deliriousga

When I was checking everything out this weekend I took the idler arm roller assembly out to make sure everything was together properly. Mine has one thick washer on the bolt that holds the large roller on the idler arm. It's located between the large roller and the arm to position it properly. There is not one on the bolt that holds the assembly to the waterpump that you mentioned on mine. I pulled the assembly up in the WSMs and it's shown as I have it in mine. The large roller lines up centered on the belt so is this a later addition that needs to be done with mine or am I ok as is?

I'm going to order the strap assembly you suggested and install it in the next few months when I pull then engine for mounts, cleaning and vacuum checks.

GregBBRD

John:

Yours is the later style. You have no thick washer.....none required. Sounds like you also have all of the correct parts. The strap will help support the end of the pin, as I mentioned before.

greg brown

deliriousga

Finished assembling everything last night (didn't meet my midnight deadline, but at 1:30am all four tires were back on the ground and she was running.) The belt is tracking dead center, 4mm from back and 4mm from front of cam gears. I'm checking it after each trip until the re-tension in 500 miles.

What I've learned that's worth passing on:
1) Check the timing belt while the car is running! I would have never seen the problem since it was a short deflection unless the engine just happend to stop at that point.
2) Don't replace the idler arm pivot bolt until the new water pump is installed in the car! I put the new idler arm pivot bolt on the new waterpump before I started the whole TB/WP deal. Since I did that, I forgot the bolt still needed torquing once I put the water pump on the engine. That caused my whole problem.
3) Check EVERYTHING against the WSMs when you take it apart! This came from the first time I did the TB/WP. My PO had one washer in the wrong place on the idler arm (the thick one mentioned before in this thread) so the large roller was hitting the idler arm. I'm surprised (and thankful) the engine didn't seize driving home from Virginia when I bought it.
4) Don't tighten anything on the belly pan until ALL of the screws are in place! I would have been in bed at midnight if it weren't for this. Those front ones are a beast even if only one screw in the back is tight.
5) Listen to your fellow rennlisters!!!! This is one I've tried to use from the beginning. Being a hard head, I like to do things my own way, but when you have so many people who've BTDT, pay attention. Others' experiences have saved me a ton of time and frustration, let me know when an idea won't work and given me great ideas too. Don't be such a stubborn, typical male, it may save your car or your life.

Thanks for the support Greg. The info is priceless.