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[Marvin Gill]

Hi All,

Recently purchased a 2000 Catera (3.0L V6) with low miles (45K) confirmed by CarFax. While it had the timing belt campaign performed on it in 2002 (premature failures), I'm going to replace the belt, tensioner, the two idlers and the water pump as the belt is eight years old.

The local Saturn store is doing the work, even though I've told them their parts cost too much, they have no problem with me supplying them (we determined the labor portion prior to talking about where the parts were coming from). "Do it all the time" the service advisor said. "Oil changes, brake jobs, you name it."

Bought the water pump local from NAPA, comes complete with seal. Have the belt kit coming from Rock Auto. It's Gates # TCK285AP, described as "belt, tensioner, two idlers and five seals."

What I'm trying to avoid is showing up missing something. Any other gaskets, clips, etc...I need?

Thanks,

Marvin

[tidla]

hi, welcome to the forum.

dont know what the equivilent of a saturn store is in the uk.

from a garage point of view, supplied  parts from the customer  is never easy because there is always that extra part (slows the job down) which is not taken in to account along with incorrectly matched parts and quality or the components. all too easy for a garage to dodge the issue should a problem arise when you have supplied the parts..

if you know the garage and trust them from recommendation that something else.

just my opinion

[Kevin Wood]

8 year old belt? Certainly time for a change. The interval was briefly 8 years in the UK but they quickly revised it back to 4 years due to tensioner failures.

Make sure they have the proper locking kit for the V6 engine because it's not possible to set the timing accurately without (the timing marks are on a jig supplied in the kit).

This is what the kit should contain: http://www.baumtools.com/pdf/AS4145_instructions.pdf

I'm puzzled by the seals in the cam belt kit but other than that it looks right and Gates are a good brand.

Kevin

[Marvin Gill]

Hey Folks...

Saturn was the GM "Import Fighter" in the US from the '80s'.  Most recently they sold the Aura (restyled Vauxhall) and the Astra.  Their LS series sedans in the early 2000's used the same V6 as did the Omegas, Cateras, etc...so their shop manual will show the proper proceedures and tools required. 

Initially I queried a Cadillac dealer, they wanted $1,342.00, parts and labor.  Went down the road to Saturn, they wanted $400.00 labor, $131.00 belt, $108.00 tensioner and $95.00 water pump.  I asked about the idlers, the parts guy said "oh yeah, they're $146.00.  Each."  WTF?  I told him I had looked into it and Rock Auto has a kit from Gates (# TCK285AP) for $180.79 for everything.  Told him I had no problem being a for-profit organization, but that's CRAZY.  He just shrugged.  Obviously something was amiss, but who knows?

Anyway, my concern was perhaps a gasket of some sort might be needed on the whatever covers the belt. I know on my Daewoo, I can just fiddle with a few clips and pop of the cover for its belt and look at it.  Doesn't seem that simple on this.

Best,

Marvin

[Marvin Gill]

I suppose I could run to the library and look at a Haynes, but that's TOO EASY...

Best,

Marvin

[Andy B]

I suppose I could run to the library and look at a Haynes, but that's TOO EASY...

Best,

Marvin

or ........ buy the DVD
http://shop.omegaowners.com/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=3&products_id=7

[Kevin Wood]

I know on my Daewoo, I can just fiddle with a few clips and pop of the cover for its belt and look at it.  Doesn't seem that simple on this.

It's not much worse, just a bit of stuff to remove to get to the belt cover. Changing the belt is not a difficult job if you have the proper locking kit and take your time, to be honest. The DVD is well worth a watch.

Kevin

[Marvin Gill]

Stopped by the library and looked a Chiltons  to see the step-by-step...wow.

I'll take a gander at the DVD!

Thanks for the help!

Best,

Marvin