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[darrenfos]

hi all, is it easy to replace timing belt on a 2001 2.6 i am a fairly good with mechanic's i have had a look at the Haynes manual, and looks fairly straight forward with position to top dead center and then the removal, what im asking is what is the little important things to do along the way to get it right.     

[JamesV6CDX]

Use the correct setting gear

Change the whole kit

Use a torque wrench

Take your time

[darrenfos]

does the DVD cover the 2.6 engine

[RobseyMV6]

does the DVD cover the 2.6 engine

All fairly the same some have an adjuster lower pulley some don't
Lock tools needed for sure 

[Toledodude1973]

Had James do mine recently and was suprised how many bits came off the car, personally if you can run to it with something so important i would get someone on OOF to have a look with the right tools

[darrenfos]

just watched a video on internet on a saab and it looks really straight forward with the tools there's a lot of scare mongering with the timing belt i can think of allot tougher jobs, as long as its top dead center and using correct tool's there's not allot to it.

[Andy B]

just watched a video on internet on a saab and it looks really straight forward with the tools there's a lot of scare mongering with the timing belt i can think of allot tougher jobs, as long as its top dead center and using correct tool's there's not allot to it.

You're correct, it is straight forward. You do need the timing kit though ..... otherwise you're guessing 

[chrisgixer]

Thank god for that, I thought this was going to be another "I don't need a locking kit" thread.

Good man. Easy enough with a locking kit, but as Rob says don't be surprised if the lower roller has no eccentric adjustment.
 Long plenum can be tilted up to save time if you prefer.
Other than that, iirc, it's as the omega DVD, which was done on a 3.0 so there's subtle differences, and far easier than the Saab front wheel drive configuration.
Getting the belt on can fuddle beginners, but if your used to doing cam belts getting it on the right teeth won't be new to you.
Be prepared to modify an Allen key for the tensioner adjustment as it can foul tightening the nut, depending in your tools. But it's no biggy.

Just check it for torque settings and timing marks a couple of times before it goes back together.

And the one that gets me, lining up the crank pulley bolts. They look evenly spaced, but aren't. It only goes on one way. Careful not to over tighten the water pump bolts, torque settings are clear in Haynes for the pre face lift model, it all aplies.


... Er, can't think of anything else....?

[chrisgixer]

Oh yes, ring spanner for the adjustable idler(s). Some kits have it, most not.

[AndyStobbs]

Locking kit - why would you need one of them. Set the pulleys so that the teeth are 'looking at each other' and you've just done the exact same thing the locking kit achieves. Plenty of scaremongery on this forum, seems people are just short on imagination.

[Andy B]

Locking kit - why would you need one of them. Set the pulleys so that the teeth are 'looking at each other' and you've just done the exact same thing the locking kit achieves. Plenty of scaremongery on this forum, seems people are just short on imagination.

You've never done a timing belt on one of these engines then  . Do a cam belt first then comment.     

[Entwood]

Locking kit - why would you need one of them. Set the pulleys so that the teeth are 'looking at each other' and you've just done the exact same thing the locking kit achieves. Plenty of scaremongery on this forum, seems people are just short on imagination.

If you wrote

"plenty of experience on this forum" you would be making a far more accurate statement, and that experience proves that without the correct locking kit it is almost impossible to correctly time the V6 .. although the law of averages says that the odd one "might" just be right, purely by chance.

[martin42]

Oh dear,the cam can easily rotate and trying to line up 4 cams at the same,will need mutilple  hands and sets of eyes,just use the correct locking kit and it will be easy and correct

[Kevin Wood]

Locking kit - why would you need one of them. Set the pulleys so that the teeth are 'looking at each other' and you've just done the exact same thing the locking kit achieves. Plenty of scaremongery on this forum, seems people are just short on imagination.

You've never done a timing belt on one of these engines then  . Do a cam belt first then comment.     

  

yep, not entirely sure how the wheels will look at each other. First time the belt cover comes off it is clear that one won't work on this engine. Use the proper locking kit.

[AndyStobbs]

Actually I have done a timing belt. On the vectra in situ which is a much harder job than the omega in situ. I make my living as a mechanic - running my own workshop, so I've probably seen my fair share of jobs.

A lot of experience there may be, I'm not disputing that.

So can someone please tell me why its impossible to time a v6 engine without the locking kit? The cams are locked together in a position, why is it so meant to be so hard to replicate this position? You know instantly if you're a tooth out on the belt because the marks end up way off. After you've sycronized 5 pulleys together its just down to the eccentrics for fine tuning. So why can this only be achieved with a locking kit?