1989 Celica Gt Timing Belt ?

[rmcq2000]

Just got a 1989Celica gt 2litre for my son. He noticed a miss in the engine and slugish performance turning into the drive.The revs dropped off dramatically ! Coolant was leaking from an area around the thermostat housing.If you squeezed the hose running to the housing you could see coolant coming from what appeared to be a overflow hole about the size of a 10mm bolt hole,this is on the casting just to the left of the housing near the lower timing belt cover .What should I be looking for ??

[martin_longbow]

Well the water pump is powered with the timing belt. Can you see more of where the water is comming from.Take the timing belt cover off and have a look.

Is the water pump making any noises. If it is grumbling be wary about running it, infact be wary until you have had a look.

The water pump may have caused a belt slip if it siezed or bearing collapsed this could explain both incidents. Ensure the leak is not comming from a simple source, was it overheating? are you sure the leek just started when he pulled in. If there was a belt slip you may have other damage.

Can you try having a look and taking the belt cover off for further investigation.

What type of engine is in the car

[rmcq2000]

Well the water pump is powered with the timing belt. Can you see more of where the water is comming from.Take the timing belt cover off and have a look.

Is the water pump making any noises. If it is grumbling be wary about running it, infact be wary until you have had a look.

The water pump may have caused a belt slip if it siezed or bearing collapsed this could explain both incidents.  Ensure the leak is not comming from a simple source, was it overheating? are you sure the leek just started when he pulled in. If there was a belt slip you may have other damage.

Can you try having a look and taking the belt cover off for further investigation.

What type of engine is in the car

←

Martin; Thanks , I will be getting the car on monday and will look at the timing belt.I will pull the alternator and get a closer look to see where coolant is coming from.It is from that small cast in hole no hose problems that I could see immediately.He does not know if car was overheating at the time ,prior to this we drove it about and the heat guage sat at about middle.He reported no unusual noises(belts squeeling or grinding noises) only resistance which may have been from an out of time engine so probably a damaged time belt Is there a frost plug?

[mikeb]

The missfire sounds more likely to be an ignition problem?

The water leak does sound like the water pump. They usually have a 'tell tale' hole that would indicate a leaking seal. It shouldn't have caused damage as long as the coolant has not been run too low, and it sounds OK now as the temp gauge should sit around half way.

[rmcq2000]

I bought a Hanes manual and went to work. The procedure to get at the water pump is quite involved . Timing for TDC on #1 cylinder was spot on . I checked the position of the rotor and it is pointing at #1 wire at the distributor cap.Crank pulley at 0deg. Timing belt was not damaged but wet from coolant .Pump bearing was totalled and pulley out of line with the body of the pump.I figure because of the coolant on the belt it slipped over the water pump pulley but remained in time. I am replacing all belts and pump.The biggest problem I had was getting the crank pulley off .This needs to be removed in order to get the lower timing belt cover off.My impact gun was not up to the task, and wrenching it off was impossible as it is very difficult to keep it from turning (the time belt is off the cam pulley(removed) at this point and the plugs out of the cylinders so the crank will spin freely with no resistance ,you have to lock it with a screw driver in a hole in the pulley and believe me it is near impossible unless the car is on a hoist!Igot a good impact gun(650ft/lb torque)from a friend and it was off in a second .I ****** around with this part for over an hour! . There is a mechanics trick to locking the crank pulley though that I learned of later . Take a piece of rope and put it in a plug hole of a piston nearing the top stroke .It will not be able to complete the stroke and in so doing will lock up the crank allowing you to get a purchase on the crank pulley bolt .

I will let you know how things progress.

Bob

[mikeb]

It sounds like your pump might have been seized, and the friction could have caused the low rpm running problem.

The bottom pulley is a !Removed!, but then it is on most cars. A good impact gun is your best bet. Trying to lock it up with a screwdriver is never going to work.

Not sure I like the idea of your rope trick too much.

[james_corolla_cuthbertson]

Hi,

Good luck with the repair work, glad it's not too damaged!

Just a quick question, had the incident been worse and the timing belt slipped/snapped, is the 3sge/gte engine a 'safe' engine? I know my pistons have cut-outs for the valves, so I assume that means it's not!

When undoing the crank pulley I just put the car in a high gear and put my foot on the brake while my brother gets busy with the breaker bar!

Rope trick sounds good tho, especially if you don't have any friends, or if the engine's out!

James

[Mick24]

First thing to do when changing the Cam belt is to "crack" the bottom pulley nut loose before you strip anything else.

Get a 1/2" drive ratchet or 12" knuckle bar with a decent socket and put it on the pulley,have the bar hanging down and about 25mm away from the driveshaft.

Flick the ignition switch(but do not start),the bar will stop against the driveshaft and crack the nut loose.

WORKS EVERY TIME !!

[daktari]

Just a quick question, had the incident been worse and the timing belt slipped/snapped, is the 3sge/gte engine a 'safe' engine? I know my pistons have cut-outs for the valves, so I assume that means it's not!

Opinions are divided on this. Autodata refer to the 3S-GE and 3S-GTE engines as interference engines. Damage is most likely to occur. But there are plenty of people who will testify otherwise. I think it might depend on certain criteria like engine speed etc.

The only way i know to prevent it is to stick to Toyota recomendations and change the belt when its due or if your not sure how long it`s been on there.... Change it anyway. It`s not a long/hard/expensive job and it gives you peace of mind.

[sotal]

As Daktari says - Autodata do say that it is identified as an interference engine and damage will most likely occur.

Having said that the majority of people who have snapped them on here have got away with it. I think it has something to do with carbon build ups or something like that which can cause it to become an intereference engine

[rmcq2000]

Everything is back together ,a few cuss words here and there. Rotated the engine at the crank pulley a few times to set up the belt tensioner, no unusal noises and everything turned freely.Fired up and idled nicely . At speed engine lacks power a bit and I am proceeding to check the timing as it was only static timed .

Thanks for the comments . Yes , get a good impact gun !

[martin_longbow]

Result, well done. I had to borrow an impact gun and a puller, wen finally got the nut off the pully fell off. mmmmmmminted

Glad to hear your sorted other than the niggles

[rmcq2000]

Thanks Martin .Timing was off 5 deg . Adjusted to 10 and engine now performs as it should.

Thanks all.

Bob