]

I can't believe how little they have changed since my old X20XEV! As far as I can see in these two videos the front of the engine looks almost identical.

[Aaronw]

I had my Holden dealer do my cambelt job. The first time they carried out the job, when i went to pick up I was told they decided against replacing the waterpump and tensioner because they were still in excellent condition! I believed them but after a week or so felt very uneasy given others experiences and Holdens own reccommendations. I returned with complaints of whirring and demanded they replace the remaining parts. This was done, however it continued to whirr as if it was overtentioned...

[MagicMags]

@chrispix
thanks chris will get the manual and have a look before i start.
saying that though, wouldnt you agree that if i am changing a belt from a good running engine all i have to do is ensure that all pulleys are marked up and ensure that they do not move whilst changign teh belt. old one off, new one on- sorted :). only tiem you need to worry is if you have timing issues originally. then it is time for the clever mechanics :).
again great vids and look forward to more uploads

[gaz]

Hi
You did not show the final fitting of the belt over the pulleys/tensioner and this is the hardest part of the job.
I only managed to get the belt on by leaving the pulley and tensioner very loose and its impossible to get the belt over the pulleys when they are all in situ, even when the tensioner is at its loosest setting.
With the tensioning of the belt you must keep readjusting the tensioner pointer so it aligns up with the notch and after turning the engine through 720 degrees and back to top dead centre if then the pointer is not pointing at the notch, adjust the pointer again so it aligns up with notch again then turn the engine yet again through 720 degrees and if the pointer settles pointing at the notch then you have got the correct tension and if not keep repeating this procedure until it settles pointing at the notch.
Usually it takes 2 or 3 attempts for the belt to settle in at the correct tension.
Sometimes your alternator can make a squealing noise when you have just completed the job due to it being disturbed, so use some spray grease to spray onto the alternator pulley to cure this until the belt settles back in.
Use a connecting pipe on the can so you can insert the pipe and get right into it, but make sure the cambelt cover is fitted when you start the engine after spraying the grease.
Also DO NOT use wd 40 as it will dissolve the grease in the bearings so make sure you only use spray grease.
All the parts i used were oem and i never use pattern parts on critical components on cars so you would be wise to do the same.
The job is much harder than it looks on the video, so anybody thinking of attempting this job should think twice as its only a job for the experienced d.i.y mechanic.
All in all a good video thanks for showing.

[chrispix]

Careful there MagicMags :) I don't know anything about the 1.7TDI so if the Haynes manual says use a DTI then you probably should!
I have specified all the torque settings in the video. But these are for the 2.0turbo (z20let) and I would imagine the 1.7TDI to be different. Exact torque prevents you from over tightening, so don't make it as tight as you can. Your Haynes manual should have all the numbers you need.

My advice, If you don't have all the tools, take it too your mechanic.

[bochum]

Well that is a fantastic video. You must have spend hours doing and preparing it. Job well done mate

[howsey]

Stupid question but the tensioner did you tighten and torque the centre bolt before adjusting the tension

[mistajace]

@chrispix ahhh i was pissed the only bit i wanted to see you cut out.. im changing the belt on my vectra but for the life of me cant pull the belt over the tensioner. do you think it could be that i need to change the tensioner? the belt broke so i dont want spend too much cash before i know that the valves aint bent. btw. tis exactly the same set up in the vectra. thanks mate

[Aaronw]

I renturned to the dealer yet again, they said that it was normal for a new belt and that there was no way their expericned staff could have overtentioned, 3 weeks later still very loud whirring. Then when i decided to take it on a longer motorway run it developed an extremly alarming ticking noise. I stopped at a local garage and they told me to take it straight back to Holden. Holden were forced to appologise and rectify this by booking me in the following week. Yep was over tentioned! NZD$900

[ShanAU_Mel]

Thanking you all. Your comments are very helpful to me. Again thanks you very much m8.

[vxvxr]

yes it is but its not auto tensioning, you have to line up the pointer with the cut out turn it over 1 revolution, re align the mark as this will move as the slack is took out the belt and turn over once more and then check again . this is the way vauxhall do it as i have worked at a dealer for 5 years now and never had one come back on me ... (touch wood)

[kieranhedges]

Thanks for the video it was very informative. However I would like to know the following. My belt snapped and I would like to know if this has done any damage to the valves? Any help would be greatly appreciated. Thanks

[mistajace]

@chrispix thanks for your quick response ive been spending a tonne of time just trying to squeeze th bastard on. the belt seems way to tight. not just a little.
the little notched guide on the back of the tensioner doesnt move from all the way to the left. is that just because i have no belt on?

[MagicMags]

Brilliant Video, i need a new timing belt done on my vauxhall astra 1.7TDI and thought id have to pay a mechanic to do it after reading the haynes manual and it saying you need to set up your cam with a DTI. I now feel confident I can do this myself. I take it you dont need to set the bolts to the exact torque and just tighten them as tight as you can :o). again, brilliant video, very impressed!!! any problems to watch out for from what you can recall?

[Blackrier]

this gave me the courage to do it on my own :)

[jonsuty]

videos really good mate, thinking of doing my own- is it really necessary to us a torque wrench? ive got one but its too big to be messing around in engine bay with, would it be ok if I just makesure theyre nice and tight but not over tightened? thanks